Attachment for blower

Abstract

The objective is to provide an attachment for a blower that prevents an increase in the manufacturing man-hours for the main unit of the device while minimizing any compromise in the design of the main unit. [Solution] The blower attachment 4 is a blower attachment that is detachably attached to the main body 10 of a blower (dehumidifier 1) that blows airflow from the outlet 14, and is for guiding airflow to an external outlet that is different from the outlet 14 and different from the main body 10. The blower attachment 4 comprises a mounting part 41 that is attached to the main body 10 at a position corresponding to the outlet 14, and an air collecting part 42 that collects the airflow blown out from the outlet 14 and directs it to the external outlet when the mounting part 41 is attached to the outlet 14.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an attachment for a blower device that is removably attached to the blower device.

Background Art

[0002] As a related art, a dehumidifying device used for drying clothes is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This dehumidifying device includes a main body case having a suction port and a blowout port, a dehumidifying unit provided in the main body case for drying an object to be dried in a predetermined space, and a blowing unit that blows air sucked from the suction port to the blowout port through a part of the dehumidifying unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the dehumidifying device (blower device) shown in the above related art is used to dry, for example, shoes or a closet, it is conceivable to provide a connection port for connecting an attachment such as a duct hose at a location different from the blowout port in the main body case (device main body). However, in this aspect, there is a problem that the manufacturing man-hours of the device main body increase in order to provide the connection port. Further, in this aspect, there is a problem that the design property of the device main body is impaired by the connection port.

[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an attachment for a blower device that can prevent an increase in the manufacturing man-hours of the device main body and is unlikely to impair the design property of the device main body.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An attachment for a blower according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an attachment for a blower that is attached to the main body of a blower that blows airflow from an outlet, and guides the airflow to an external outlet located outside the main body of the blower, which is different from the outlet. The blower attachment comprises a mounting portion that is attached to the outlet, and an air collecting portion that, when the mounting portion is attached to the outlet, collects the airflow blown out from the outlet and directs it to the external outlet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide an attachment for a blower that does not increase the manufacturing man-hours for the main body of the device, while minimizing any loss of aesthetic appeal of the main body. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a dehumidifier according to an embodiment, viewed from the front. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the dehumidifier according to the embodiment, seen from the rear. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the dehumidifier according to the embodiment, with the front panel removed, as seen from the front. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the dehumidifier according to this embodiment, with the drain tank removed, as seen from the rear. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the drainage tank according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the change in the posture of the drainage tank according to this embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of the drainage tank according to this embodiment, viewed from above. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a drainage tank according to an embodiment, showing the case where the drainage cover is in the first position. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of a drainage tank according to an embodiment, showing the case where the drainage cover is in the second position. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a drainage tank according to an embodiment when the handle is in the upper limit position. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a drainage tank according to an embodiment when the handle is in the lower limit position. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a part of the drainage tank according to an embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining the inclined portion of the drainage cover in the drainage tank according to an embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic plan view of the dehumidifying device according to an embodiment as viewed from above. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view of the roof panel according to an embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a louver according to an embodiment when it is in the closed position. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a louver according to an embodiment when it is in the fully open position. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view showing an auxiliary louver and a case according to an embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of the movement of the first blade and the second blade in the auxiliary louver according to an embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for explaining a louver in a blower device shown in the related art. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a schematic perspective view of an attachment, a hose, and a nozzle for a blower device according to an embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where an attachment for a blower device according to an embodiment is attached to a dehumidifying device. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing a state where an air flow is being sent into the shoe using a second nozzle according to an embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing a state where an air flow is being sent into the shoe using a second nozzle provided with a support portion according to an embodiment. [Figure 25] FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an air flow is sent into the inside of another shoe using the second nozzle provided with the support portion according to the embodiment. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a schematic perspective view showing a state before attaching the attachment for the blower device, the nozzle, and the hose according to the embodiment to the dehumidifying device. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is a schematic perspective view showing a state after attaching the attachment for the blower device, the nozzle, and the hose according to the embodiment to the dehumidifying device. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is a schematic plan view of the drainage tank according to a modification of the embodiment as viewed from above.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are an example of embodying the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0010] In addition, in the cross-sectional views of the accompanying drawings, basically, the hatching of the broken cross-section is omitted.

[0011] [1] Configuration of the dehumidifying device First, the overall configuration of the dehumidifying device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0012] In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the vertical direction in the state where the dehumidifying device 1 can be used is defined as the vertical direction D1. Also, based on the direction when viewing the dehumidifying device 1 from the front, the left-right direction D2 is defined, and the front-rear direction D3 is defined with the front side of the dehumidifying device 1 as the front and the rear side as the rear. However, the definition of these directions is not intended to limit the usage direction (direction during use) of the dehumidifying device​​​The dehumidifier 1 is used when placed on an installation surface, such as the top surface of a desk or the floor surface of a living room in a house. The dehumidifier 1 is self-supporting on the installation surface when it is placed there. In other words, the dehumidifier 1 according to this embodiment is a self-supporting and portable device, and the user can freely carry the dehumidifier 1 and install it at any position on the installation surface. Although not shown in Figures 1 to 4, the bottom surface of the dehumidifier 1 may be provided with a plurality of casters 18 (see, for example, Figure 26) that allow the dehumidifier 1 to move on the installation surface.

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the dehumidifier 1 comprises a main unit 10 and a drain tank 2 that is detachably attached to the main unit 10. In other words, the dehumidifier 1 comprises a drain tank 2 and a main unit 10 to which the drain tank 2 is attached. The detailed configuration of the drain tank 2 will be explained in "[2] Configuration of the Drain Tank".

[0015] The main body of the device 10 comprises a housing 11, an operating unit 12, a filter unit 13, a dehumidifying unit, and a blower unit. The dehumidifying unit and blower unit are not shown in the illustration.

[0016] In this embodiment, as an example, the housing 11 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape (rectangular prism shape) with a length in the vertical direction D1. The housing 11 can take on various shapes, and in addition to a rectangular parallelepiped shape, it may also be, for example, a polygonal prism shape or a cylindrical shape. The housing 11 includes a bottom panel 111, a top panel 112, a front panel 113, a rear panel 114, a left side panel 115, and a right side panel 116. In this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the components of the housing 11 are made of resin.

[0017] The bottom panel 111 is a panel-shaped component that forms the bottom surface of the housing 11. The top panel 112 is a panel-shaped component that forms the top surface of the housing 11. The front panel 113 is a panel-shaped component that forms the front surface of the housing 11. The rear panel 114 is a panel-shaped component that forms the rear surface of the housing 11. The left side panel 115 is a panel-shaped component that forms the left side surface of the housing 11. It is rectangular in plan view. The right side panel 116 is a panel-shaped component that forms the right side surface of the housing 11. All of these panels are rectangular in plan view.

[0018] An operating section 12 is formed on the upper surface of the top panel 112. In this embodiment, as an example, the operating section 12 is formed on the front end of the upper surface of the top panel 112. The operating section 12 includes a plurality of buttons that can be pressed by the user. The operating section 12 is configured to accept operations such as starting and stopping the operation of the dehumidifier 1, switching the airflow of the dehumidifier 1 between "low," "medium," "high," and "automatic," and a timer.

[0019] An air outlet 14 for blowing out air is provided from the rear end of the top panel 112 to the upper end of the rear panel 114. The air outlet 14 is equipped with a louver 3 for controlling the direction of the airflow blown out from the air outlet 14. The detailed configuration of the louver 3 will be explained in "[3] Louver Configuration".

[0020] In other words, in the dehumidifier 1 according to this embodiment, the operating unit 12 is located on the front side of the top panel 112, and the air outlet 14 is located on the rear side of the top panel 112. Therefore, in the dehumidifier 1 according to this embodiment, when using the airflow blown out from the air outlet 14, for example, to dry laundry, the user operating the operating unit 12 while facing the dehumidifier 1 is not exposed to the airflow blown out from the air outlet 14, which has the advantage of making the user less likely to feel uncomfortable.

[0021] The front panel 113 is detachably mounted to the housing 11. Figure 3 shows the dehumidifier 1 with the front panel 113 removed. As shown in Figure 3, a filter section 13 is provided at the front of the housing 11, and an air intake port 15 for drawing in air is provided behind the filter section 13. The air intake port 15 is composed of multiple openings formed in a grid pattern by the intersection of multiple struts extending in the vertical direction D1 and multiple struts extending in the horizontal direction D2. The front panel 113 is mounted to the housing 11 so as to provide a gap that allows air to be drawn in toward the air intake port 15.

[0022] The filter unit 13 includes a filter, such as a dust collection filter or a deodorizing filter, and processes the air drawn in from the intake port 15. The dust collection filter can capture dust, pollen, smoke, and fine particulate matter (e.g., PM2.5) contained in the air. The deodorizing filter can remove odors from the air. In this embodiment, the filter unit 13 has a pre-filter 131 that can capture relatively large debris in the air, and a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter 132 that can capture fine particles in the air. In this embodiment, the filter unit 13 further has a filter element 133 arranged in the air intake path of a dust sensor (not shown) that detects the degree of air pollution.

[0023] Below the filter section 13 of the housing 11, a recess is formed on the inside (rear) side of the housing 11. This recess constitutes a housing section 16 capable of accommodating an attachment 4 for a blower device (hereinafter referred to as "attachment 4" unless otherwise specified), which can be attached to the main body 10 of the device. In this embodiment, the housing section 16 is configured to accommodate the attachment 4, hose 5, and nozzle 6 (see Figure 21) in a disassembled state. Specifically, the housing section 16 is configured such that the nozzle 6, an accessory part of the attachment 4, is housed at the rear bottom of the housing section 16, and the attachment 4 and the hose 5, an accessory part of the attachment 4, are housed in front of the nozzle 6. The detailed configuration of the attachment 4 will be described in "[4] Attachment Configuration".

[0024] An air passage (not shown) for airflow is formed inside the housing 11. The air passage is configured to connect the intake port 15 and the outlet port 14, and the dehumidifying unit and the blowing unit are arranged in that order from the intake port 15 to the outlet port 14.

[0025] The dehumidifier dehumidifies the air passing through the air passage. In this embodiment, the dehumidifier is a compressor type and includes an evaporator and a condenser. The evaporator and condenser are connected to the compressor and expansion valve to form a refrigeration cycle. In the dehumidifier, the air in the air passage is cooled by the evaporator. This removes moisture from the air by condensation. The moisture (condensed water) that condenses in the evaporator falls downward due to its own weight and is stored in the drain tank 2 located below the dehumidifier within the housing 11.

[0026] In this embodiment, the dehumidification unit is of the compressor type, but it is not limited to this. For example, the dehumidification unit may be of the desiccant type, or it may be a configuration that uses both the compressor type and the desiccant type in combination.

[0027] The air blower unit delivers air from the intake port 15 towards the outlet port 14. In this embodiment, the air blower unit is a sirocco fan. However, the air blower unit is not limited to a sirocco fan; it can be any mechanism that delivers air from the intake port 15 towards the outlet port 14.

