Exterior cover

Abstract

Even when a clothes dryer with an air intake on the side wall of its casing is installed outdoors, this exterior cover allows outside air to be smoothly drawn into the clothes dryer through the air intake, while also preventing rainwater from entering the clothes dryer through the air intake. [Solution] The exterior cover 300 includes a side sheet 313 that covers the side wall 11c of the housing 11 of the clothes dryer 1 and has an opening 313b in the area facing the air intake port 70 provided on the side wall 11c, and an overhang-shaped waterproof cover 330 that extends downward from the side sheet 313 above the opening 313b so as to cover at least the upper part of the air intake port 70.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an exterior cover. In particular, the present invention relates to an exterior cover for covering a clothes dryer installed outdoors.

Background Art

[0002] In order to install a clothes dryer outdoors under eaves such as a veranda, an exterior cover made by combining plate members such as steel plates has been proposed (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). This type of exterior cover covers the entire housing of the clothes dryer except for the bottom wall of the housing substantially without gaps, preventing rainwater from entering the clothes dryer. Also, an exterior cover made of a flexible sheet different from the plate members of the patent documents has been proposed.

[0003] By the way, in the clothes dryer of the above patent documents, an air intake is provided in the bottom wall of the housing, but an air intake may be provided in the left and right side walls or the rear side wall of the housing (for example, Patent Document 3). In a clothes dryer in which an air intake is formed in the side wall of such a housing, when the side wall of the housing is covered with an exterior cover, the external air taken in from the air intake decreases. In particular, when the housing is covered without gaps with an exterior cover made of plate members such as those in Patent Documents 1 and 2, or when the housing is covered with an exterior cover made of a flexible sheet that is easy to stick, the external air cannot be sufficiently taken in from the air intake. Although it is conceivable to provide an opening in the exterior cover, since a clothes dryer installed outdoors may be exposed to heavy rain, rainwater may enter the clothes dryer from the air intake. As a result, there is a risk that electrical components may be damaged, the leakage breaker may operate, and the operation may stop.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

[0005] The present invention solves the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide an exterior cover that allows outside air to be smoothly drawn into the clothes dryer from the air intake, even when the clothes dryer, which has an air intake on the side wall of its housing, is installed outdoors, and that can suppress the intrusion of rainwater into the clothes dryer from the air intake. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to a first aspect of this technology, An outer cover for a clothes dryer having a roughly rectangular box-shaped enclosure installed outdoors, A side sheet that covers the side wall of the housing of a clothes dryer, the side sheet having an opening in the region facing the air intake opening provided in the side wall of the housing of the clothes dryer, An exterior cover is provided, comprising an overhang-shaped waterproof cover extending downward from a side sheet above the opening, so as to cover at least the top of the air intake.

[0007] According to the first embodiment described above, the side sheet covering the side wall of the housing has an opening in the area facing the air intake, so that outside air can be smoothly drawn into the clothes dryer from the air intake. Furthermore, according to the first embodiment described above, a waterproof cover in the shape of an overhang is provided that extends downward from the side sheet above the opening so as to cover at least the upper part of the air intake, so that rainwater does not enter the clothes dryer from the air intake even when the clothes dryer is installed outdoors. It can be controlled.

[0008] According to a second aspect of this technology, in the first embodiment described above, The waterproof cover has a spacer on the back of the waterproof cover.

[0009] According to the second embodiment described above, with a simple configuration, it is possible to smoothly draw in outside air from the air intake into the clothes dryer while suppressing the intrusion of rainwater into the clothes dryer from the air intake.

[0010] According to a third aspect of this technology, in the second aspect described above, The spacer is positioned such that when the waterproof cover covers the top of the air intake, the top of the spacer abuts against the side sheet above the opening, causing the bottom of the waterproof cover to be positioned outward from the top of the waterproof cover, and the gap between the waterproof cover and the air intake of the clothes dryer to widen as it goes downwards.

[0011] According to the third embodiment described above, it is possible to more reliably suppress the intrusion of rainwater into the clothes dryer from the air intake while smoothly drawing in outside air from the air intake into the clothes dryer.

[0012] According to a fourth aspect of this technology, in any one of the first to third aspects described above, The outer cover is made of a flexible sheet. The waterproof cover consists of a flat sheet. The waterproof cover has a rigid body around the periphery of a flat sheet.

