EP3358070B1

EP3358070B1 - Portable clothes dryer and clothes drying method thereof

Info

Publication number: EP3358070B1
Application number: EP16850269.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sheng Xu; Shujun TIAN; Huacheng SONG; Shiqiang SHAN
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-09-30
Filing date: 2016-09-14
Publication date: 2021-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 2036-09-14
Also published as: CN106555322B; EP3358070A1; EP3358070A4; JP6549792B2; CN106555322A; KR102013537B1; US20180282935A1; JP2018534012A; WO2017054645A1; KR20180042413A

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention belongs to the technical field of clothes dryers, in particular relates to a portable clothes dryer and a clothes drying method thereof.

BACKGROUND

Clothes dryers typically used occupy much floor space, which are heavy for lifting and moving. These appliances are merely suitable to be installed in a fixed location inside room. People need to change clothes, especially small items as shirts, pants and underwear in business or in travelling, but not all of the hotels provide drying service; public dryers are available sometimes but there are hygienic issues to be concerned. Therefore a portable clothes dryer becomes a basic necessity for people who travel frequently.
Various portable clothes dryers previously proposed typically have an upper shell, a lower shell, and supporting rods provided between the upper shell and the lower shell. The supporting rods are designed to be retractable or detachable which could be drawn back in or be removed to shorten the overall height of the dryer to make it easy to carry when they are not in use, or likewise could be pulled out or installed when it is in use for creating a space between the upper shell and the lower shell in which clothes to be dried is hung on a coat hanger. Those arrangements require the length and the width of the space are a bit larger than those of the coat hanger, namely the volume of the space is much larger than the size of the clothes, and thus the time period of drying process extends even longer, and the drying efficiency is lowered. In fact, the flatness of the clothing dried in this way is not satisfying and it requires an extra ironing process.
WO 99/49123 A1 describes small equipment for drying and ironing clothes in a standing position, particularly in home field consisting in dummy-shaped frame comprising a vertical tubular sack which inflates itself counter shaping a clothes through the inlet in its internal of warmed air coming from a production means placed at its own base, whose peculiarity consists in the fact that the vertical tubular is a sack having a sole body in non-transpiring material having means for allowing the shape of said sack corresponding to that of the clothes to treat. Furthermore means to allow the drying and the ironing of the more difficult areas of the clothes are provided, such as the collar, the sleeves, the breast areas and the buttoning areas.
JP 2003 199996 describes a clothes finishing device provided with a blowing means 4, a heating means 10 for heating air, a foldable hanger 5 for hanging clothes and a pole 6 for holding the foldable hanger 5, and the blown air heated by the heating means 10 passes through the pole 6 toward a blow-off hole 7 provided on the pole 6. Thus, since the required space in a shoulder width direction at the time of the housing is reduced and the need of a blowing duct is eliminated, a main body 1 is made small and the space at the time of the use and at the time of the housing is saved.
US 2004/221472 relates to a shirt-smoothing device including a lower part and an inflatable body fixed thereon. Because the inflatable body must be at least the same size as the shirt to be smoothed, the device has considerable height, however, the rigid components in the area of the inflatable body are lowerable to handle the device more easily and, more particularly, to stow it away easily. An internally disposed supporting frame and a button strip tensioner disposed in front of the inflatable body can be lowered after use into the lower part, whereby the inflatable body, which is exclusively connected to the supporting frame at the top becomes folded. The same applies to flexible inflatable support bodied and support nets disposed between the inflatable body and the supporting frame. The storage space required for the shirt smoothing device can be substantially reduced by the invention and the handling and storage thereof simplified.
US 2001/049883 A1 describes an apparatus for drying "dry suits", HAZ MAT suits, cleanroom suits and the like utilizing a blower and heating elements mounted through a neck, wrist or ankle seal of the suit. The heated and compressed air is discharged into the suit to absorb moisture from the internal suit surfaces, then is discharged through the suit seals, rapidly drying the suit. Inserts for establishing a desired discharge rate from the suit seals are described. The inserts also serve to stretch the neck and arm seals to the proper diameter for maintaining comfortable wear.
CN 204 266 023 U relates to a fast drying device for clothes comprising a base and an inflatable bag. A device used for blowing hot wind is arranged in the inner side of the base, and a connector used for installing the inflatable bag on an air outlet of the base is arranged on the inflatable bag; the inflatable bag is shaped like a human body or some parts of a human body, and a plurality of tiny air outlet holes are formed in the inflatable bag. When the fast drying device for the clothes is in use, the inflatable bag is sleeved with the clothes, and the device used for blowing hot wind is charged with electricity, so that the clothes can be dried evenly and quickly. Accordingly, the fast drying device for the clothes is convenient to store and carry.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