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, the right side panel 116 is provided with a rectangular opening 116a in plan view. The housing 11 has a space 17 formed in the housing 11 that houses the drain tank 2, extending inward from the opening 116a. When the drain tank 2 is housed in the space 17, the opening 116a is closed by one side of the drain tank 2 (a decorative panel 24, described later). The side of the drain tank 2 that closes the opening 116a is substantially flush with the surface of the right side panel 116 and has the same pattern or decoration as the right side panel 116. Therefore, when the drain tank 2 is housed in the main body 10, the design of the housing 11 is not easily impaired by the drain tank 2.

[0029] The drainage tank 2 stores condensation water generated in the dehumidifier while housed inside the main unit 10 of the device. However, since there is a limit to the amount of condensation water that can be stored in the drainage tank 2, the user must remove the drainage tank 2 from the main unit 10 and drain the condensation water stored in the drainage tank 2 (hereinafter referred to as "drainage work") before the amount of condensation water stored in the drainage tank 2 reaches the capacity limit of the drainage tank 2.

[0030] In this embodiment, the drain tank 2 is configured as follows to make it easier for the user to remove the drain tank 2 from the device body 10. Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, when the drain tank 2 is housed in the device body 10, at least a portion of the grip portion 231 of the handle 23 that the user grips when carrying the drain tank 2 is exposed. This makes it easier for the user to grasp the grip portion 231 and pull the drain tank 2 out of the device body 10 along the left-right direction D2. In addition, in the up-down direction D1, a gap is provided between the grip portion 231 and the upper end of the exposed surface (decorative panel 24) of the drain tank 2, large enough for the user to insert their hand. Therefore, the user can insert their hand into this gap and grasp the grip portion 231, making it easier to grip the grip portion 231 and, as a result, easier to pull the drain tank 2 out of the device body 10.

[0031] In this embodiment, the dehumidifier 1 is configured to remove the drain tank 2 from the main body 10 by pulling it out to the right, but it is not limited to this configuration. For example, the dehumidifier 1 may be configured to allow the drain tank 2 to be pulled out from the main body 10 to the left, forward, or backward.

[0032] [2] Configuration of the drainage tank The detailed configuration of the drainage tank 2 according to this embodiment will be described below, mainly with reference to Figure 5. The drainage tank 2 is detachably attached to the main body of the device 10 and, while housed within the main body of the device 10, stores condensation water by receiving the condensation water generated in the dehumidification section and dripping down. When the drainage tank 2 is removed from the main body of the device 10, it is possible to change its posture between a transport posture for transporting the tank body 21 containing water (here, condensation water; hereinafter referred to as "condensation water" unless otherwise specified) and a drainage posture for draining the condensation water in the tank body 21.

[0033] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the changes in the posture of the drainage tank 2 according to this embodiment. The upper left of Figure 6 shows the storage posture, the upper right of Figure 6 shows the transport posture, and the lower part of Figure 6 shows the drainage posture. The storage posture is the posture in which the drainage tank 2 can be stored in the main body 10 of the device. In other words, the drainage tank 2 is stored in the space 17 of the housing 11 in the storage posture. The transport posture is the posture of the drainage tank 2 when a user carries the drainage tank 2 while holding the grip portion 231 (described later) of the handle 23 (described later) provided on the drainage tank 2. The drainage posture is the posture of the drainage tank 2 when a user tilts the drainage tank 2 in a place where condensation water inside the drainage tank 2 can be drained, and drains the condensation water inside the tank body 21 to the outside from the drain port 20 (described later).

[0034] As shown in Figure 5, the drain tank 2 comprises a tank body 21, a tank lid 22, a handle 23, a decorative panel 24, and a drain cover 25.

[0035] The tank body 21 has an opening 210 on its top surface and is a container body that stores condensation water generated in the dehumidifier located above the tank body 21. The opening 210 of the tank body 21 is provided with a tank lid 22 and a drain cover 25 that close the opening 210. When the drain tank 2 is housed in the device body 10, the condensation water that falls onto the tank lid 22 flows into the tank body 21 through a water inlet 223 (described later) provided on the tank lid 22 and is stored in the tank body 21.

[0036] The tank body 21 has a bottom wall 211 (see Figure 7), a front wall 212, a rear wall 213, a right wall 214, and a left wall 215, and these walls constitute the outer casing of the tank body 21. The area enclosed by the upper ends of the front wall 212, rear wall 213, right wall 214, and left wall 215 constitutes the opening 210. In this embodiment, the part of the opening 210 facing the drain cover 25 constitutes a drain port 20 for draining condensation water from inside the tank body 21 to the outside when the drain tank 2 is removed from the device body 10. In other words, the drain port 20 is an opening for draining condensation water from inside the tank body 21 when the drain tank 2 is in the draining position.

[0037] As shown in Figure 7, the tank body 21 has a constricted portion 21a and a wide portion 21b that is wider in the front-rear direction D3 than the constricted portion 21a.

[0038] The constricted portion 21a is the part of the left wall 215 of the tank body 21 that protrudes to the left, and is rectangular in shape in plan view. The central part of the left wall 215 of the tank body 21 in the front-rear direction D3 is recessed to the right (i.e., towards the inside of the tank body 21) in plan view, according to the outer shape of the compressor located to the left of the drain tank 2 when the drain tank 2 is housed in the device body 10. Note that the constricted portion 21a is not limited to the front end of the left wall 215 of the tank body 21, but may be provided so as to protrude to the left from any part of the left wall 215.

[0039] The constricted portion 21a is provided on the left wall 215 of the tank body 21, extending from the center to the upper end in the vertical direction D1. In this embodiment, the constricted portion 21a is provided with a detection unit (not shown) that detects when the condensation water level in the tank body 21 is full. The detection unit is, for example, a Hall IC, and detects that the tank body 21 is full when a float provided inside the tank body 21, which moves up and down according to the water level, reaches a predetermined water level.

[0040] The wide section 21b is the part of the tank body 21 excluding the narrowed section 21a, and is the main part of the tank body 21. The wide section 21b is, for example, rectangular in shape when viewed from above.

[0041] In this embodiment, the tank body 21 has a narrowed portion 21a and a wide portion 21b, but it does not have to have a narrowed portion 21a. In this case, the tank body 21 is composed only of the wide portion 21b.

[0042] As shown in Figure 5, the inner surface of the front wall 212 of the tank body 21 is provided with a protruding wall 216 that projects backward (i.e., towards the inside of the tank body 21) at the center of its left-right direction D2. Similarly, the inner surface of the rear wall 213 of the tank body 21 is provided with a protruding wall 216 that projects forward (i.e., towards the inside of the tank body 21) at the center of its left-right direction D2.

[0043] Each protruding wall 216 is provided from the upper end to the lower end of the front wall 212 (or rear wall 213), and is hollow inside. At the upper end of each protruding wall 216, there is a bearing portion 216a into which a pair of shaft portions 234 (described later) of the handle 23 are inserted. Note that in Figure 5, only one of the pair of bearing portions 216a is shown. By inserting the pair of shaft portions 234 of the handle 23 into these bearing portions 216a, the handle 23 is supported on the tank body 21 so as to be rotatable around the pair of shaft portions 234 as its central axis.

[0044] The tank lid 22 is a flat plate-shaped member that matches the shape of the opening 210 of the tank body 21, excluding the left end, and is detachably attached to the tank body 21. The tank lid 22 has a pair of bearing portions 221, a taper 222, a water inlet 223, and a through hole 224.

[0045] A pair of bearing portions 221 are provided at the left end of the tank lid 22, at a predetermined distance D3 in the front-rear direction. This predetermined distance is equivalent to the length D3 in the front-rear direction of the shaft portion 254 (described later) of the drain cover 25. A pair of projections 254a (described later) provided on the shaft portion 254 of the drain cover 25 are inserted into each of the pair of bearing portions 221. As a result, the drain cover 25 is supported on the tank lid 22 so as to be rotatable around the shaft portion 254 as its central axis.

[0046] The taper 222 is provided on the tank lid 22 so as to be located below the dehumidifying section when the drain tank 2 is housed in the device body 10. In this embodiment, the taper 222 is provided at the left end of the tank lid 22 so as to be located to the right of the pair of bearing portions 221. The taper 222 slopes downward from the center toward the front end in the front-rear direction D3 of the tank lid 22. A gap is provided between the front end of the taper 222 and the tank lid 22, and this gap constitutes a water inlet 223 through which condensed water flows into the tank body 21. The condensed water that passes through the water inlet 223 flows downward along the inner surface of the front wall 212 of the tank body 21.

[0047] In this embodiment, only one set of tapered section 222 and water inlet 223 is provided on the tank lid 22, but multiple sets may be provided. For example, an additional set may be provided consisting of a tapered section that slopes downward from the center towards the rear end in the front-rear direction D3 of the tank lid 22, and a water inlet which is the gap between the rear end of the tapered section and the tank lid 22.

[0048] The through-hole 224 has a length in the front-to-back direction D3, is rectangular in plan view, and is a hole that penetrates the tank lid 22 in the front-to-back direction D3 at the center of the tank lid 22. The through-hole 224 is provided with dimensions that allow a part of the handle 23 (specifically, the gripping portion 231 and the pair of first arms 232, which will be described later) to pass through.

[0049] The drain cover 25 is a component attached to the tank lid 22 and is configured to be movable between a first position (see Figure 8) that closes the drain port 20 and a second position (see Figure 9) that opens the drain port 20. The drain cover 25 has a first component 251, a second component 252, a third component 253, and a shaft portion 254. In this embodiment, the first component 251, the second component 252, the third component 253, and the shaft portion 254 are integrally formed.

[0050] The first member 251 is rectangular in plan view and has a length in the front-to-back direction D3. The center of the left end of the first member 251 is recessed toward the right (i.e., toward the inside of the tank body 21) in plan view, matching the shape of the left wall 215 of the tank body 21. Both ends of the left end of the first member 251 in the front-to-back direction D3 are provided with protrusions 251a that project upward. Each protrusion 251a is provided such that, when the drain cover 25 is in the first position, its tip is positioned above the upper end of the left wall 215 of the tank body 21. Each protrusion 251a is formed such that, when the drain tank 2 is housed in the device body 10, it is close to the ceiling of the space 17 (see Figure 4) in which the drain tank 2 is housed. Here, "close" includes the protrusion 254a contacting the ceiling, or the distance between the ceiling and the protrusion 254a being below a threshold (e.g., a few mm to a dozen mm).

[0051] The shaft portion 254 is located in the center of the right end of the first member 251 and is a cylindrical member having a length in the front-rear direction D3. Both ends of the shaft portion 254 in the front-rear direction D3 are provided with cylindrical projections 254a that protrude outward. These projections 254a are inserted into a pair of bearing portions 221 of the tank lid 22.

[0052] The second member 252 is rectangular in plan view and has a shorter length D3 in the front-to-back direction than the first member 251 and the third member 253. The second member 252 connects the center of the right end of the first member 251 and the center of the left end of the third member 253. The second member 252 is located below the tank lid 22 when the drain cover 25 is attached to the tank lid 22.

[0053] The third member 253 is rectangular in plan view, and its length in the front-to-back direction D3 is shorter than that of the first member 251 and longer than that of the second member 252. Both ends of the left end of the third member 253 are provided with projections 253a that protrude outward in the front-to-back direction D3. The center of the right end of each projection 253a is provided with a recess 253b that is recessed to the left. When the drain cover 25 is in the first position and the drain tank 2 is in the transport position, the claw portion 232a (described later) of the handle 23 is inserted into each recess 253b.