[0013] According to the fourth embodiment described above, even if the waterproof cover is exposed to heavy rain, it is less likely to deform and can maintain its eaves shape. This allows outside air to be smoothly drawn into the clothes dryer through the air intake while suppressing the intrusion of rainwater into the clothes dryer through the air intake.

[0014] According to a fifth aspect of this technology, in any one of the first to fourth aspects described above, The clothes dryer enclosure comprises a front side sheet covering the front wall, a rear side sheet covering the rear wall, a left side sheet covering the left wall, a right side sheet covering the right wall, and a top sheet covering the top wall. At least one of the left side sheet, the right side sheet, or the rear side sheet has an opening provided in a region facing an air inlet formed in the left side wall, the right side wall, or the rear side wall of the housing of the clothes dryer, and an eaves-shaped waterproof cover extending downward from the side sheet above the opening so as to cover at least the upper part of the air inlet.

[0015] According to the fifth aspect, even when an air inlet is formed in one of the left and right side walls or the rear side wall of the housing of the clothes dryer, external air can be smoothly taken into the clothes dryer from the air inlet while suppressing the intrusion of rainwater from the air inlet into the clothes dryer.

[0016] According to the sixth aspect of the present technology, in the fifth aspect, When the front side sheet is rolled up upward, a front opening that opens forward is formed. A belt-shaped portion is provided to connect and fix the lower part of the left side sheet and the lower part of the right side sheet across the front opening.

[0017] According to the sixth aspect, when the clothes dryer is covered with the exterior cover, the intake filter attached to the air inlet can be easily attached and detached.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an exterior cover and a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view showing a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a clothes dryer covered with an exterior cover in a state where the front side sheet is rolled up according to an embodiment of the present invention. <​​​ [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the main part of a clothes dryer covered with an outer cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] The following describes the exterior cover for a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the exterior cover and clothes dryer according to this embodiment, Figure 2 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the clothes dryer in the front-to-back direction, and Figure 3 is a schematic rear view showing the clothes dryer with the rear side wall of the housing omitted.

[0020] The exterior cover 300 shown in Figure 1 is used for a clothes dryer 1 installed outdoors under the eaves of a balcony or similar structure. The clothes dryer 1 is a gas clothes dryer that dries clothes using air heated by the combustion of gas. The exterior cover 300 of this embodiment can also be applied to an electric heater type clothes dryer. In this specification, the side of the opening / closing door 12 of the clothes dryer 1 is referred to as the front side, the depth direction is referred to as the front-to-back direction, the width direction as the left-to-right direction, and the height direction as the up-and-down direction when viewing the clothes dryer 1 from the front side.

[0021] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the housing 11 is a roughly rectangular box shape and has a front side wall 11a and a rear side wall 11b that face each other in the front-to-back direction, a left side wall 11c and a right side wall 11d that face each other in the left-to-right direction, and a top wall 11e and a bottom wall 11f that face each other in the up-to-down direction. The opposing walls only need to be arranged so as to face each other in each direction, and they may be the same shape or different shapes.

[0022] The front wall 11a of the housing 11 is provided with a clothing removal opening 100 that is opened and closed by an opening / closing door 12. Although not shown, an opening is provided in the lower front part of the left side wall 11c of the housing 11, and a filter frame 60 is provided in the opening. An intake filter 61 (see Figures 5 and 6) is detachably mounted on the filter frame 60. The intake port 70 is formed by the ribs of the filter frame 60. Alternatively, the intake port 70 may be formed by the opening in the side wall of the housing 11 without providing the filter frame 60, or the filter frame 60 may be integrally formed on the side wall of the housing 11. Furthermore, the intake port 70 is provided on at least one of the front, rear, left, and right side walls 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d, preferably on the rear side wall 11b or at least one of the left and right side walls 11c, 11d, and more preferably on at least one of the left side wall 11b or the right side wall 11c. The filter frame 60 has a gap of a certain size for holding the intake filter 61 and has an insertion opening at its front end that communicates with the gap. This allows the intake filter 61 to be inserted into the filter frame 60 from the front and removed from the filter frame 60. An exhaust port 10 is provided at the left rear end of the upper wall 11e of the housing 11, and a dehumidifying top 80 is attached to the exhaust port 10. The dehumidifying top 80 is composed of a short cylindrical connecting portion 81 extending upward from the exhaust port 10 and a deformed elliptical exhaust end portion 82 that is bent horizontally from the connecting portion 81. An exhaust opening 83 is provided on one side of the exhaust end portion 82, which is the downstream end of the dehumidifying top 80.