The present invention provides a portable clothes dryer that is simple to operate and easy to carry, the clothes dried is wrinkle-free.
To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the present invention adopts the technical solutions as recited in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are presented in the dependent claims 2 to 7.
One aspect of the disclosure relates to a portable clothes dryer, the portable clothes dryer including a casing, and one or more air inlets and one or more air outlet are provided on the casing; the dryer further comprises a detachable garment model made of flexible material; the garment model has an inflatable chamber with an air intake port and air is introduced to the air intake port through the air outlet; clothes is configured to be put on the garment model and dried; the dryer further comprises a heating device disposed inside the casing to heat air; the dryer further comprises a blower configured to move heated air into the chamber of the garment model.
According to the invention, the portable clothes dryer further comprises one or more supporting rod, the supporting rod is retractably arranged on the casing; when preparing the dryer for use, the supporting rod is being pulled out and the garment model is sleeved on the supporting rod.
Further, the portable clothes dryer further comprises one or more supporting rod, the supporting rod is retractably arranged on the casing; when preparing the dryer for use, the supporting rod is being pulled out and the upper portion of the garment model is sleeved on the supporting rod.
Further, an air duct communicating with the air inlet and the air outlet is formed inside the casing, and the heating device is disposed in the air duct.
Further, the air inlets are opened on both sides of the casing, the air outlet is opened at the center of the top surface of the casing, and the air duct is configured in a shape of an inverted alphabet T.
Further, the air intake port is detachably connected to the air outlet.
Further, the blower capable of being upwardly ejected is disposed corresponding to the air outlet, and the blower comprises a cylindrical blower casing with a top surface, a plurality of air outtake ports are opened on the cylindrical side wall of the blower casing; when preparing the dryer for use, the blower ejects upwardly and the air outtake ports are exposed.
Further, a pressure sensor is disposed corresponding to the air outlet; when the dryer works, comparing the pressure detected with a preset pressure; if the detected pressure is higher than or equal to the preset pressure, stopping the blower and the heating device; if the detected pressure is lower than the preset pressure, maintaining the blower and the heating device at work.
Further, the lower periphery of the blower casing is in close contact with the air outlet once the blower is upwardly ejected and the air intake port of the garment model is installed at the lower periphery of the blower casing to assure the overall air outlet is in the chamber of the garment model.
Further, an annular groove is formed at the lower periphery of the blower casing and an elastic fixing structure is arranged around the air intake port of the garment model, and the elastic fixing structure is installed in the annular groove.
Further, the air outlet has an upwardly funnel-shaped extending portion, and the upper end of the extending portion is fixed on the top surface of the casing.
Further, the garment model is provided with extending openings corresponding to the supporting rods; the supporting rods extend into the chamber through the opening as installing the garment model.
Further, the casing is further provided with an installing portion matched with the air intake port of the garment model; when the air intake port is fixedly mounted to the installing portion, the supporting rods pass through the air intake port and extend into the chamber.
Further, the casing has a top surface, the air outlet and the top end of the supporting rods are located on the top surface, an installing portion configured to mount the air intake port of the garment model is further disposed on the top surface, the air outlet and the top end of the supporting rods are surrounded by the installing portion.
According to the invention, an extending end of the supporting rod is provided with a supporting block, a receiving groove matched with the supporting block is arranged on the top surface of the casing, and the supporting block is disposed in the receiving groove.
Further, a cabinet for storing the garment model is disposed in the casing.
Further, a handle is provided on the casing.
Further, the garment model is opened with vent holes.
According to the above-mentioned portable clothes dryer, the present invention also provides a clothes drying method by the portable clothes dryer, as recited in claim 8. The method comprises the following steps:

a) installing and fixing the air intake port of the garment model on the casing, putting the clothes to be dried on the garment model;
b) starting the clothes dryer: the blower and the heating device are activated, the air introduced from the air inlet is heated by the heating device, then the heated air is directed by the blower to flow into the chamber of the garment model through the air intake port, the garment model is inflated to put on the clothes to be dried;
c) taking off the dried clothes and then turning off the portable clothes dryer, removing the garment model.