[0054] The drain cover 25 is configured to rotate around its central axis, the shaft portion 254, when attached to the tank lid 22. Therefore, when the first member 251, located to the left of the shaft portion 254, moves upward, the second member 252 and the third member 253, located to the right of the shaft portion 254, move downward. Conversely, when the first member 251 moves downward, the second member 252 and the third member 253 move upward. The third member 253 closes the through hole 224 of the tank lid 22 when the drain cover 25 (first member 251) is in the first position, which closes the drain port 20 of the tank body 21. Conversely, the third member 253 opens the through hole 224 of the tank lid 22 when the drain cover 25 (first member 251) is in the second position, which opens the drain port 20.

[0055] Furthermore, the drain cover 25 is configured to move from a first position to a second position as the drain tank 2 changes its orientation from a transport position to a draining position. Specifically, when the drain tank 2 is in the draining position, the drain cover 25 is not restricted from rotating clockwise when viewed from the front (movement in the direction from the first position to the second position) by a part of the handle 23, and similarly, it is not restricted from rotating clockwise when viewed from the front (movement in the direction from the first position to the second position) by a part of the tank lid 22. In this way, there are no members that restrict the movement of the drain cover 25, so when the drain tank 2 changes its orientation from a transport position to a draining position, the drain cover 25 rotates around the shaft 254 as the axis of rotation in the direction from the first position to the second position.

[0056] The decorative panel 24 is a panel with the same pattern or decoration as the right side panel 116 of the housing 11. The decorative panel 24 is configured to be detachable from the outside of the right wall 214 of the tank body 21. When the drain tank 2 is housed in the device body 10, the decorative panel 24 is flush with the right side panel 116 of the housing 11.

[0057] The handle 23 has a gripping portion 231 that the user holds when carrying the drainage tank 2, and is attached to the tank body 21 such that the position of the gripping portion 231 in the vertical direction D1 is variable. The gripping portion 231 only needs to be displaceable in the vertical direction D1, and may be further displaceable in directions intersecting the vertical direction D1 (left-right direction D2 or front-back direction D3). The handle 23 has a gripping portion 231, a pair of first arms 232, a pair of second arms 233, a pair of shaft portions 234, and a restraining portion 235.

[0058] The gripping portion 231 is a rod-shaped member having a length in the front-rear direction D3. The gripping portion 231 is outside the tank body 21, more specifically above the tank body 21, and its position in the vertical direction D1 is displaceable.

[0059] The pair of first arms 232 are connected to both ends of the gripping portion 231 in the front-rear direction D3, and are rod-shaped members that extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the gripping portion 231 so as to be parallel to each other. The lower end of each first arm 232 is provided with a cylindrical shaft portion 234 that protrudes outward in the front-rear direction D3. The front shaft portion 234 of the pair of shaft portions 234 is supported by a bearing portion 216a on the front projection wall 216 of the tank body 21, and the rear shaft portion 234 is supported by a bearing portion 216a on the rear projection wall 216 of the tank body 21. As a result, the handle 23 is supported on the tank body 21 so as to be rotatable with the pair of shaft portions 234 as the axis of rotation.

[0060] Furthermore, each first arm 232 is provided with a claw portion 232a that protrudes to the left from its lower end. Each claw portion 232a is inserted into a recess 253b of the third member 253 of the drain cover 25 when the drain cover 25 is in the first position and the drain tank 2 is in the transport position.

[0061] The pair of second arms 233 are connected to the lower ends of the pair of first arms 232 and are rod-shaped members that extend in approximately the same direction as the length of the first arms 232 so as to be parallel to each other. The upper end of each second arm 233 is provided with a rectangular restricting piece 233a in plan view that protrudes outward in the front-rear direction D3. Each restricting piece 233a rotates with the rotation of the handle 23, and is positioned so that a part of the corresponding protruding wall 216 is located on its trajectory.

[0062] The lower end of each restricting piece 233a contacts the corresponding protruding wall 216 when the handle 23 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the front and the gripping portion 231 reaches the upper limit position (described later), thereby restricting the rotation of the handle 23 (see Figure 10). In other words, each restricting piece 233a corresponds to a first restricting part that contacts the tank body 21 and restricts the movement of the handle 23 when the gripping portion 231 is in the upper limit position. Furthermore, the upper end of each restricting piece 233a contacts the corresponding protruding wall 216 when the handle 23 rotates clockwise when viewed from the front and the gripping portion 231 reaches the lower limit position (described later), thereby restricting the rotation of the handle 23 (see Figure 11). In other words, each restricting piece 233a corresponds to a second restricting part that contacts the tank body 21 and restricts the movement of the handle 23 when the gripping portion 231 is in the lower limit position. Thus, in this embodiment, each restricting piece 233a performs the functions of both the first and second restricting parts.

[0063] The restraining portion 235 is a rectangular member in plan view with a length in the front-rear direction D3. Both ends of the restraining portion 235 are connected to the lower ends of a pair of second arms 233. The center of the left end of the restraining portion 235 is recessed toward the right side (i.e., toward the inside of the tank body 21) in plan view, to match the shape of the left wall 215 of the tank body 21. The restraining portion 235 is close to the left wall 215 of the tank body 21 when the gripping portion 231 is in the lower limit position (see Figure 11), and close to the bottom wall 211 of the tank body 21 when the gripping portion 231 is in the upper limit position (see Figure 10). Here, "close" includes the restraining portion 235 contacting the left wall 215 or the bottom wall 211, or the distance between the left wall 215 or the bottom wall 211 and the restraining portion 235 being less than or equal to a threshold (e.g., a few mm to a dozen mm).

[0064] The following describes the range of movement of the gripping portion 231 of the handle 23. The gripping portion 231 is configured to be movable between an upper limit position and a lower limit position. Here, the upper limit position is the position where the height of the gripping portion 231 in the vertical direction D1 is highest when the handle 23 is rotated, as shown in Figure 10. Specifically, the upper limit position is the end position of the gripping portion 231 when the handle 23 is rotated counterclockwise when viewed from the front. When the gripping portion 231 is in the upper limit position, it is located above the rotation center (a pair of shaft portions 234) of the handle 23. In this embodiment, since the user grasps the gripping portion 231 in the upper limit position to carry the drainage tank, the gripping portion 231 being in the upper limit position corresponds to the drainage tank 2 being in a transport position.

[0065] The lower limit position is the position where the height of the gripping portion 231 in the vertical direction D1 is lowest when the handle 23 is rotated, as shown in Figure 11. Specifically, the lower limit position is the end position of the gripping portion 231 when the handle 23 is rotated clockwise when viewed from the front. When the gripping portion 231 is in the lower limit position, it is located above the right wall 214 of the tank body 21. In this embodiment, since the drain tank 2 is housed in the device body 10 with the gripping portion 231 in the lower limit position, the gripping portion 231 being in the upper limit position corresponds to the drain tank 2 being in the housed position.

[0066] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the drain cover 25 (first member 251) can be opened and closed when the grip portion 231 is below the upper limit position, allowing condensation water inside the tank body 21 to be drained to the outside. Therefore, the grip portion 231 being below the upper limit position corresponds to the drain tank 2 being in a draining position.

[0067] The features of the drainage tank 2 according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0068] In the drainage tanks shown in related technologies, the lid must be opened and closed when draining water. In contrast, in the drainage tank 2 according to this embodiment, the drainage cover 25 is configured to move from a first position to a second position as the drainage tank 2 changes its orientation from a transport position to a drainage position. Therefore, simply by tilting the drainage tank 2, the drainage cover 25 is pushed by the condensation water inside the tank body 21, opening the drain port 20 and allowing the condensation water to be drained. Thus, the drainage tank 2 according to this embodiment has the advantage of eliminating the need to open and close the lid when draining water, as is the case with the drainage tanks shown in related technologies, and making it easier to drain condensation water. Note that the drainage cover 25 may also be configured to open without being pushed by the condensation water inside the tank body 21, for example, by tilting the tank body 21 by a predetermined angle or more when the drainage tank 2 is in the drainage position.

[0069] However, there is a problem that if the device body 10 is moved while the drain tank 2 is attached to the device body 10, the condensation water inside the tank body 21 may shake, potentially causing the condensation water to leak out of the drain port 20. Similarly, when removing the drain tank 2 from the device body 10, there is a problem that the condensation water inside the tank body 21 may shake, potentially causing the condensation water to leak out of the drain port 20.

[0070] In contrast, in the drain tank 2 according to this embodiment, the drain cover 25 is in a first position that closes the drain port 20 when the drain tank 2 is in a position other than the drain position. Therefore, even if the condensation water inside the tank body 21 shakes, the drain cover 25 pushes the condensation water back into the tank body 21, which has the advantage that condensation water is less likely to leak out of the drain port 20.

[0071] Furthermore, the drainage tank 2 according to this embodiment has various advantages, such as making it less likely for condensation water to leak from the tank body 21 to the outside, by having the various configurations shown below. Each configuration will be described in detail below.

[0072] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 12, at least the end of the drain cover 25 on the drain port 20 side (here, the left end) is configured to be located below the upper end of the wall of the tank body 21 on the drain port 20 side (here, the left wall 215) when the drain port 20 is closed. In other words, when the drain cover 25 is in the first position, at least the end (left end) opposite to the direction in which the drain tank 2 is pulled out of the device body 10 is located below the upper end of the tank body 21.

[0073] Therefore, even if condensation water adheres to the drain cover 25 during drainage work, the condensation water is less likely to overflow the wall of the tank body 21, which has the advantage of reducing the likelihood of water leakage after drainage work. In addition, when returning the drain tank 2 to the device body 10 after drainage work, even if the drain cover 25 moves, there is a low possibility that the drain cover 25 will move above the upper edge of the wall of the tank body 21, which has the advantage of making it less likely for the drain cover 25 to get caught on the device body 10, making it easier to return the drain tank 2 to the device body 10.

[0074] Incidentally, when the drain tank 2 is pulled out from the main body 10, the condensation water inside the tank body 21 rises along the wall of the tank body 21 due to inertia, and if no countermeasures are taken, the drain cover 25, which can be opened and closed, may be pushed by the condensation water, causing the condensation water to spill out of the tank body 21. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 12, the drain cover 25 has an inclined portion 255 that slopes downward as it moves in the direction opposite to the direction in which the drain tank 2 is pulled out (in this case, to the left). As a result, the condensation water rising along the wall of the tank body 21 due to inertia can be suppressed by the inclined portion 255, which has the advantage that the condensation water is less likely to spill out of the tank body 21.

[0075] Specifically, as shown in the left-hand diagram of Figure 13, if the drain cover 25 is not provided with an inclined portion 255, the condensed water, subjected to inertial force, will move upward along the wall of the tank body 21, potentially pushing up the drain cover 25 and spilling outside the tank body 21. In Figure 13, the white arrows indicate the direction in which the drain tank 2 is pulled out. In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in the right-hand diagram of Figure 13, the drain cover 25 is provided with an inclined portion 255. As a result, the condensed water is guided along the inclined portion 255 towards the inside of the tank body 21, making it less likely for the drain cover 25 to be pushed up by the condensed water, and less likely for the condensed water to spill outside the tank body 21.