[0023] An entrance forming section 101 is provided behind the front wall 11a of the housing 11. The entrance forming section 101 has a cylindrical section 102 extending rearward from the clothing removal opening 100 and a hollow lower duct section 103 extending downward from the lower part of the cylindrical section 102.

[0024] Inside the housing 11, a cylindrical rotating drum 3, with a circular drum opening 130 on its front, is housed in a sideways position. The rotating drum 3 is positioned inside the housing 11 with its axis of rotation extending approximately horizontally in the front-rear direction. An annular front drum support 14 is provided on the outer circumference of the rear end of the cylindrical portion 102 of the inlet forming section 101.

[0025] A semicircular opening 121 (hereinafter referred to as "hot air outlet 121") is provided in a certain area below the cylindrical portion 102 of the inlet forming section 101. The hot air outlet 121 communicates with the lower duct section 103. A lint collection unit 19 equipped with a lint filter is detachably inserted into the hot air outlet 121. As a result, the air inside the rotating drum 3 is exhausted into the exhaust path via the lint collection unit 19 inserted into the hot air outlet 121.

[0026] A rear wall 133 is connected to the rear end of the body 131 of the rotating drum 3. A cylindrical support shaft 15 is inserted through the center of the rear wall 133 of the rotating drum 3. The support shaft 15 is inserted through a rear drum support 111 which is erected inside the housing 11 behind the rear wall 133 of the rotating drum 3. The outer circumference of the flat plate portion of the rear drum support 111 has an opening 112 of a certain width in an annular region facing the duct connection port 171 formed on the front of the air supply duct 17, which will be described later.

[0027] A transmission belt 160 is stretched between the outer circumference of the rotating drum 3 and the drum drive pulley on one end of the output shaft of the motor 16 (not shown). A fan pulley 151 is attached to the rear end of the support shaft 15. A fan belt 155 is stretched between the fan pulley 151 and a fan drive pulley 154 attached to the output shaft on the other end of the motor 16. The rotating drum 3 and the intake / exhaust fan 21 are rotated by the belt drive of the common motor 16.

[0028] A flat, roughly semi-circular air intake duct 17 is provided in the left region of the rear side of the rear drum support 111 to supply hot air heated by the burner 9, which is the heating element, into the rotating drum 3. An inlet 170 is provided at the upper rear of the air intake duct 17, which opens to the rear and communicates with the combustion chamber 5, which will be described later. In addition, a duct connection port 171 is provided on almost the entire front surface of the air intake duct 17, which opens to the front and blows hot air forward.

[0029] An exhaust section 200 of the exhaust duct 20 is located in the center of the rear side of the rear drum support 111. The rear opening 210 of the exhaust section 200 (hereinafter referred to as "exhaust outlet 210") faces the fan intake port 40 of the fan case 4. An opening 20a that opens forward is provided at the lower end of the exhaust duct 20. The exhaust duct 20 is connected via the opening at the lower end of the rear drum support 111 to a connecting duct 120 that extends from the lower end of the lower duct section 103, which communicates with the hot air outlet 121, to the rear of the rotating drum 3.

[0030] A fan case 4 housing the intake and exhaust fans 21 is provided behind the intake duct 17 and the exhaust duct 20. The fan case 4 has a front wall 43 and a rear wall 44, a fan intake port 40 that opens in the front wall 43 and communicates with the exhaust outlet 210 of the exhaust duct 20, and a fan discharge port 41 that protrudes tangentially upward from the circumferential surface of the fan case 4 and communicates with the exhaust port 10 formed in the upper wall 11e of the housing 11.

[0031] Multiple small circular holes 135 (hereinafter referred to as "hot air outlets 135") are drilled radially around the pivot shaft 15 in a recess in the rear wall 133 of the rotating drum 3. The hot air sent from the combustion chamber 5 to the air supply duct 17 is guided through these hot air outlets 135 into the gap between the rear wall 133 and the cover plate 153, which will be described later.