Further, the portable clothes dryer further comprises one or more supporting rod, and the support rod is retractably disposed on the casing; before the step a, the method comprises a step a0, a0: pulling out the supporting rod and putting the garment model on the supporting rod.
Further, the portable clothes dryer further comprises one or more supporting rod, and the support rod is retractably disposed on the casing; before the step a, the method comprises a step a0, a0: pulling out the supporting rod and putting the upper portion of the garment model on the supporting rod.
Further, the step b further comprises a pressure determining step to control the pressure inside the chamber between a first preset pressure and a second preset pressure; if the pressure inside the chamber is higher than or equal to the first preset pressure, stopping the blower and the heating device; if the pressure inside the chamber is lower than or equal to the second preset pressure, maintaining the blower and the heating device at work.
According to the above-mentioned portable clothes dryer, the present invention also provides a clothes drying method by the portable clothes dryer, the method comprises the following steps:

a) installing and fixing the air intake port of the garment model on the casing;
b) starting the clothes dryer: the blower and the heating device are activated, the air introduced from the air inlet is heated by the heating device, then the heated air is forced by the blower to flow into the chamber of the garment model through the air intake port, the garment model is inflated to put on the clothes to be dried;
c) taking off the clothes until it is dried and then turn off the portable clothes dryer, removing the garment model.