[0076] In this embodiment, the tank lid 22 also has an inclined portion 225 (see Figure 5) at its right end that slopes downward as it moves in the direction of removal of the drain tank 2 (to the right in this case). Therefore, even if condensation water moves upward along the wall of the tank body 21 opposite to the drain port 20 side (in this case, the right wall), the condensation water is guided to the inside of the tank body 21 along the inclined portion 225, making it less likely for condensation water to spill out of the tank body 21 through the gap between the tank lid 22 and the tank body 21.

[0077] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 12, the tank body 21 has a stepped portion 217 projecting to the opposite side of the pulling direction (to the left) on at least the inner wall opposite to the pulling direction (here, the left wall 215). When the drain cover 25 is in the first position (i.e., in the position that closes the drain port 20), the end opposite to the pulling direction (here, the left end) faces the upper surface of the stepped portion 217. Specifically, when the drain cover 25 is in the first position, its left end rests on the upper surface of the stepped portion 217.

[0078] Therefore, even if condensation water were to push up against the drain cover 25, the stepped portion 217 would weaken the force of the condensation water, thus having the advantage of preventing condensation water from spilling outside the tank body 21. In particular, in this embodiment, the upper end of the wall on the drain port 20 side of the tank body 21 (in this case, the left wall) is located above the stepped portion 217, so condensation water that reaches the stepped portion 217 is less likely to overflow the wall, further preventing condensation water from spilling outside the tank body 21.

[0079] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the step 217 is sloped so as it goes from top to bottom, it slopes inward (to the right in this case) of the tank body 21. As a result, condensation water that reaches the step 217 is guided inward along the slope to the tank body 21, which has the advantage that condensation water is less likely to remain on the step 217.

[0080] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 12, the drain cover 25 is provided with a rib 256 that protrudes from the bottom surface in the direction opposite to the pulling direction (to the left in this case) at the upper end (in this case, the left end). The rib 256 is a flat plate-shaped portion on the bottom surface of the left end of the drain cover 25, having a length in the front-rear direction D3.

[0081] Therefore, compared to a case where the drain cover 25 does not have ribs 256, the above-mentioned end of the drain cover 25 can be reinforced, making it less likely for gaps to form between the drain cover 25 and the tank body 21, and reducing the likelihood of condensation water spilling from the tank body 21 to the outside. However, if the ribs 256 are provided so as to protrude from the upper surface of the drain cover 25, a problem may arise in that condensation water tends to remain in the corner formed by the ribs 256 and the upper surface of the drain cover 25. In contrast, in this embodiment, the ribs 256 are provided so as to protrude from the lower surface of the drain cover 25, so there is no such corner, and condensation water is less likely to remain.

[0082] However, if a large amount of condensation water is stored in the tank body 21, when the drain tank 2 is pulled out from the device body 10, the condensation water stored in the tank body 21 may ripple, causing the openable and closable drain cover 25 to be pushed by the condensation water, potentially causing condensation water to spill from the tank body 21. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, when the drain cover 25 is in the first position (i.e., in the position that closes the drain port 20), it has a protrusion 251a that protrudes from the top surface above the upper end of the tank body 21. As a result, when the drain tank 2 is pulled out from the device body 10, the upward movement of the drain cover 25 is restricted by the protrusion 254a that is close to the ceiling of the space 17 in which the drain tank 2 is housed, making it difficult for the drain cover 25 to open, improving airtightness, and reducing the likelihood of condensation water spilling from the tank body 21.

[0083] By the way, when transporting the drainage tank 2 to a place where condensation water can be drained, the drainage tank 2 may shake, causing the condensation water stored in the tank body 21 to leak out. In particular, as described above, if the drainage cover 25 is openable and closable, the condensation water stored in the tank body 21 may ripple as the drainage tank 2 shakes, and the condensation water may push open the drainage cover 25, causing water leakage. Therefore, in this embodiment, the drainage tank 2 is further equipped with a locking mechanism 26 that restricts the movement of the drainage cover 25 from its first position, at least when the drainage tank 2 is in a transport position. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, the locking mechanism 26 is composed of a pair of claws 232a provided on the handle 23 and a pair of recesses 253b provided on the third member 253 of the drainage cover 25. In other words, the locking mechanism 26 is located on the handle 23. In this embodiment, the locking mechanism 26 restricts the movement of the drain cover 25 from its first position by having each claw portion 232a provided on the handle 23 engage with each recess 253b provided on the drain cover 25. Therefore, the drain tank 2 according to this embodiment has the advantage that the drain cover 25 is less likely to open when carrying the drain tank 2, improving airtightness and thus reducing the likelihood of water leakage.

[0084] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the locking mechanism 26 is configured to be in either a locked state, which restricts the movement of the drain cover 25 from its first position, or an unlocked state, which releases the restriction, depending on the position of the handle 23. Specifically, when the gripping portion 231 of the handle 23 is in the upper limit position, the locking mechanism 26 is in a locked state when each claw portion 232a provided on the handle 23 fits into each recess 253b provided on the drain cover 25. When the gripping portion 231 is located below the upper limit position, the locking mechanism 26 is in an unlocked state when each claw portion 232a provided on the handle 23 disengages from each recess 253b provided on the drain cover 25.

[0085] Therefore, in this embodiment, the user can switch the locking mechanism 26 to either the locked or unlocked state by an action that the user naturally performs, such as gripping the handle 231 and lifting the drain tank 2. This eliminates the need for the user to directly operate the locking mechanism 26, which has the advantage of improving the usability of the drain tank 2.

[0086] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the drainage tank 2 is in a transport position (see upper right of Figure 6), if the user tilts the drainage tank 2, the gripping portion 231 of the handle 23 rotates clockwise from its upper limit position when viewed from the front, in accordance with the tilt of the drainage tank 2 (see lower of Figure 6). In other words, the gripping portion 231 is displaced downward when the drainage tank 2 is in a drainage position. Therefore, in this embodiment, simply by the user tilting the drainage tank 2 to the drainage position, the locking mechanism 26 switches from the locked state to the unlocked state by the rotation of the handle 23, so that the user can perform the drainage operation without operating the handle 23, which has the advantage of improving the usability of the drainage tank 2.

[0087] Incidentally, as already mentioned, when the drain tank 2 is pulled out from the main body 10, the condensation water inside the tank body 21 rises along the wall of the tank body 21 due to inertia, and if no countermeasures are taken, the drain cover 25, which can be opened and closed, may be pushed by the condensation water, causing the condensation water to spill out of the tank body 21. In particular, in this embodiment, the wall of the tank body 21 on the drain port 20 side is formed to be narrower in the front-rear direction D3 than the other walls, so if no countermeasures are taken, there is a high possibility that the condensation water will spill out of the tank body 21.

[0088] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the handle 23 has a gripping portion 231 on the outside of the tank body 21 with respect to the axis of rotation relative to the tank body 21 (here, a pair of shaft portions 234), and a restraining portion 235 on the inside of the tank body 21. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the restraining portion 235 has a surface that is long in the direction along the axis of rotation (here, the front-rear direction D3). As a result, when the drain tank 2 is pulled out from the device body 10, the restraining portion 235, which is close to the wall of the tank body 21 on the drain port 20 side (here, the left wall 215), acts as a breakwater, and the condensation water that rises along the wall of the tank body 21 due to inertia can be suppressed by the restraining portion 235, which has the advantage that the condensation water is less likely to spill out of the tank body 21.

[0089] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the tank body 21 is tilted to drain condensation water from inside the tank body 21, the suppression part 235 comes into close proximity to the wall of the tank body 21 on the drain port 20 side (in this case, the left wall 215). As a result, the force with which the condensation water flows is suppressed by the suppression part 235, which has the advantage of making it easier to adjust the amount of condensation water drained per unit time. This is particularly effective when the drain port 20 is relatively large.

[0090] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the handle 23 has a restricting piece 233a (first restricting part) that contacts the tank body 21 and restricts the movement of the handle 23 when the gripping part 231 is in the upper limit position (i.e., in the transport position). As a result, in the transport position, the movement of the handle 23 (in this case, counterclockwise rotation when viewed from the front) is restricted by the restricting piece 233a, meaning the handle 23 is fixed. This has the advantage that when carrying the drainage tank 2, the condensation water inside the tank body 21 is less likely to shake and spill out of the tank body 21.

[0091] In particular, in this embodiment, the restricting piece 233a (first restricting part) is provided on the second arm 233 rather than on the shaft portion 234 of the handle 23. This is because if the restricting piece 233a were provided on the shaft portion 234 of the handle 23, it would be close to the rotation center of the handle 23, making it prone to variations in the angle at which the restricting piece 233a restricts the rotation of the handle 23, and also prone to wear due to the restricting piece 233a being in contact with the tank body 21.

[0092] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, a restraining portion 235 is provided on the handle 23, and the restraining portion 235 is fixed in a position close to the bottom wall 211 of the tank body 21 when the gripping portion 231 is in the upper limit position. Therefore, the restraining portion 235 acts as resistance in the condensation water inside the tank body 21, which has the advantage of reducing the shaking of the handle 23. In addition, since the shaking of the condensation water inside the tank body 21 is also reduced by the restraining portion 235, there is also the advantage that condensation water is less likely to spill to the outside of the tank body 21.

[0093] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the handle 23 has a restricting piece 233a (second restricting part) that contacts the tank body 21 and restricts the movement of the handle 23 when the gripping part 231 is in the lower limit position (i.e., in the storage position). As a result, the movement of the handle 23 (here, clockwise rotation when viewed from the front) is restricted by the restricting piece 233a in the storage position, meaning the handle 23 is fixed. This has the advantage that the handle 23 is positioned when the drain tank 2 is stored in the device body 10, making it easier for the user to grip the gripping part 231 of the handle 23 when pulling the drain tank 2 out of the device body 10.

[0094] In this embodiment, the restricting piece 233a is configured to perform the functions of both the first and second restricting sections, but it is not limited to this configuration. For example, it may be divided into a restricting piece for the first restricting section and a restricting piece for the second restricting section.

[0095] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a pair of shaft portions 234 of the handle 23 are attached to the inner wall of the tank body 21 (that is, the handle 23 is supported inside the tank body 21), and the tank lid 22 has through holes 224 for passing the grip portion 231 and a pair of first arms 232 (that is, a part of the handle 23) of the handle 23 through. The tank lid 22 is attached to the tank body 21 so as to close the opening of the tank body 21 with the grip portion 231 and a pair of first arms 232 (that is, a part of the handle 23) passing through the through holes 224. For this reason, for example, when cleaning the inside of the tank body 21, the tank lid 22 can be removed from the tank body 21 without removing the handle 23 simply by moving the tank lid 22 upwards, which has the advantage of making it easier to clean the inside of the tank body 21.

[0096] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the drain cover 25 (third member 253) is configured to close the through hole 224 when it is in the first position (i.e., in the position that closes the drain port 20) and to open the through hole 224 when it is in the second position (i.e., in the position that opens the drain port 20). Therefore, except when performing drainage work or removing the tank lid 22 from the tank body 21, the through hole 224 is closed by the drain cover 25, which has the advantage that condensation water is less likely to spill out of the tank body 21 through the through hole 224.