[0032] A roughly circular disc-shaped fixing flange 152 is fixed to the front end of the support shaft 15, extending outward. The front surface of the fixing flange 152 covers roughly the entire front surface of the rear wall 133, which is the rotating drum 3 A disc-shaped cover plate 153 is fixed in a non-rotating state to cover the inside. Multiple small circular holes (not shown) are drilled in an annular region of a predetermined width on the outer circumference of the cover plate 153.

[0033] The front wall of the combustion chamber 5 has an outlet 57 that opens forward. The outlet 57 is connected to an inlet 170 located on the upper rear surface of the previously described intake air duct 17. Multiple burners 9 are positioned near the right end of the combustion chamber 5.

[0034] A valve unit 92 is positioned below the burner 9. The valve unit 92 has a conventionally known configuration and is therefore not shown in the diagram, but it includes a solenoid valve, a proportional valve, etc. When these control valves are opened, a predetermined amount of gas and ambient air is sent from the nozzle at the tip into the burner 9. Then, a spark discharge is generated from the ignition electrode to ignite the fuel-air mixture, a combustion flame is formed in the burner 9, combustion exhaust is released into the combustion chamber 5, and the air taken into the combustion chamber 5 is heated, generating warm air.

[0035] Therefore, in this embodiment, by operating the pull-type intake and exhaust fan 21 provided in the exhaust path, outside air is drawn into the housing 11 from the intake port 70 provided on the left side wall 11c of the housing 11, and the drawn-in air is heated in the combustion chamber 5 to generate warm air. The generated warm air is supplied into the rotating drum 3 via the intake duct 17 and the opening 112 of the rear drum support 111. Furthermore, by operating the intake and exhaust fan 21, the warm air that has absorbed moisture from inside the rotating drum 3 is exhausted to the outside through the exhaust opening 83 of the dehumidification top 80 via the lint collection unit 19, the lower duct section 103, the connecting duct 120, the exhaust duct 20, the fan intake port 40, the intake and exhaust fan 21, the fan discharge port 41, and the exhaust port 10.

[0036] An operation display unit 95 is located on the upper right of the front wall 11a of the housing 11. The operation display unit 95 consists of a touch-panel type operation panel 95a on the right and a display panel (display unit) 95b on the left, arranged in parallel. Although not shown in the diagram, the right operation panel 95a includes multiple switches, such as a start switch for instructing operations such as drying, a change switch for changing input values, and switches for selecting and switching various operating modes. The left display panel 95b is a liquid crystal display panel, and information such as the operating mode and drying time set by the operation panel 95a is displayed on the display panel 95b. The operation display unit 95 can be installed at any position on the front wall 11a of the housing 11. The operation panel 95a and the display panel 95b may also be installed in different positions.

[0037] Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the clothes dryer 1 covered with the outer cover 300 in a state where the front side sheet 311, which will be described later, is rolled up; Figure 5 is a schematic left side view of the main parts of the clothes dryer 1 covered with the outer cover 300; and Figure 6 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the main parts in the left-right direction of the clothes dryer 1 covered with the outer cover 300. Note that in Figure 5, the intake filter 61 is shown removed from the filter frame 60.

[0038] Referring to Figures 1 and 4-6, the exterior cover 300 is composed of two parts: a cover body 310 that covers the housing 11 and a top cover 350 that covers the moisture exhaust top 80. These may be formed as a single unit. The cover body 310 and the top cover 350 of the exterior cover 300 are manufactured by joining predetermined parts of a plurality of flexible sheets cut to a predetermined shape by sewing or welding. As the flexible sheet, for example, a sheet made of polyester base fabric that has been treated with waterproofing or flame-retardant treatment is preferably used. Therefore, the exterior cover 300 is flexible. Note that in the drawings, for drawing convenience, the exterior cover 300 is depicted as a rigid cover.

