Vent-Fed Glove Dryer Geometry for Inside-Out Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for drying wet or damp clothing items, such as gloves and mittens, are often inconvenient, energy-inefficient, or risk damage to the items, and previous devices are either too complex to manufacture economically or ineffective in ensuring thorough drying.
Innovation Solution
A passive dryer device with a conical shape and minimal air passages, designed for easy insertion into clothing items, which utilizes forced air from heating vents or radiators for efficient drying without power consumption or risk of ignition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If damp clothing items are placed in a standard electric or gas heated dryer, then drying capacity is improved, but energy expense increases and risk of damage to items occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The drying device utilizes the existing forced air from heating vents or radiators to perform the drying function, rather than requiring a dedicated power source. The device passively captures and directs this already-heated air through the clothing item, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating additional energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying device can be used with any forced-air heating system or radiator, making it compatible with multiple heat sources. This universal applicability allows the device to leverage existing infrastructure rather than requiring specialized equipment, thereby avoiding additional energy expenses while maintaining effective drying capacity.
2Productivity
If damp clothing items are placed on a hot radiator or against a vented outlet, then drying occurs, but the surface becomes over-dried while the interior remains damp
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the drying process into multiple pathways by incorporating several air passages that distribute heated air to different sections of the clothing item simultaneously. This segmentation ensures that both the exterior and interior surfaces receive adequate airflow, preventing uneven drying where the outside becomes parched while the inside remains damp.
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides different drying conditions to different parts of the clothing item by directing airflow through multiple air passages that reach various sections. This localized approach ensures that each area of the fabric receives appropriate airflow and heat distribution, achieving uniform drying throughout the entire item rather than concentrating heat on the surface only.
3Reliability
If a complex drying device is designed to ensure thorough drying, then drying effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drying device employs a flexible shell structure that can be easily manufactured and adapted to different clothing items. This flexible design allows the device to conform to the shape of gloves, mittens, or other apparel without requiring rigid, complex structural components, thereby maintaining drying effectiveness while simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to force air into the clothing item from the outside, the device inverts the approach by having the user insert the device inside the item and allowing air to flow outward through the fabric. This inversion simplifies the structural design, as the device needs only to provide internal air passages rather than complex external mechanisms for penetrating and distributing air throughout the garment.
4Productivity
If heating implements are used to dry damp clothing items, then drying speed is improved, but risk of ignition or injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drying device acts as an intermediary barrier between the heat source and the clothing item. By directing heated air through controlled air passages and allowing it to flow through the fabric, the device provides safe, indirect heating that achieves effective drying without the risks associated with direct contact with open flames or extremely hot surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The device converts the potentially harmful forced air from heating vents or radiators into a beneficial drying medium. By capturing this already-heated air and directing it through the clothing item, the system transforms what could be a safety hazard (direct exposure to high-temperature vents) into a safe and effective drying solution that eliminates ignition risk while maintaining drying speed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device facilitates safe, efficient, and effective drying of clothing items from the inside out, preventing musty odors and damage, while being simple to manufacture and use, addressing the limitations of prior art in terms of ease of placement and drying effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
drying can occur by the flow of air therethrough
Implementation Method 2
utilizes forced air from heating vents or radiators for efficient drying
Implementation Method 3
a first portion 2 and a second portion 6... configured to facilitate relative mounting thereupon of any items to be dried
Data Source
AI summary
A portable, free-standing dryer device with generally tapered portions formed about a generally central axis facilitating insertion into clothing items to be dried from inside, for example gloves, mittens, socks and other substantially tubular items. The device has a connector temporarily fastening it to a forced air vent. The dryer device comprises at least first and second drier portions joined by an intermediate shoulder portion, each of which defines multiple air passages widening from inner to outer surfaces of the portions to define an expansion volume fostering air flow. A larger substantially open end in the first portion receives air from the vent. The air flows from within the drier outwardly through the passages. An angular relationship of outer surfaces of the first, second and intermediate portions relative to the device central axis ensures that the second drier portion has an extended, narrowing configuration facilitating its insertion into clothing items.