[0097] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a taper 222 is provided at the point where condensation water from the dehumidifier falls onto the tank lid 22. The taper 222 slopes downward towards the side wall (front wall 212) of the tank body 21, and has a water inlet 223 (see Figure 5) that penetrates the tank lid 22 at its tip. As a result, condensation water that falls from the dehumidifier onto the tank lid 22 flows along the taper 222 to the water inlet 223, and then flows through the water inlet 223 along the side wall of the tank body 21 to the bottom wall 211, which has the advantage of making it easier to suppress the impact noise caused by the condensation water falling onto the bottom wall 211 or the water surface. In addition, the water inlet 223 may be formed such that the first arm 232 is located directly below the tip of the taper 222. As a result, even if only a small amount of condensation falls from the dehumidifier onto the tank lid 22, and the condensation does not reach the side wall of the tank body 21 but falls straight down from the tip of the tapered section 222, the condensation will fall onto the first arm 232 and flow down along the first arm 232. Therefore, even if only a small amount of condensation falls, there is an advantage in that the impact noise caused by the condensation falling onto the bottom wall 211 or the water surface is easily suppressed.

[0098] [3] Louver configuration The detailed configuration of the louver 3 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 14 to 19. The louver 3 is a component that controls the direction of the airflow sent out to the outside from the air blower section inside the main body 10 through the outlet 14, and is provided in the blower. In this embodiment, the blower corresponds to the dehumidifier 1.

[0099] As shown in Figure 14, the louver 3 is located on the top panel 112 of the device body 10, behind the operating unit 12. Specifically, as shown in Figure 15, a rectangular frame 19 with a rectangular air outlet 14 opening is located behind the operating unit 12 on the top panel 112, and the louver 3 is attached to this frame 19, thereby being located behind the operating unit 12. The louver 3 comprises a plurality (in this case, two) of louver bodies 30, a plurality (in this case, two) of auxiliary louvers 31, and a case 32. Hereinafter, when distinguishing between the two louver bodies 30, the louver body 30 located on the rear side will be referred to as the "first louver body 30a," and the louver body 30 located on the front side will be referred to as the "second louver body 30b."

[0100] Each louver body 30 is a component that controls the direction of the airflow (primarily the front-to-back direction D3) blown out from inside the device body 10 through the outlet 14. In this embodiment, the multiple louver bodies 30 (first louver body 30a and second louver body 30b) are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction (left-to-right direction D2) of the shaft portion 302 of the louver body 30, more specifically in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the up-and-down direction D1 (front-to-back direction D3). This has the advantage of making it easier to control the direction of the airflow more precisely compared to when the direction of the airflow is controlled by a single louver body 30. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, each louver body 30 has a blade 301, a pair of shaft portions 302, and a pair of arms 303.

[0101] The blade 301 is rectangular in plan view and has a length in the left-right direction D2. The blade 301 is configured to receive airflow. Specifically, the blade 301 receives airflow sent from the blower inside the device body 10 on its lower surface (back surface), thereby controlling the airflow to be directed along the surface of the blade 301. The upper surface (front surface) of the blade 301 is decorated with a pattern or ornament over its entire surface, as shown in Figure 14. However, the upper surface of the blade 301 does not necessarily have to be decorated with a pattern or ornament.

[0102] As shown in Figure 15, multiple ribs 301a are provided on the underside (back surface) of the blade 301. Each rib 301a protrudes from the underside of the blade 301 in a direction perpendicular to the underside and is integrally formed with the blade 301 so as to connect the front edge and the rear edge of the blade 301. The multiple ribs 301a are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction D2) of the blade 301. Furthermore, the multiple ribs 301a are inclined such that the angle between the longitudinal direction and the front-rear direction D3 increases as you move outward from the center of the blade 301 in the longitudinal direction. In other words, the multiple ribs 301a are arranged radially on the back surface of the blade 301. To put it another way, the blade 301 has ribs 301a that protrude from the surface that receives the airflow (back surface) and whose longitudinal direction is inclined in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft (left-right direction D2), or more specifically, in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the up-down direction D1 (front-rear direction D3). This has the advantage that each louver body 30 not only controls the direction of the airflow in the front-to-back direction D3, but also makes it easier to control the direction of the airflow in the left-to-right direction D2 by each rib 301a. In addition, since the back surface of each louver body 30 is reinforced by each rib, there is also the advantage that the durability of each louver body 30 is easily improved.

[0103] In this embodiment, the length of the vane 301 in the left-right direction D2 in a plan view is longer than the length of the outlet 14 in the left-right direction D2. In other words, when the vane 301 is in the closed position (described later), it is formed with dimensions that block the outlet 14 so that it is not exposed in the left-right direction D2. To put it another way, the dimensions of the vane 301 are larger than those of the outlet 14 in the axial direction (left-right direction D2) of the shaft portion 302. This has the advantage that airflow is less likely to leak out from both ends of the outlet 14 in the left-right direction D2, making it easier to suppress unintended airflow leakage.

[0104] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the blades 301 of the first louver body 30a and the blades 301 of the second louver body 30b are configured with different dimensions. Specifically, as shown in Figure 14, the length D3 in the front-rear direction of the first louver body 30a is longer than the length D3 in the front-rear direction of the second louver body 30b. In other words, the blades 301 of the multiple louver bodies 30 each have different dimensions in at least the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft (left-right direction D2), and more specifically, in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the up-down direction D1 (front-rear direction D3). This has the advantage of making it easier to control the direction of the airflow compared to the case where the dimensions in the front-rear direction D3 of the blades 301 of each louver body 30 are the same. For example, if the blades 301 of each louver body 30 are in the fully open position, and the dimensions of the blades 301 of each louver body 30 are the same in the front-rear direction D3, the airflow may not hit the blades 301 of the first louver body 30a, making it difficult to control the direction of the airflow. In contrast, in this embodiment, when the blades 301 of each louver body 30 are in the fully open position, the airflow is more likely to hit the blades 301 of the first louver body 30a, making it easier to control the direction of the airflow.

[0105] A pair of shafts 302 are attached to both ends of the frame 19 in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction D2). Each pair of shafts 302 is connected to the blade 301 via a pair of arms 303. Specifically, the left shaft 302 of the pair of shafts 302 is connected to the left end of the rear edge of the blade 301 via the left arm 303 of the pair of arms 303, and the right shaft 302 is connected to the right end of the rear edge of the blade 301 via the right arm 303. This allows the blade 301 to rotate around the pair of shafts 302 as its central axis. Here, each arm 303 of the second louver body 30b is roughly U-shaped when viewed from the left-right direction D2, and is curved so as not to interfere with the operating part 12 when the blade 301 rotates.

[0106] In this embodiment, the blades 301 of each louver body 30 are configured to rotate between a closed position and a fully open position with respect to a pair of shafts 302 as the central axis. Here, the closed position is the position in which, as shown in Figure 16, the blades 301 rotate counterclockwise when viewed from the left with respect to the pair of shafts 302 as the central axis, so that the upper surface (surface) of the blades 301 is substantially flush with the top panel 112 of the device body 10, and the blades 301 block a portion of the air outlet 14. The fully open position is the position in which the blades 301 reach the furthest forward in their range of motion, as shown in Figure 17, by rotating clockwise when viewed from the left with respect to the pair of shafts 302 as the central axis.

[0107] Furthermore, the blades 301 of the first louver body 30a block the rear half of the air outlet 14 in a plan view when in the closed position. Similarly, the blades 301 of the second louver body 30b block the front half of the air outlet 14 in a plan view when in the closed position. In other words, the blades 301 of the first louver body 30a and the second louver body 30b block the entire air outlet 14 in a plan view when in the closed position. To put it another way, in each of the multiple louver bodies 30 (here, the first louver body 30a and the second louver body 30b), the blades 301 can be moved to a closed position that blocks a part of the air outlet 14. And the blades 301 of the multiple louver bodies 30 block the air outlet 14 when in the closed position. This has the advantage that it makes it difficult for airflow to leak out of the air outlet 14 while avoiding the blades 301 of each louver body 30, thus making it easier to suppress unintended airflow leakage.

[0108] When the blades 301 of each louver body 30 are in the closed position, the blades 301 of each louver body 30 completely block the air outlet 14 in a plan view, but the air outlet 14 is not completely blocked. That is, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 16, the upper end of the frame body 19 is inclined downward from the front end to the rear end. Therefore, even when the blades 301 of each louver body 30 are in the closed position, there is a gap 14a between the rear end of the first louver body 30a and the upper end of the rear end of the frame body 19, so that airflow is sent out to the outside of the device body 10 through this gap 14a.

[0109] In this embodiment, the pair of shaft portions 302 are located in different locations from the blades 301, as shown in Figures 16 and 17. Specifically, the shaft portions 302 are located outside the blades 301, more specifically in front of the front end of the blades 301, when viewed from the vertical direction D1, so as not to overlap with the blades 301. In other words, each shaft portion 302 is located outside the blades 301 and rotatably supports the blades 301 relative to the outlet 14. Therefore, in this embodiment, the blades 301 are substantially flush with the top panel 112 in the closed position, and are located above the top panel 112 in positions other than the closed position, including the fully open position, and are never located below the top panel 112, or even inside the outlet 14. In other words, the entire blade 301 is located outside the outlet 14 at any position within its range of motion.

[0110] Each auxiliary louver 31 is positioned inside the main body of the device 10 beyond the outlet 14 and is a component that controls the direction (mainly the left-right direction D2) of the airflow blown out from inside the main body of the device 10 through the outlet 14. In this embodiment, the two auxiliary louvers 31 are housed in the case 32 so as to be aligned in the length direction (left-right direction D2) of the case 32, with a partition vane 191 (see Figure 15) provided in the center of the frame 19 in the length direction (left-right direction D2) as the boundary (see Figure 18). Each auxiliary louver 31 has a plurality (in this case, three) of first vanes 311 and second vanes 312.

[0111] Each first blade 311 is rectangular in shape when viewed from above and is configured to receive airflow. Specifically, each first blade 311 receives airflow from the blower inside the device body 10 on at least one of its left and right surfaces, thereby controlling the airflow to a direction along the surface of each first blade 311. In other words, each of the multiple first blades 311 controls the direction of airflow in the axial direction (left-right direction D2) of the shaft portion 302 of the louver body 30. Each first blade 311 is provided with a first shaft portion 311a at both ends in the front-rear direction D3. Each first blade 311 is supported by the case 32 so that it can rotate around its central axis, with the front first shaft portion 311a inserted into a bearing portion 322 (described later) provided on the front wall of the case 32, and the rear first shaft portion 311a inserted into a bearing portion 322 provided on the rear wall of the case 32. In this embodiment, in each auxiliary louver 31, the multiple first blades 311 are supported by the case 32 so as to be arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction D2) of the case 32.

[0112] In this embodiment, each first blade 311 is configured to allow the user to change its angle by moving it manually. Alternatively, each first blade 311 may be configured to allow the angle to be changed electrically, for example, using an actuator.