The portable clothes dryer provided by the present invention comprises a casing, a heating device, a blower, and a detachable garment model. The overall size of the dryer can be reduced to make it easy to carry due to the garment model with the inflatable chamber is detachable and made of elastic material; the clothes to be dried could be neatly put on the garment model so the clothes dried in this manner is wrinkle-free and can be dressed immediately, thus the ironing process is saved. In addition, the heated air is introduced by the blower to enter into the chamber of the garment model, and the heat is directly transmitted to the clothes to be dried via the garment model to evaporate moisture. Heated dry air are filled in the chamber constantly to enhance the drying efficiency, additionally the small volume of the chamber also improve it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a first embodiment of the portable dryer according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a rear view from Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view from Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a schematic view illustrating the portable dryer from Figure 1 as the supporting rod being pulled out;
Figure 5 is a partially enlarged schematic view of the area A from Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a schematic view illustrating the portable dryer from Figure 4 as the garment model being installed;
Figure 7 is another schematic view illustrating the portable dryer from Figure 4 as the garment model being installed.
Figure 8 is flow chart illustrating the control process of the portable dryer;
Figure 9 is a schematic view illustrating a second embodiment of the portable dryer according to the present invention;
Figure 10 is a schematic view illustrating the portable dryer from Figure 10 as the supporting rod being pulled out;
FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating the portable dryer from Figure 4 as the garment model being installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention.
In the description of the present invention, it is worthy to be noted that the terms "inner", "outer", "upper", "lower", "left" and "right" showing the direction or position are merely based on the drawings for convenience in describing, rather than indicating or implying that the claimed device or element is limited in a specific orientation or be constructed or operated in a specific orientation. These terms should not be construed as the limitation of the present invention.
Figures 1 to 8 are diagrams illustrating an example of the portable clothes dryer in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The portable clothes dryer shown in Fig.1 comprises a casing 1. The casing 1 may be provided with a knob 2, a handle 3, a power plug 5, air inlets 4 and one or more air outlets. A heating device 7 and a blower 6 are arranged inside the casing 1. The handle 3 rotates around a fixed portion of the casing 1, and it turns up for lifting and turns down as the dryer in operation. The air inlets 4 are configured to introduce air from outside when the dryer works. The power plug 5 is used to provide electricity supply to the portable dryer and power the heating device 7, the blower 6 and the controller. When the power plug is not in use, it is received in the casing 1, when the power plug is in use, it is being pulled out. The heating device 7 is arranged within the casing 1 to heat air. The portable clothes dryer further includes a detachable garment model 8. The clothes to be dried is put on the garment model 8 to dry. The garment model 8 is made of elastic material and has an inflatable chamber. The chamber has an air intake port 82 where air directed from the air outlet flows into. When the clothes dryer is at work, the air intake port 82 covers the air outlet as the garment model 8 is being installed, thereby allowing the blower to direct heated air to enter into the chamber of the garment model 8 and inflate the chamber.
The portable clothes dryer provided in this embodiment includes a casing 1, a heating device 7, a blower 6, and a detachable garment model 8. Due to the garment model with the inflatable chamber is detachable, also could be deflated and made of elastic material, the overall size when the dryer is not in use can be reduced to make it easy to carry; the clothes is put on the garment model neatly for drying so the clothes dried in this manner is flat without wrinkle and can be dressed immediately, and the ironing process is saved. In addition, the heated air blown by the blower 6 enters the chamber of the garment model 8, and the heat is directly transmitted to the clothes to be dried via the garment model 8 to evaporate moisture. Heated dry air is filled in the chamber constantly to enhance the drying efficiency. In addition, the chamber is smaller in contrast to the prior art due to fact that the clothes is put on the garment model to dry instead of being covered, the chamber is filled with heated air in a very short time, thereby further enhancing drying efficiency.
In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5, the blower 6 is disposed at a position corresponding to the air outlet and capable of being upwardly ejected. The blower 6 includes a cylindrical blower casing 61 with a top surface 611. A plurality of air outtake ports 62 are opened on the cylindrical side wall of the blower casing; when preparing the dryer for work, the blower ejects upwardly to expose the air outtake ports. The ejecting blower 6 protrudes from the top surface of the casing 1, so that the air flowing efficiency is improved, thereby enhancing the drying efficiency.
In this embodiment, when the blower 6 is ejected, the lower periphery of the blower casing 61 is in close contact with the air outlet, that is to say, the air in the duct cannot pass through the gap between the blower 6 and the air outlet; the air inlet 82 of the garment model 8 is installed at the lower portion of the blower casing 61 so that the air outlet 62 is located inside the chamber of the garment model 8 and air blown from the air outlet could enter into the chamber directly to improve the drying efficiency.
Various arrangements could be used to fix the air intake ports 82 of the garment model 8 on the blower casing 61. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, an annular groove 612 is disposed at the lower portion of the cylindrical side wall of the blower casing 61. An elastic fixing structure, for example, a pulling cord or elastic band is provided at the air intake port 82 of the garment model 8. The air intake port 82 of the garment model 8 could be installed in a convenient manner by stretching the air intake port 82 and cover it out of the groove 612.