[0039] The cover body 310 consists of a flat front side sheet 311 that covers the front wall 11a of the housing 11, a flat rear side sheet 312 that covers the rear wall 11b of the housing 11, and the left side wall 11c of the housing 11. The cover body 310 comprises a flat left side sheet 313 that covers the housing 11, a flat right side sheet 314 that covers the right side wall 11d of the housing 11, and a flat top sheet 315 that covers the top wall 11e of the housing 11. The front, rear, left, and right edges of the top sheet 315 are joined to the top edges of the front side sheet 311, the rear side sheet 312, the left side sheet 313, and the right side sheet 314, respectively. The rear edges of the left and right side sheets 313 and 314 are joined to the left and right edges of the rear side sheet 312, respectively. Therefore, when the housing 11 is covered with the cover body 310, the cover body 310 has a downward opening that opens downward. The cover body 310 is also slightly larger than the housing 11 so that the entire housing 11 is covered except for the bottom wall 11f of the housing 11. The cover body 310 may have a curved shape once the housing 11 is covered with the cover body 310.

[0040] The left and right side sheets 313 and 314 each have short left-bent portions 313a and right-bent portions 314a that bend inward and extend over substantially the entire vertical length of the front edge 3130 of the left side sheet and the front edge 3140 of the right side sheet, respectively, when the housing 11 is covered by the cover body 310. This prevents rainwater from entering the cover body 310 through the gap between the front side sheet 311 and the left and right side sheets 313 and 314. A strip-shaped portion 314b, described later, is integrally formed with the right-bent portion 314a at the lower end of the right-bent portion 314a of the right side sheet 314. The left and right bent portions 313a and 314a may also be provided on parts of the front edges 3130 and 3140 of the left and right side sheets 313 and 314.

[0041] Multiple hook-and-loop fasteners 321 (attachment / detachment means) are attached to the surfaces of the left and right folded portions 313a and 314a, respectively, spaced apart in the vertical direction. In addition, multiple hook-and-loop fasteners 320 (attachment / detachment means) are attached to the left and right edges of the back surface of the front side sheet 311, respectively, at positions corresponding to the hook-and-loop fasteners 321 on the left and right folded portions 313a and 314a. As a result, the front side sheet 311 is composed of a roll-up sheet that can be attached to and detached from the left and right side sheets 313 and 314, and when the front side sheet 311 is rolled up upward, a front opening 325 that opens forward is formed. Furthermore, by removing the hook-and-loop fasteners 320 of the front side sheet 311 from the hook-and-loop fasteners 321 of the left and right folded portions 313a and 314a of the left and right side sheets 313 and 314, and rolling up the front side sheet 311, the front wall 11a and the opening / closing door 12 of the housing 11 are exposed to the outside through the front opening 325. This allows the user to open and close the opening / closing door 12 and operate the operation panel 95a. Additionally, by lowering the front side sheet 311 and connecting the hook-and-loop fasteners 320 and 321, the front side sheet 311 is connected and fixed to the left and right side sheets 313 and 314. Magnets or snap buttons may be used as attachment / detachment means and attachment / detachment means.

[0042] When the front wall 11a of the housing 11 is covered with the front side sheet 311, a transparent resin film 311a is welded to the upper right portion of the front side sheet 311, in the area facing the display panel 95b located on the upper right portion of the front wall 11a of the housing 11. The transparent film 311a has a slightly larger area than the display panel 95b. This allows the user to check information such as drying conditions displayed on the display panel 95b via the transparent film 311a, even when the housing 11 is covered with the cover body 310. Alternatively, the transparent film 311a may be formed to face the entire operation display section 95, provided that at least the display panel 95b is visible.

[0043] When the left side wall 11c of the housing 11 is covered with the left side sheet 313, an opening 313b is formed in the area of ​​the left side sheet 313 corresponding to the air intake port 70. The opening 313b has a slightly larger opening area than the filter frame 60 on which the air intake port 70 is provided. The opening 313b may be formed by a notch cut upward from the lower edge of the left side sheet 313.

[0044] Furthermore, the left side sheet 313 is provided with an overhang-shaped waterproof cover 330 that extends downward from a position above the opening 313b, so as to cover at least the upper part of the air intake 70 (for example, the upper 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 of the air intake 70). The waterproof cover 330 has a length in the front-to-back direction that is longer than the opening 313b. If the installation space for the clothes dryer 1 is large enough, the waterproof cover 330 may be provided to cover the entire air intake 70.