[0113] A notch 311b is provided in the center of each first wing 311 in the front-to-back direction D3, with a length in the vertical direction D1 extending from the lower edge to the vicinity of the upper edge. The notch 311b is shaped to match the shape of the second wing 312 when viewed from the left-to-right direction D2, and is provided with dimensions that allow the second wing 312 to be inserted.

[0114] The second blade 312 is rectangular in plan view and has a length in the left-right direction D2. In this embodiment, the second blade 312 is formed to be longer than the length between the first blades 311 at both ends when a plurality of first blades 311 are arranged at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction D2. A plurality of bearing portions 312a are provided at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction D2 on the lower edge of the second blade 312. The second shaft portion 311c (described later) of the corresponding first blade 311 is inserted into each bearing portion 312a.

[0115] Here, each first blade 311 is provided with a second shaft portion 311c at its lower edge, connecting the open ends at the lower end of the notch 311b. Each first blade 311 is connected to the second blade 312 by the insertion of the second shaft portion 311c into a bearing portion 312a provided on the second blade 312. Therefore, when any one of the multiple first blades 311 moves, the other first blades 311 connected to the second blade 312 also move in conjunction. Specifically, using the position of each first blade 311 shown in the middle of Figure 19 as the reference position, if, for example, any first blade 311 is rotated counterclockwise, the other first blades 311 will also rotate counterclockwise, as shown in the upper part of Figure 19. Furthermore, if, for example, one of the first blades 311 is rotated clockwise at the reference position, the other first blades 311 will also rotate clockwise, as shown in the lower part of Figure 19. In this way, the second blade 312 is connected to multiple first blades 311 and is configured to support the multiple first blades 311 so that they can move together.

[0116] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 16, the second blade 312 is inclined forward from the center towards the upper end in the vertical direction D1. Therefore, by receiving the airflow sent from the blower unit inside the device body 10 on the inclined front surface of the second blade 312, the airflow is controlled to be oriented along the inclined surface of the second blade 312. In other words, the second blade 312 controls the direction of the airflow in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction (left-right direction D2) of the shaft portion 302 of the louver body 30, or more specifically, in a direction perpendicular to both the axial direction and the vertical direction D1 (front-back direction D3). Thus, the second blade 312 not only has the function of linking multiple first blades 311, but also has the function of controlling the direction of the airflow in the front-back direction D3. For this reason, the dehumidifier 1 (blower) according to this embodiment has the advantage of being able to control the direction of the airflow in the front-back direction D3 more precisely compared to the case where the direction of the airflow in the front-back direction D3 is controlled by the louver body 30 alone.

[0117] In this embodiment, the inclination angle of the second blade 312 is set to match the inclination angle of the blade 301 when each louver body 30 is in the fully open position. Of course, the inclination angle of the second blade 312 is not limited to this, and for example, it may be set to match the inclination angle of the blade 301 when each louver body 30 is in the half-open position.

[0118] The case 32 is a rectangular parallelepiped member with an open top surface, and houses a plurality of auxiliary louvers 31 inside. In this embodiment, the case 32 houses a plurality (here, two) of auxiliary louvers 31 arranged in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction D2). The case 32 is attached to the frame 19 by appropriate mounting means such as screws, and is positioned below the plurality of louver bodies 30 and the air outlet 14.

[0119] As shown in Figure 18, the bottom wall of case 32 is provided with a grid of multiple rectangular ventilation holes 321 in a plan view. Through these multiple ventilation holes 321, the airflow sent from the blower unit flows to each auxiliary louver 31, and the airflow that has passed through each auxiliary louver 31 flows to each louver body 30 via the outlet 14.

[0120] Multiple (in this case, six) bearing portions 322 are provided at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction D2 on the upper edge of the front wall of case 32. Similarly, multiple (in this case, six) bearing portions 322 are provided at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction D2 on the upper edge of the rear wall of case 32. Three bearing portions 322 located on the left side of the front wall and three bearing portions 322 located on the left side of the rear wall are used to attach the left auxiliary louver 31. In addition, three bearing portions 322 located on the right side of the front wall and three bearing portions 322 located on the right side of the rear wall are used to attach the right auxiliary louver 31.

[0121] The features of the louver 3 according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0122] In the blower A1 shown in the related technology, as shown in Figure 20, the louver A2 is configured such that the blade A21 rotates around a shaft A22 located in the middle of the blade A21. Therefore, in the blower A1 shown in the related technology, when the blade A21 rotates around the shaft A22, a part of the blade A21 enters the device body A3. To avoid interference between the entered part of the blade A21 and other components (in this case, auxiliary louvers) inside the device body A3, it is necessary to position the other components at a distance of D1 vertically from the outlet A4. Consequently, the blower A1 shown in the related technology has the problem that the vertical dimension D1 of the device body A3 becomes large, leading to an increase in the size of the device body A3.

[0123] Furthermore, in the blower A1 shown in the related technology, if an auxiliary louver is provided as another component, the auxiliary louver must be installed at a relatively distant position in the vertical direction D1 from the outlet A4. As a result, in the blower A1 shown in the related technology, a portion of the airflow whose direction in the horizontal direction D2 is controlled by the auxiliary louver collides with the inner wall of the main body A3 of the device before reaching the outlet A4. Consequently, the blower A1 shown in the related technology has the problem that the direction of the airflow in the horizontal direction D2 cannot be fully controlled, resulting in a narrowed airflow direction in the horizontal direction D2.

[0124] In contrast, in the blower (dehumidifier 1) according to this embodiment, in each louver body 30, each shaft portion 302 is located in a different place from the blade 301, and is configured to rotatably support the blade 301 relative to the air outlet 14. In other words, in each louver body 30, the blade 301 is configured to be located outside the air outlet 14 at any position within its range of motion. Therefore, in the blower according to this embodiment, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, the blade 301 does not enter the device body 10 when it rotates around each shaft portion 302, so the blade 301 does not interfere with other components inside the device body 10 (in this case, auxiliary louvers 31). Consequently, in the blower according to this embodiment, there is no need to install other components spaced apart from the air outlet 14 in the vertical direction D1, so the vertical dimension D1 of the blower can be reduced, which has the advantage of not leading to an increase in the size of the device body A3.

[0125] Furthermore, in the blower according to this embodiment, compared to the blower A1 shown in related technology, the auxiliary louver 31 can be installed near the outlet 14, so that the airflow whose direction in the left-right direction D2 is controlled by the auxiliary louver 31 can reach the outlet 14 without colliding with the inner wall of the device body 10. Therefore, the blower according to this embodiment has the advantage that it is easy to control the direction of the airflow in the left-right direction D2 and easy to broaden the airflow direction in the left-right direction D2.

[0126] [4] Attachment configuration The detailed configuration of the attachment 4 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 21 and 22. The attachment 4 is a component that is attached to the main body 10 of the dehumidifier 1 (blower) when drying an object such as shoes 7 (see Figure 23) or a closet, and guides the airflow from the main body 10 to the object. More specifically, the attachment 4 is a component that is detachably attached to the main body 10 of the dehumidifier 1, which blows out airflow from the outlet 14, and guides the airflow to an external outlet 8 which is located in a different place from the outlet 14 and the main body 10.

[0127] In this embodiment, a hose 5 (described later), which is a component having an external air outlet 8, is detachably attached to the attachment 4. A nozzle 6 (described later), which is also a component having an external air outlet 8, is detachably attached to the hose 5. The attachment 4 is used to dry an object by appropriately attaching either the hose 5 or the nozzle 6 depending on the type of object. The attachment 4 comprises a mounting portion 41 and an air collecting portion 42.

[0128] The mounting portion 41 is a part that is attached to the device body 10 of the dehumidifier 1 at a position corresponding to the air outlet 14. In this embodiment, the mounting portion 41 comprises an upper wall 411 which is rectangular in plan view, and a lower wall 412 which is rectangular in plan view and is provided at a predetermined distance from the upper wall 411 in the vertical direction D1. The length direction (left-right direction D2) of the upper wall 411 and the length direction (left-right direction D2) of the lower wall 412 are approximately the same. On the other hand, the dimension of the upper wall 411 in the front-rear direction D3 is larger than the dimension of the lower wall 412 in the front-rear direction D3.

[0129] The mounting portion 41 is attached to the outlet 14 of the device body 10 by inserting the upper wall 411 and the lower wall 412 into the gap 14a that is created between the rear end of the first louver body 30a and the upper end of the rear end of the frame body 19 when the blades 301 of each louver body 30 are in the closed position. In other words, the outlet 14 is equipped with a louver 3 (in this case, the first louver body 30a) that controls the direction of the airflow, and the mounting portion 41 is attached to the outlet 14 of the device body 10 by being inserted between the louver 3 and the device body 10 (gap 14a). As a result, the restricted airflow between the louver 3 and the device body 10 is sent to the attachment 4, which has the advantage of making it easier to efficiently guide the airflow from inside the device body 10 to the external outlet 8 via the attachment 4.

[0130] Here, when the blades 301 of each louver body 30 are in the closed position, the airflow sent from the blower inside the device body 10 is sent to the rear of the device body 10 via the attachment 4 attached to the gap 14a. If the device body 10 is designed to have the air outlet 14 located in front of the top panel 112, the airflow sent from the blower inside the device body 10 is sent to the front of the device body 10 via the attachment 4 attached to the gap 14a. In other words, the mounting part 41 is attached to a position corresponding to the air outlet 14 of the device body 10 so as to guide the airflow blown out from the air outlet 14 to the front or rear (in this case, the rear) of the device body 10. This makes it easier to guide the airflow from inside the device body 10 to the external air outlet 8, which is basically located below the air outlet 14, via the attachment 4, which has the advantage of making it easier to dry objects such as shoes 7.

[0131] The mounting portion 41 further includes a pair of insertion pieces 413, a pair of first elastic pieces 414, a pair of second elastic pieces 415, and a slit 416.

[0132] The pair of insertion pieces 413 are rectangular in shape in plan view and are provided at a predetermined distance D2 in the left-right direction at the front end of the upper wall 411, and protrude forward from the front end of the upper wall 411. As shown in Figure 22, when the attachment 4 is mounted at a position corresponding to the air outlet 14 of the device body 10, the tip of each insertion piece 413 is inserted below the top panel 112 (operating section 12) of the device body 10, bringing it close to the bottom surface of the top panel 112. Here, "close" includes the insertion piece 413 contacting the bottom surface of the top panel 112, or the distance between the bottom surface of the top panel 112 and each insertion piece 413 being below a threshold (for example, a few mm to tens of mm). This has the advantage of making it easier to prevent the attachment 4 from falling out of the air outlet 14, because even if a downward force is applied to the nozzle side of the attachment 4 from the outside, the upward movement of the attachment 4 is restricted by the contact of each insertion piece 413 with the lower surface of the top panel 112.

[0133] The pair of first elastic pieces 414 are rectangular in plan view and are provided at a predetermined distance in the left-right direction D2 at the center of the upper wall 411 in the front-rear direction D3. Each first elastic piece 414 has its rear end integrally formed with the upper wall 411, and the portion excluding the rear end is configured to flex in the up-down direction D1. Each first elastic piece 414 also has a claw portion 414a that protrudes upward at its front end, and this claw portion 414a is biased upward. As shown in Figure 22, when the attachment 4 is mounted to a position corresponding to the air outlet 14 of the device body 10, the claw portion 414a of each first elastic piece 414 is inserted into the gap between each louver body 30 (between the first louver body 30a and the second louver body 30b). As a result, the claw portion 414a of each first elastic piece 414 catches on the louver body 30 (in this case, the first louver body 30a). In other words, the mounting portion 41 is attached to the position corresponding to the air outlet 14 of the device body 10 by hooking onto the louvers 3 (in this case, the first louver body 30a and the second louver body 30b). This has the advantage that the mounting portion 41 is fixed to the louvers 3, making it easier to prevent the attachment 4 from falling off the air outlet 14.