Referring to Figure 5, the air outlet has an upwardly funnel-shaped extending portion 9 to facilitate the installation and fixture of the air intake ports 82 of the garment model 8, and the upper end of the extending portion 9 is fixed on the top surface of the casing 1. That is to say, the funnel-shaped extending portion 9 is formed outwardly corresponding to the air outtake port. Accordingly, there is enough space for installing the air intake port 82 of the garment model 8, and further to make the appearance of the portable clothes dryer more concise.
The garment model 8 is preferably made of heat-permeable airtight elastic material, such as PVC. The garment model 8 comprises a top model and a bottom model which are used for drying coats and pants respectively, and further comprises other small models for drying small items. In addition, the garment model 8 further includes top models and bottom models in different size to ensure that the clothes to be dried could be in close contact with the garment model to improve flatness.
In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, in order to control the pressure in the chamber of the garment model 8 as well as enable the air in the chamber to circulate, venting holes 83 are opened on the garment model 8, especially at the portion where the clothes are difficult to dry, such as the armpit portion of the top model or the connecting portion between the legs of the bottom model. The venting holes 83 allow air in the chamber to circulate drying clothes around and additionally could save room for heated air entering from the air intake port 82.
In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in Figure 8, in order to control the pressure in the chamber of the garment model 8, a pressure sensor is disposed at the air outlet to maintain pressure inside the chamber between the first preset pressure P1 and the second preset pressure P2. In the working process of the portable dryer, if the detected pressure P is higher than or equal to the second preset pressure P2, the blower 6 and the heating device 8 stop running; if the detected pressure P is lower than the preset pressure P1, the blower 6 and the heating device 8 are working. According to this arrangement, the blower 6 and the heating device 8 are intermittently stopped to maintain the pressure P in the garment model 8 between the first preset pressure P1 and the second preset pressure P2, so that the drying efficiency is enhanced and the power consumption is reduced.
The second preset pressure P2 is the maximum pressure that the garment model could bear, which is determined by the material of the garment model. The first preset pressure P1 could be set as atmospheric pressure or slightly larger than it. Preferably, the first preset pressure P1 could be set as the pressure value within the inflated chamber of the garment model 8 under the condition that the clothes is putting on, for example, the first preset pressure P1 is 1atm to 1.5 atm.
In the present embodiment, the pressure sensor is provided on the top surface of the blower casing 61.
In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in Figure 4, the portable clothes dryer further includes one or more support rods 10 retractably disposed on the casing 1. When preparing the portable clothes dryer for use, the support rod 10 is being pulled out, and the garment model 8 is sleeved on the support rod 10. In this way, the support rod 10 is disposed in the chamber of the garment model 8 to support the garment model 8. The garment model 8 is supported by the supporting rod 10 and it could be put on the clothes to be dried before the chamber inflated by the blower 6.
In this embodiment, the portable clothes dryer may include two supporting rods 10 arranged from the left to the right. The top end of the supporting rod 10 is disposed at the top surface of the casing 1. A support block 101 is disposed at an extending end of the support rod 10. A receiving groove matched with the support block is disposed on the top surface of the casing 1. The support block 101 is configured to be in the receiving groove and aligned with the top surface of the casing 1 as the supporting rod 10 is being drawn back in the casing 1, so as to make the overall appearance more concise; meanwhile the support block 101 increases the contact area between the garment model 8 and the supporting rod 10 as the garment model 8 is sleeved on the supporting rod 10.
In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, the garment model 8 includes extending openings 84 corresponding to the supporting rods 10 due to the configuration that the air intake port of the garment model 8 is fixedly arranged on the blower casing 61 and the garment model 8 is sleeved on the support rod 10. When installing the garment model 8, the supporting rod 10 extends into the chamber through the extending opening 84.The lower end of the extending opening 84 is further provided with a pull rope or elastic belt to seal the extending opening 84 and the supporting rod 10 as the garment model 8 is being installed.
As shown in Figure 1 to Figure. 8, a method for drying clothes by the portable clothes dryer according to this embodiment is described. The method comprises the following steps:
a0: Pulling out the two support rods 10 and installing the garment model 8 on the support rods 10.
Specifically, ejecting the blower 6 upwardly and pulling out the two supporting rods 10, extending the supporting rods 10 into the chamber through the opening 84, that is to say, placing the garment model 8 over the supporting rods 10.
a, the air intake port 82 of the garment model 8 is fixedly arranged on the casing 1, and the clothes to be dried are put on the garment model 8.
Specifically, the air intake port 82 of the garment model 8 is installed and fixed to the groove 612 of the blower casing 61, and the clothes to be dried are put on the garment model 8.
b, activating the portable dryer: the blower 6 and the heating device 7 start to work, air entering from the air inlet 4 is heated by the heating device 7, and the heated air is blown into the chamber of the garment model 8 by the blower 6 through the air inlet open 82, the chamber is being inflated to for drying.