[0045] The waterproof cover 330 has a planar sheet shape when viewed from the side. The top edge of the waterproof cover 330 is joined to the left side sheet 313 above the opening 313b, and the left, right, and bottom edges of the waterproof cover 330 are free ends. Therefore, by lifting the waterproof cover 330 upward, the entire filter frame 60 is exposed to the outside. The waterproof cover 330 is made of the same material as the left side sheet 313, and a metal wire (rigid body) 335, which has higher rigidity than the material of the waterproof cover 330, is embedded around the entire periphery of the waterproof cover 330. As a result, the waterproof cover 330 has high rigidity.

[0046] A vertically elongated rod-shaped spacer 331 is provided at the front-to-back center of the back surface of the waterproof cover 330. The spacer 331 is formed from near the upper end to near the lower end of the back surface of the waterproof cover 330. Therefore, when the waterproof cover 330 is lowered from a lifted position, the upper part of the spacer 331 contacts the surface of the left side sheet 313, but the lower part of the spacer 331 does not contact the air intake 70, and the lower part of the waterproof cover 330 is positioned at a certain distance (for example, about 1 cm to about 6 cm) outward in the left-right direction from the air intake 70. Furthermore, when the waterproof cover 330 is lowered, the waterproof cover 330 is positioned on an inclined surface such that the lower part is located further outward in the left-right direction than the upper part. Therefore, the gap between the waterproof cover 330 and the air intake 70 widens as it goes downwards. Note that the waterproof cover 330 may have multiple spacers 331. Alternatively, when the waterproof cover 330 is lowered, the spacer 331 may be formed only near the upper end of the back surface of the waterproof cover 330 so that the lower end of the spacer 331 is positioned above the opening 313b. However, forming a spacer 331 that is long in the vertical direction can improve the rigidity of the waterproof cover 330.

[0047] An elongated strip-shaped portion 314b is attached to the lower end of the right-fold portion 314a of the right-side sheet 314, and is capable of rotating horizontally with the lower end of the right-fold portion 314a as a pivot point. The strip-shaped portion 314b may be positioned slightly above the lower end of the right-fold portion 314a, provided that it does not obstruct the opening and closing of the opening and closing door 12. When the strip-shaped portion 314b is rotated, its tip reaches the left-fold portion 313a. Furthermore, when the tip of the strip-shaped portion 314b is connected to the left-fold portion 313a of the left-side sheet 313, the strip-shaped portion 314b has a vertical height that does not interfere with the opening and closing of the opening and closing door 12. Furthermore, a hook-and-loop fastener 314c is attached to the leading edge of the back surface of the strip-shaped portion 314b, which connects to a hook-and-loop fastener 321 provided at the lower end of the front surface of the left-fold portion 313a of the left-side sheet 313. For this reason, the strip-shaped portion 314b is detachably attached to the left-fold portion 313a of the left-side sheet 313. By connecting the hook-and-loop fastener 314c at the leading edge of the strip-shaped portion 314b to the hook-and-loop fastener 321 of the left-fold portion 313a, the strip-shaped portion 314b straddles the lower part of the front opening 325 of the cover body 310, connecting and fixing the lower ends of the left and right side sheets 313 and 314. Note that the strip-shaped portion 314b only needs to be detachably attached to at least one of the left-fold portion 313a or the right-fold portion 314a. For example, the strip-shaped portion 314b may be connected to the left-folding portion 313a and detachable from the right-folding portion 314a. Alternatively, the strip-shaped portion 314b may be detachable from both the left and right-folding portions 313a and 314a. Furthermore, multiple strip-shaped portions 314b may be provided in the vertical direction, provided that the opening and closing of the opening and closing door 12 is not obstructed.

[0048] At the left rear end of the top sheet 315, a roughly rectangular upper opening 315a is provided for inserting the dehumidifying top 80 when the housing 11 of the clothes dryer 1 is covered with the cover body 310. There is a short upper connecting piece 315b that extends upward around the entire periphery of the upper opening 315a. Multiple hook fasteners 315c are arranged on the surface of the upper connecting piece 315b.