[0134] The pair of second elastic pieces 415 are rectangular in shape in plan view and are provided at a predetermined distance D2 in the left-right direction at the front end of the lower wall 412. Each second elastic piece 415 has a rear end that is integrally formed with the lower wall 412, and the portion excluding the rear end is configured to flex in the up-down direction D1. Each second elastic piece 415 also has a claw portion 415a that protrudes downward at its front end, and this claw portion 415a is biased downward. As shown in Figure 22, when the attachment 4 is mounted to a position corresponding to the air outlet 14 of the device body 10, the claw portion 415a of each second elastic piece 415 catches on the inner periphery of the air outlet 14 of the frame 19. This has the advantage that the mounting portion 41 is fixed to the frame 19, making it easier to prevent the attachment 4 from falling off the air outlet 14.

[0135] The slit 416 is provided so as to extend from the center of the front end of the upper wall 411 to the rear end, and is triangular in shape when viewed from above with the front end of the upper wall 411 as the base. When the attachment 4 is attached to the position corresponding to the air outlet 14 of the device body 10, the partition vane 191 provided on the frame 19 is inserted into the slit 416. As a result, the movement of the upper wall 411 in the left-right direction D2 is restricted by the partition vane 191, which has the advantage of making it easier to position the attachment 4 relative to the air outlet 14.

[0136] The air collecting section 42 is the part that collects the airflow blown out from the outlet 14 and directs it to the external outlet 8 when the mounting section 41 is attached to the position corresponding to the outlet 14 of the device body 10. In this embodiment, the air collecting section 42 is cylindrical and is provided so that its length is aligned with the vertical direction D1. The upper end of the air collecting section 42 is connected to the rear end of the upper wall 411 and the rear end of the lower wall 412 of the mounting section 41, and its lower end faces downward. Therefore, when the attachment 4 is attached to the position corresponding to the outlet 14 of the device body 10, the airflow from inside the device body 10 passes between the upper wall 411 and the lower wall 412 of the mounting section 41, converges in the air collecting section 42, and is then sent downward from the lower end of the air collecting section 42. In this embodiment, a hose 5 having an external outlet 8 is connected to the lower end of the air collecting section 42. Therefore, the airflow discharged from the lower end of the air collecting section 42 flows through the hose 5 and is discharged from the external outlet 8. In other words, the air collecting section 42 is configured to collect airflow toward the installation surface of the device body 10 (i.e., downwards) and direct it to the external outlet 8. This makes it easier to guide the airflow from inside the device body 10 to the external outlet 8, which is basically located below the outlet 14, via the attachment 4. This has the advantage of making it easier to dry objects located relatively low down, such as shoes 7.

[0137] As described above, the lower end of the air collection section 42 is configured to allow connection of a hose 5. Specifically, the lower end of the air collection section 42 is connected to the upper end of the hose 5 by fitting a joint 51 provided on the upper end of the hose 5 into it. In other words, the air collection section 42 is configured to allow connection of a member having an external outlet 8 (in this case, a hose 5). A joint 51 may also be provided at the lower end of the air collection section 42. In this case, the hose 5 is connected to the lower end of the air collection section 42 by fitting the upper end of the hose 5 into the joint 51 of the air collection section 42.

[0138] Hose 5 is a cylindrical member that is expandable and contractible in the longitudinal direction and can be bent at any position. In this embodiment, hose 5 is a bellows hose (flexible hose), but the bellows are not shown in the drawings. As already mentioned, a joint 51 is provided at the upper end of hose 5. Therefore, hose 5 is configured to be connected to the air collection section 42 of attachment 4 using the joint 51. Also, the lower end of hose 5 is configured to be connected to a nozzle 6. Specifically, the lower end of hose 5 is connected to nozzle 6 by fitting a joint 63 provided at the upper end of nozzle 6 (here, first nozzle 61). Alternatively, a joint 63 may be provided at the lower end of hose 5. In this case, the nozzle 6 is connected to the lower end of hose 5 by fitting the upper end of nozzle 6 into the joint 63 of hose 5.

[0139] When the nozzle 6 is connected to the lower end of the hose 5, the airflow from inside the device body 10 passes through the attachment 4 and the hose 5 and is delivered to the nozzle 6 which has an external outlet 8. On the other hand, when the nozzle 6 is not connected to the lower end of the hose 5, the airflow from inside the device body 10 passes through the attachment 4 and the hose 5 and is delivered from the lower end of the hose 5. In this case, the lower end of the hose 5 corresponds to the external outlet 8.

[0140] The nozzle 6 is a component that can be inserted into an object such as a shoe 7 or a closet, and is used to deliver airflow from the device body 10 to the object. In this embodiment, the nozzle 6 has a first nozzle 61 which is the main body of the nozzle 6, and a second nozzle 62 which is detachably configured to the first nozzle 61.

[0141] The first nozzle 61 is a cylindrical member whose radial dimension increases from the upper end to the lower end, and is used, for example, to blow air into a closet to dry the inside of the closet. As already mentioned, a fitting 63 is provided at the upper end of the first nozzle 61. Therefore, the first nozzle 61 is connected to the lower end of the hose 5 by fitting the fitting 63 to the lower end of the hose 5. The lower end of the first nozzle 61 is configured to be connectable to the upper end of the second nozzle 62. Specifically, the lower end of the first nozzle 61 is connected to the upper end of the second nozzle 62 by inserting an insertion wall (not shown) that protrudes circumferentially from the lower end of the first nozzle 61 into the upper end of the second nozzle 62. Note that the insertion wall may be provided at the upper end of the second nozzle 62 instead of the lower end of the first nozzle 61.

[0142] The second nozzle 62 has a bifurcated rectangular cross-section, consisting of a first cylindrical portion 621 and a second cylindrical portion 622, and is used, for example, to blow air into a shoe 7 to dry the inside of the shoe 7. The upper ends of the first cylindrical portion 621 and the second cylindrical portion 622 are connected, and as already mentioned, it is connected to the lower end of the first nozzle 61 by inserting the insertion wall of the lower end of the first nozzle 61. The lower ends of the first cylindrical portion 621 and the second cylindrical portion 622 are open and configured to blow air. Both the first cylindrical portion 621 and the second cylindrical portion 622 are provided with rectangular air outlets 623 on their side walls. As shown in Figure 23, each air outlet 623 is positioned to face downward when the first cylindrical portion 621 and the second cylindrical portion 622 are inserted into the inside of the shoe 7. Although Figure 23 shows the first cylindrical portion 621, the second cylindrical portion 622 has a similar configuration. Therefore, the airflow passing through the first cylindrical section 621 and the second cylindrical section 622 is not only discharged from the lower ends of the first cylindrical section 621 and the second cylindrical section 622, but also from each air outlet 623. This allows airflow to be guided to the heel side of the inside of the shoe 7 facing each air outlet 623, which has the advantage of reducing uneven drying inside the shoe 7.

[0143] When the second nozzle 62 is connected to the first nozzle 61, the airflow from inside the device body 10 passes through the attachment 4, the hose 5, and the first nozzle 61, and is discharged from the first cylindrical portion 621 and the second cylindrical portion 622 of the second nozzle 62. By inserting the first cylindrical portion 621 and the second cylindrical portion 622 into the shoe 7, the inside of the shoe 7 can be dried. In this case, the lower ends of the first cylindrical portion 621 and the second cylindrical portion 622 correspond to the external air outlet 8.

[0144] On the other hand, when the second nozzle 62 is not connected to the first nozzle 61, the airflow from inside the device body 10 passes through the attachment 4 and hose 5 and is discharged from the lower end of the first nozzle 61. By inserting the lower end of the first nozzle 61 into the closet, it is possible to dry the inside of the closet. In this case, the lower end of the first nozzle 61 corresponds to the external air outlet 8.

[0145] The first cylindrical section 621 and the second cylindrical section 622 may have a support section 64 having an air outlet (not shown), for example, as shown in Figure 24. Although Figure 24 shows the first cylindrical section 621, the second cylindrical section 622 has a similar configuration. The support section 64 is, for example, a cylindrical body that is roughly L-shaped in plan view, with its upper end connected to the middle part of the first cylindrical section 621 (or the second cylindrical section 622), and is configured to discharge the airflow passing through the first cylindrical section 621 (or the second cylindrical section 622) from the air outlet. The support section 64 is also configured to be rotatable about its upper end as an axis.

[0146] Therefore, when drying shoes 7 with a relatively shallow shaft, such as sneakers, the first cylindrical part 621 (or second cylindrical part 622) can be used with the support part 64 rotated so that the lower end of the support part 64 is in contact with the inner bottom of the shoe 7. This allows the second nozzle 62 to stand upright inside the shoe 7, making it easier to maintain the second nozzle 62 in a stable position and to efficiently dry the inside of the shoe 7.

[0147] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 25, when drying shoes 7 with a relatively deep shaft, such as boots, rotating the support part 64 so that its length aligns with the length of the first cylindrical part 621 (or second cylindrical part 622) and then using the first cylindrical part 621 (or second cylindrical part 622) makes it easier to insert the second nozzle 62 into the shoe 7. Note that if the support part 64 is configured such that the air outlet is closed when the support part 64 is rotated as described above, it is possible to send airflow to the bottom of the shoe 7 without dispersing the airflow. Thus, the presence of the support part 64 in the first cylindrical part 621 (or second cylindrical part 622) offers the advantage of efficiently drying the inside of the shoe 7 in accordance with its shape.

[0148] In this embodiment, the hose 5 and the nozzle 6 are separate components, but the hose 5 and the nozzle 6 may be integrally constructed. In this case, the hose 5 and the nozzle 6 correspond to the components having the external outlet 8.

[0149] Incidentally, the attachment 4 according to this embodiment is configured to be housed inside the main body 10 of the dehumidifier 1 when it is not in use, in other words, when the mounting portion 41 is not attached to the position corresponding to the air outlet 14 of the main body 10 of the device. Specifically, as already mentioned, a housing portion 16 capable of housing the attachment 4 is provided below the filter portion 13 of the housing 11 of the main body 10. The nozzles 6 (here, the first nozzle 61 and the second nozzle 62) are housed at the rear bottom of the housing portion 16, and the attachment 4 and hose 5 can be housed in front of the nozzles 6. This has the advantage that by housing the attachment 4 in the main body 10 when it is not in use, the user can use the attachment 4 immediately when they want to use it, and the loss of the attachment 4 is less likely to occur.