In operation, measuring pressure within the chamber and controlling the pressure between a first preset pressure P1 and a second preset pressure P2. To be specific, if the pressure measured is higher than or equal to the second preset pressure P2, stopping the blower 6 and the heating device 8; if the pressure measured is lower than the first preset pressure P1, the blower 6 and the heating device 8 are working; thus the intermittent running of the blower 6 could maintain the pressure within the chamber between the first preset pressure P1 and the second preset pressure P2.
c. removing the clothes until it is dried, turning off the portable dryer and removing the garment model 8.
Referring to the Figure 9 to Figure 11, a second embodiment of the portable clothes dryer according to the present invention is disclosed. The main difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment lies in that the air intake port of the garment model is directly mounted and fixed on the casing. Other structures may employ those of the first embodiment.
To be specific, in this embodiment, a portable clothes dryer includes a casing 1, air inlets 4 and air outlets, the air inlets 4 and the air outlets are disposed on the casing 1, and a heating device 7 and a blower 6 are disposed inside the casing 1. The air inlets 4 are configured to direct air from the outside when the dryer in operation. The heating device 7 disposed inside the casing for heating air. The portable clothes dryer also has a detachable garment model 8. The clothes to be dried are put on the garment model 8 for drying. The garment model 8 is made of flexible materials and has an inflatable chamber with an air intake port 82. Air directed from the air outlet flows to the air intake port 82. The configuration requires that the air intake port covers the air outlet as the garment model 8 is being installed so that the blower could force heated air flow into the chamber of the garment model 8 to inflate it.
The portable clothes dryer provided in this embodiment is configured to include the casing 1, the heating device 7, the blower 6 and the detachable garment model 8. The overall size of the dryer can be reduced to make it easy to carry due to the garment model with the inflatable chamber is detachable and made of elastic material; the clothes to be dried could be neatly put on the garment model so the clothes dried in this manner is wrinkle-free and can be dressed immediately, and the ironing process is saved. In addition, the heated air blown by the blower enters the chamber of the garment model, and the heat is directly transmitted to the clothes to be dried via the garment model to evaporate moisture. Heated dry air are filled in the chamber constantly to enhance the drying efficiency, additionally the small volume of the chamber also improve it.
The air outlet is located at the center of the top surface of the casing 1. The portable clothes dryer may include two supporting rods 10 arranged from the left to the right. The top end of the supporting rod 10 is disposed at the top surface of the casing 1. A support block 101 is disposed at an extending end of the support rod 10. A receiving groove matched with the support block is disposed on the top surface of the casing 1. The support block 101 is configured to be in the receiving groove and aligned with the top surface of the casing 1 as the supporting rod 10 is being drawn back in the casing 1, so as to make the overall appearance more concise; meanwhile the support block 101 increases the contact area between the garment model 8 and the supporting rod 10 as the garment model 8 is sleeved on the supporting rod 10.
In this embodiment, the casing 1 is provided with an installing portion 13 matched with the air intake port 82 of the garment model 8. When the air intake port 82 is fixedly mounted to the installing portion 13, the support rod 10 extends into the chamber through the air intake port 82. As such, the air outlet and the supporting rod 10 are covered by the garment model 8, or the air outlet and the top end of the supporting rod 10 are surrounded by the installing portion 13. The opening is saved due to that the supporting rod 10 is configured to enter into the chamber through the air intake port 82 in this embodiment.
The installing portion 13 is disposed on the upper part of the side wall of the casing 11 or on the top surface of the casing 11. The installing portion 13 protrudes outwardly. The air intake port 82 of the garment model 8 is provided with an elastic pulling cord. The pulling cord is fixedly mounted on the lower end of the projected part of the installing portion 13 as installing the air intake port 82 on the installing portion 13, so as to ensure the tightness of the connection between the air intake port 82 and the installing portion 13.
One or more hooks are further arranged on the installing portion13. An extending end of the pulling cord is fixed on the hook to ensure the stability of the garment model in the drying process.
In other embodiments, the garment model 8 may not be sleeved on the support rod 10, that is to say, the support rod 10 is not disposed in the chamber. The upper part of the garment model 8 is configured to fix on the support rod 10, and the air intake port 82 on the lower part is directly installed and fixed at the air outlet; clothes to be dried cover both of the garment model 8 and the support rod 10.
In this embodiment, an air duct 12 communicating with the air inlet 4 and the air outlet is provided in the casing 1, the heating device 7 is disposed in the air duct 12. This configuration improves the working efficiency of the heating device 7 by facilitating circulation. Both of the left and right sides of the casing 1 are provided with air inlets 4, the air outlet is located at the center of the top surface of the casing 1, the air duct 12 is designed in a shape of an inverted alphabet T.
In this embodiment, a cabinet for storing the garment model 8 is disposed in the casing 1, so that the garment model 8 could be stored in the dryer.
In other embodiments, the air intake port 82 of the garment model 8 may also be directly and detachably fixed at the air outlet; in this manner, air coming out of the air outlet directly enters the air intake port 82.
Referring to Figure 9 to Figure 11, a method for drying clothes with the portable dryer is disclosed, the method includes the following steps:
a0:
The two support rods 10 extend upwardly and the garment model 8 is sleeved on the support rod 10.
Specifically, the support rod 10 extends into the chamber through the air intake port 82.