[0049] The top cover 350 has a top surface sheet 351 that covers the upper surface of the exhaust end 82 of the dehumidifying top 80 described above, and a top surface sheet 352 that covers the circumferential surface of the dehumidifying top 80 excluding the exhaust opening 83. The top cover 350 has a lower opening that opens downward and a lateral opening that opens horizontally. A short top connecting piece 353 that can rotate horizontally around the lower end of the opening end of the top surface sheet 352 that forms the lateral opening is attached to the lower end of the opening end. In addition, hook fasteners 354 are provided on the lower end of the back surface of the top surface sheet 352 and on the back surface of the top connecting piece 353. When the dehumidifying top 80 is covered with the top cover 350, these hook fasteners 354 connect with hook fasteners 315c provided on the surface of the upper connecting piece 315b that protrudes upward from the opening periphery of the upper opening 315a of the top surface sheet 315 of the cover body 310 described above.

[0050] Next, an example of the procedure for covering the clothes dryer 1 with the outer cover 300 will be described. First, the front side sheet 311 is removed from the left and right folded portions 313a and 314a of the left and right side sheets 313 and 314, and the strip portion 314b is removed from the left folded portion 313a of the left side sheet 313. Next, the dehumidifying top 80 is inserted into the upper opening 315a of the top sheet 315, and the cover body 310 is placed over the housing 11 from above. The position of the cover body 310 is also adjusted so that the left and right folded portions 313a and 314a of the left and right side sheets 313 and 314 are positioned around the left and right edges of the front side wall 11a of the housing 11. Then, by connecting the hook-and-loop fastener 314c at the tip of the strip-shaped portion 314b with the hook-and-loop fastener 321 on the left bent portion 313a of the left side sheet 313, the front lower ends of the left and right side sheets 313 and 314 are connected and fixed by the strip-shaped portion 314b. Also, by lowering the front side sheet 311 and connecting the hook-and-loop fastener 320 of the front side sheet 311 with the hook-and-loop fasteners 321 of the left and right bent portions 313a and 314a, the front side sheet 311 is connected and fixed to the left and right side sheets 313 and 314 at a predetermined position. At this time, since the hook-and-loop fastener 320 of the front side sheet 311 is located in a position corresponding to the hook-and-loop fasteners 321 of the left and right side sheets 313 and 314, when the front side sheet 311 is connected and fixed to the left and right side sheets 313 and 314, the transparent film 311a faces the display panel 95a on the front wall 11a of the housing 11. Furthermore, by placing the top cover 350 over the dehumidifying top 80 from above and connecting the hook-and-loop fastener 354 of the top cover 350 with the hook-and-loop fastener 315c of the upper connecting piece 315b of the top sheet 315, the clothes dryer 1 is covered with the outer cover 300. This makes it easy to cover the clothes dryer 1 with the outer cover 300.

[0051] According to this embodiment, the left side sheet 313 covering the left side wall 11c of the housing 11 of the clothes dryer 1, where the air intake port 70 is provided, has an opening 313b in the area facing the air intake port 70, so that outside air can be smoothly drawn into the clothes dryer 1 from the air intake port 70. Furthermore, the outer cover 300 has an overhang-shaped waterproof cover 330 that extends downward from the left side sheet 313 above the opening 313b so as to cover at least the upper part of the air intake port 70, so that rainwater can be prevented from entering the clothes dryer 1 from the air intake port 70 even when the clothes dryer 1 is installed outdoors.

[0052] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, a spacer 331 is provided on the back surface of the waterproof cover 330, and when the upper part of the air intake 70 of the clothes dryer 1 is covered with the waterproof cover 330, the upper part of the spacer 331 abuts against the left side sheet 313 above the opening 313b, and the distance between the waterproof cover 330 and the air intake 70 widens as it goes downwards. Therefore, even if the outer cover 300 is exposed to heavy rain, rainwater flowing on the surface of the waterproof cover 330 is less likely to flow towards the air intake 70. In addition, the left and right sides and the bottom edge of the waterproof cover 330 are free ends, but the waterproof cover 3 30 becomes less likely to stick to the air intake 70. Also, because the upper part of the spacer 331 abuts against the left side sheet 313, the protective cover 330 is formed with an inclined surface, so the inclination angle of the waterproof cover 330 can be kept constant. Furthermore, even if the upper part of the spacer 331 abuts against the surface of the left side sheet 313, deformation of the side sheet 313 around the opening 313b is also reduced. As a result, with a simple configuration, it is possible to reliably suppress the intrusion of rainwater into the clothes dryer 1 from the air intake 70 while smoothly drawing in outside air into the clothes dryer 1 from the air intake 70.