[0150] The following describes how to attach the attachment 4 according to this embodiment to the position corresponding to the air outlet 14 of the dehumidifier 1 (blower). First, as shown in Figure 26, move each louver body 30 of the dehumidifier 1 to the closed position. Then, insert the mounting portion 41 of the attachment 4 into the gap 14a of the air outlet 14 so that the partition vane 191 is inserted into the slit 416. Then, the pair of insertion pieces 413 of the mounting portion 41 are inserted below the top panel 112 (operating section 12) of the main body 10 of the device. In addition, the claw portions 414a of the pair of first elastic pieces 414 of the mounting portion 41 are inserted into the gap of each louver body 30, so that the claw portions 414a of each first elastic piece 414 catch on the louver body 30 (in this case, the first louver body 30a). Furthermore, the claw portions 415a of the pair of second elastic pieces 415 of the mounting portion 41 catch on the inner periphery of the air outlet 14. As a result, the mounting portion 41 is fixed to the louver body 30 and the frame body 19, and the attachment 4 is mounted in a position corresponding to the air outlet 14 of the device body 10 (see Figure 27).

[0151] To remove the attachment 4 from the air outlet 14, the rear end of the attachment 4 is lifted upward, disengaging the claw portion 414a of each first elastic piece 414 from the gap in each louver body 30, and disengaging the claw portion 414a of each second elastic piece 415 from the inner periphery of the air outlet 14 of the frame 19. Then, by moving the attachment 4 backward, it is possible to remove the attachment 4 from the position corresponding to the air outlet 14 of the device body 10.

[0152] The timing for attaching the hose 5 and nozzle 6 to the attachment 4 may be before attaching the attachment 4 to the position corresponding to the air outlet 14 of the device body 10, or after attaching the attachment 4 to the position corresponding to the air outlet 14 of the device body 10.

[0153] The features of the attachment 4 according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0154] In the blower shown in the related technology, when used to dry objects such as shoes or closets, it is conceivable to provide a connection port for attaching an attachment (e.g., a duct hose) in a location separate from the air outlet on the main body of the device. For example, the connection port may be provided on the front or rear panel of the main body of the device, and can be closed by attaching a cap when not in use. When using the connection port, the cap can be removed and an attachment can be attached, allowing the airflow from the main body of the device through the connection port and the attachment to dry the shoes or closet.

[0155] However, in this embodiment, since a connection port is provided on the main body of the device, a process of providing a connection port on the main body of the device is required, which increases the manufacturing man-hours for the main body of the device. In addition, in this embodiment, the design of the main body of the device is impaired by the connection port. Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the connection port is not used, it is necessary to cover the connection port by attaching a cap or other means to prevent the airflow from being dispersed due to airflow flowing through both the outlet and the connection port, which impairs user convenience.

[0156] In contrast, with the attachment 4 according to this embodiment, it is possible to use the airflow from inside the device body 10 to dry an object simply by attaching it to a position corresponding to the outlet 14 that is originally provided on the main body of the blower. For this reason, the attachment according to this embodiment has the advantage that there is no need to provide a connection port in a location other than the outlet 14 on the main body 10, so the manufacturing man-hours of the main body 10 do not increase. Furthermore, with the attachment 4 according to this embodiment, there is no need to provide a connection port on the main body 10, so the problem of the design of the main body 10 being impaired by the connection port does not occur. Moreover, with the attachment 4 according to this embodiment, there is no need to perform the work of blocking the connection port when the attachment 4 is not in use, so the problem of impairing user convenience does not occur. Thus, the attachment 4 according to this embodiment has the advantage of preventing an increase in the manufacturing man-hours of the main body 10 while not impairing the design of the main body 10.

[0157] [5] Variant The following lists some modifications of the embodiment. The modifications described below can be combined and applied as appropriate.

[0158] In this embodiment, the drain port 20 of the drain tank 2 has an opening surface that is substantially parallel to the bottom wall 211 of the tank body 21, but is not limited to this. For example, the opening surface of the drain port 20 may be inclined downward from the inside to the outside of the tank body 21. In this embodiment, when the tank body 21 is tilted to drain condensation water, compared to when the opening surface of the drain port 20 is not inclined, a gap is more easily created between the drain cover 25 and the tank body 21 without tilting the tank body 21 significantly, which has the advantage of making it easier to drain condensation water.

[0159] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the left wall 215 of the tank body 21 of the drainage tank 2, that is, the wall that becomes the bottom of the tank body 21 in the drainage position, is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 211, but is not limited to this. For example, the left wall 215 of the tank body 21 (the wall that becomes the bottom when draining condensation water) may be inclined to the right (from the outside to the inside of the tank body 21) by a predetermined angle (for example, 5 degrees) or more from the upper end to the lower end. In this embodiment, when the tank body 21 is tilted to drain condensation water, compared to when the left wall 215 of the tank body 21 is not inclined, the condensation water inside the tank body 21 flows more easily to the drain port 20 along the inclination, which has the advantage that less condensation water remains in the tank body 21.

[0160] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a water inlet 223 is provided so that condensation water that falls onto the tank lid 22 flows along the inner wall of the tank body 21, but this is not limited to this. For example, the water inlet 223 may be provided above the second arm 233 of the handle 23 so as to overlap with the second arm 233 when viewed from above. In this embodiment, condensation water that falls from the dehumidifier onto the tank lid 22 passes through the water inlet 223 and flows along the second arm 233 to the bottom wall 211 of the tank body 21, which has the advantage of making it easier to suppress the impact noise caused by the condensation water falling onto the bottom wall 211 by reducing the height of the condensation water that falls onto the bottom wall 211.

[0161] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the suppression portion 235 may be provided with a plurality of holes 235a that penetrate the suppression portion 235, as shown in Figure 28. In this embodiment, as in the case where the suppression portion 235 does not have a plurality of holes 235a, the suppression portion 235 can suppress the flow rate of the condensation water when the tank body 21 is tilted to drain the condensation water inside the tank body 21. In addition, in this embodiment, compared to the case where the suppression portion 235 does not have a plurality of holes 235a, the amount of condensation water drained per unit time can be increased by allowing the condensation water to pass through the plurality of holes 235a. Therefore, this embodiment has the advantage of making it easier to ensure a sufficient amount of condensation water drained per unit time while suppressing the flow rate of the condensation water when draining it.

[0162] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the handle 23 has a pair of first arms 232 and a pair of second arms 233, but is not limited to this. For example, the handle 23 only needs to be configured so that the gripping portion 231 can rotate around the shaft portion 234 as the central axis, and may have only one first arm 232 and one second arm 233.

[0163] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the handle 23 is configured to allow the gripping portion 231 to rotate with the front-rear direction D3 as the axial direction, but it is not limited to this. For example, the handle 23 may be configured to allow the gripping portion 231 to rotate with the left-right direction D2 as the axial direction.

[0164] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the gripping portion 231 can be displaced in the vertical direction D1 by the rotation of the handle 23, but this is not limited to this. For example, the gripping portion 231 may be displaced in the vertical direction D1 by linear movement using a sliding mechanism or the like.

[0165] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the water stored in the drainage tank 2 is condensed water, but is not limited to this. For example, the water stored in the drainage tank 2 may contain contaminants generated within the device body 10 while it is housed inside the device body 10.

[0166] In this embodiment, the blower equipped with the louvers 3 is a dehumidifier 1, but is not limited to this. The blower can be any device that blows airflow from inside the device body 10 through the outlet 14, such as an air purifier, heating and cooling device, aroma diffuser, or air cooler.

[0167] In this embodiment, the hose 5 and the attachment 4 are separate components, but the hose 5 and the attachment 4 may be integrally constructed. In this case, the hose 5 and the attachment 4 correspond to the blower attachment. Furthermore, the hose 5, nozzle 6, and attachment 4 may be integrally constructed. In this case, the hose 5, nozzle 6, and attachment 4 correspond to the blower attachment.

[0168] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the blower to which the blower attachment 4 is attached is the dehumidifier 1, but it is not limited to this. The blower can be any device that blows airflow from inside the main body 10 through the outlet 14, and may be, for example, an air purifier, a heating and cooling system, an aroma diffuser, or an air cooler.

[0169] [Notes on the invention] The following is an overview of the invention extracted from the above-described embodiments. Note that each configuration and processing function described below can be selected and combined as desired.

[0170] <Note 1> An attachment for a blower that is detachably mounted to the main body of a blower that blows air from an outlet, and which directs the airflow to an external outlet located in a different location from the aforementioned outlet and from the main body of the blower, A mounting portion is attached to the main body of the device at a position corresponding to the air outlet, With the mounting portion attached to the outlet, the system includes a collection unit that collects the airflow blown out from the outlet and directs it to the external outlet. Attachment for a blower.

[0171] <Note 2> The aforementioned air outlet is equipped with a louver to control the direction of the airflow. The mounting portion is attached to the device body at a position corresponding to the air outlet by hooking onto the louver. Attachment for the blower described in Appendix 1.

[0172] <Note 3> The aforementioned air outlet is equipped with a louver to control the direction of the airflow. The mounting portion is inserted between the louver and the main body of the device, thereby being mounted at a position corresponding to the air outlet of the main body of the device. Attachments for blowers as described in Appendix 1 or 2.

[0173] <Note 4> The mounting portion is attached to the device body at a position corresponding to the outlet so as to guide the airflow blown out from the outlet to the front or rear of the device body. An attachment for a blower described in any one of the appendices 1 to 3.

[0174] <Note 5> The air collection unit collects the airflow in a direction toward the installation surface of the main body of the device and directs it to the external outlet. An attachment for a blower described in any one of the appendices 1 to 4.

[0175] <Note 6> The air collection section is configured to be connectable to the member having the external air outlet. An attachment for a blower described in any one of the appendices 1 to 5.

[0176] <Note 7> When the mounting portion is not attached to the position corresponding to the air outlet of the device body, it is configured to be housed inside the device body. An attachment for a blower described in any one of the appendices 1 to 6. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0177] 1 Dehumidification device (air blower) 10 Main unit of the device 14 Air outlet 30 louvers 4. Attachments for blowers 41 Mounting part 42 Wind collector 8. External air outlet

Claims

1. An attachment for a blower that is detachably mounted to the main body of a blower that blows air from an outlet, and which directs the airflow to an external outlet located in a different location from the aforementioned outlet and from the main body of the blower, A mounting portion is attached to the main body of the device at a position corresponding to the air outlet, With the mounting portion attached to the outlet, the system includes a collection unit that collects the airflow blown out from the outlet and directs it to the external outlet. Attachment for a blower.

2. The aforementioned air outlet is equipped with a louver to control the direction of the airflow. The mounting portion is attached to the device body at a position corresponding to the air outlet by hooking onto the louver. The attachment for a blower according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned air outlet is equipped with a louver to control the direction of the airflow. The mounting portion is inserted between the louver and the main body of the device, thereby being mounted at a position corresponding to the air outlet of the main body of the device. An attachment for a blower according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The mounting portion is attached to the device body at a position corresponding to the outlet so as to guide the airflow blown out from the outlet to the front or rear of the device body. An attachment for a blower according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The air collection unit collects the airflow in a direction toward the installation surface of the main body of the device and directs it to the external outlet. An attachment for a blower according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The air collection section is configured to be connectable to the member having the external air outlet. An attachment for a blower according to claim 1 or 2.

7. When the mounting portion is not attached to the position corresponding to the air outlet of the device body, it is configured to be housed inside the device body. An attachment for a blower according to claim 1 or 2.

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