a, the air intake port 82 of the garment model 8 is fixed on the installing portion 13 on the casing 1, and the clothes to be dried are put on the garment model 8.
b, activating the portable dryer: the blower 6 and the heating device 7 start to work, air entering from the air inlet 4 is heated by the heating device 7, and the heated air is blown into the chamber of the garment model 8 by the blower 6 through the air inlet open 82, the chamber is being inflated to for drying.

In operation, measuring pressure within the chamber and controlling the pressure between a first preset pressure P1 and a second preset pressure P2. To be specific, if the pressure measured is higher than or equal to the second preset pressure P2, stopping the blower 6 and the heating device 8; if the pressure measured is lower than the first preset pressure P1, the blower 6 and the heating device 8 are working; thus the intermittent running of the blower 6 could maintain the pressure within the chamber between the first preset pressure P1 and the second preset pressure P2.
c. removing the clothes until it is dried, turning off the portable dryer and removing the garment model 8.
In other embodiments, the clothes to be dried may be placed on the garment model 8 until the chamber is being inflated during the operation.
While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

Claims

A portable clothes dryer comprising:
a casing (1) provided with air inlets (4) and air outlets, and with an air duct (12) communicating with the air inlets (4) and the air outlets;

a detachable garment model (8) made of elastic material comprising an inflatable chamber such that clothes to be dried can be put on the garment model (8) for drying, the chamber provided with an air intake port through which air from the air outlet of the casing enters into;

a heating device (7) disposed inside the air duct (12) to heat air;

a blower (6) configured to move heated air to the chamber of the garment model (8),
wherein the portable clothes dryer further comprises one or more supporting rods (10) retractably arranged on the casing (1); the supporting rod configured for being pulled out when preparing the dryer for use and the garment model (8) configured for being sleeved on the one or more supporting rods (10) or the upper part of the garment model (8) configured for being fixed on the one or more supporting rods (10),

characterized in that an extending end of the one or more supporting rods (10) is provided with a support block (101), the top surface of the casing (1) is provided with a receiving groove matched with the support block (101),

wherein the support block (101) is configured to be disposed in the receiving groove and is aligned with the top surface of the casing (1) when the one or more supporting rods (10) are drawn back in the casing (1).
The portable clothes dryer of claim 1, wherein:
the casing (1) is provided with an installing portion (13) matched with the air intake port (82) of the garment model (8), wherein the supporting rod passes through the air intake port (82) and extends into the chamber when the air intake port (82) is fixedly mounted on the installing portion (13).
The portable clothes dryer of claim 1, wherein:
the garment model (8) is provided with extending openings (84) corresponding to the one or more supporting rods (10), wherein the one or more supporting rods extend into the chamber through the extending openings (84) when the garment model (8) is installed.
The portable clothes dryer of claim 1, wherein:
the blower (6) is disposed at a position corresponding to the air outlet of the casing (1) and is capable of being upwardly ejected, and comprises a cylindrical blower casing (61) with a top surface (611), a plurality of air outtake ports (62) opened on the cylindrical side wall of the blower casing; wherein the blower (6) ejects upwardly to expose the air outtake ports (62) when preparing the dryer for work.
The portable clothes dryer of claim 4, wherein:
the lower periphery of the blower casing (61) is configured to be in close contact with the air outlet of the casing (1) once the blower (6) is upwardly ejected, the air intake port (82) of the garment model (8) is configured to be installed at the lower periphery of the blower casing (61) so that the air outlet (62) of the blower (6) is disposed in the chamber of the garment model (8).
The portable clothes dryer of claim 1, wherein:
the air outlet of the casing (1) has an upwardly funnel-shaped extending portion (9), and the upper end of the extending portion (9) is fixed on the top surface of the casing (1).
The portable clothes dryer of any one of claim 1 to 6, wherein:
a pressure sensor is disposed at the air outlet; wherein the pressure sensor is configured for, when the dryer works, comparing the detected pressure with a preset pressure (P1, P2); wherein the portable clothes dryer is configured for, if the detected pressure is higher than or equal to the preset pressure (P1, P2), stopping the blower (6) and the heating device (7) and, if the detected pressure is lower than the preset pressure (P1, P2), maintaining the blower (6) and the heating device (7) at work.
A method for drying clothes with the portable clothes dryer of any one of claim 1 to 7, comprising the following steps:
a. installing and fixing the air intake port (82) of the garment model (8) on the casing (1), putting the clothes to be dried on the garment model (8);

b. starting the clothes dryer: the blower (6) and the heating device (7) begin to work, the air introduced from the air inlet (4) is heated by the heating device (7), then the heated air is directed by the blower (6) to flow into the chamber of the garment model (8) through the air intake port (82), such that the garment model (8) is inflated to put on the clothes to be dried;

c. taking off the dried clothes and then turning off the portable clothes dryer, removing the garment model.