[0053] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the waterproof cover 330 is made of the same flat sheet material as the outer cover 300, and the waterproof cover 330 has high rigidity due to the metal wire 335 provided around its periphery. Therefore, even if the waterproof cover 330 is exposed to heavy rain, it is difficult for the waterproof cover 330 to deform and maintain its eaves shape. As a result, rainwater can be suppressed from entering the clothes dryer 1 from the air intake 70 over a long period of time, while outside air can be smoothly drawn into the clothes dryer 1 from the air intake 70.

[0054] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the waterproof cover 330 is formed in the shape of an overhang, when the intake filter 61 attached to the air intake port 70 is attached or removed from the front, the waterproof cover 330 is less likely to interfere with the intake filter 61. In particular, according to this embodiment, since the exterior cover 300 has a strip-shaped portion 314b that connects and fixes the front lower ends of the left and right side sheets 313 and 314, even when the left side sheet 313, which has an opening 313b, is bent or when the opening 313b is shifted from its normal position (the position corresponding to the air intake port 70), the front lower ends of the left and right side sheets 313 and 314 can be connected and fixed with the strip-shaped portion 314b, allowing the opening 313b of the left side sheet 313 to be aligned from the side to the position corresponding to the air intake port 70 of the clothes dryer 1. This makes it easy to attach and detach the intake filter 61 provided in the air intake port 70. Furthermore, when the front side sheet 311 is rolled up, the left and right side sheets 313 and 314 tend to shift relative to the housing 11, causing the opening 313b to shift away from the air intake port 70, making it difficult to remove the air intake filter 61. However, by connecting and fixing the left and right side sheets 313 and 314 with the strip-shaped portion 313b, the shifting of the opening 313b away from the air intake port 70 is suppressed, making it even more effective.

[0055] In this embodiment, the outer cover 300 may be made of a sheet other than a flexible sheet, such as a steel sheet. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 1. Clothes dryer 11 cabinets 70 Air intake 300 Exterior Cover 315 Top sheet 311 Front and side seats 313 Left side seat 314 Right side seat 330 Waterproof Cover 331 Spacer 335 Metal wire

Claims

1. An outer cover for a clothes dryer having a roughly rectangular box-shaped enclosure installed outdoors, A side sheet that covers the side wall of the clothes dryer casing and has an opening in the area facing the air intake port provided on the side wall of the clothes dryer casing, An exterior cover comprising an overhang-shaped waterproof cover that extends downward from a side sheet above the opening, so as to cover at least the top of the air intake.

2. An exterior cover according to claim 1, The waterproof cover is an outer cover with a spacer on the back of the waterproof cover.

3. The exterior cover according to claim 2, The spacer is an exterior cover provided such that when the waterproof cover covers the top of the air intake, the top of the spacer abuts against a side sheet above the opening, so that the bottom of the waterproof cover is positioned outward from the top of the waterproof cover, and the gap between the waterproof cover and the air intake widens as it goes downwards.

4. An exterior cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The outer cover is made of a flexible sheet. The waterproof cover consists of a flat sheet. A waterproof cover is an exterior cover having a rigid body around the periphery of a flat sheet.

5. An exterior cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The clothes dryer enclosure comprises a front side sheet covering the front wall, a rear side sheet covering the rear wall, a left side sheet covering the left wall, a right side sheet covering the right wall, and a top sheet covering the top wall. An exterior cover having at least one of the left side sheet, right side sheet, or rear side sheet, which has an opening in the area facing an air intake opening in the left wall, right wall, or rear side sheet of the housing of the clothes dryer, and an overhang-shaped waterproof cover extending downward from the side sheet above the opening so as to cover at least the upper part of the air intake.

6. The exterior cover according to claim 5, When the front and side seats are rolled up, a front opening is formed that opens forward. An exterior cover with a strip-shaped section that spans the front opening and connects and secures the lower part of the left side seat to the lower part of the right side seat.

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