GB2438865A

GB2438865A - An umbrella dryer

Info

Publication number: GB2438865A
Application number: GB0611047A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Stephen Lynes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-05
Filing date: 2006-06-05
Publication date: 2007-12-12
Also published as: GB0611047D0

Abstract

A device for drying an umbrella comprises a receptacle 2 for receiving an umbrella 4 and a control unit 10 controlling operation of the device. The control unit is connectable to the receptacle and to a power supply 20 and comprises a heating element 18 and a fan 14. The device further comprises a switch 24 connectable to the control unit. The control unit is arranged to apply power to the heating element and the fan on activation of the switch to circulate hot air through the receptacle to dry an umbrella located in the receptacle in use. Also has time switch 22 for timer operation.

Description

1 2438865

A DRYING DEVICE

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a drying device, in particular a device for drying an umbrella.

BackQround of the invention After a heavy rainstorm it is generally inconvenient and unpleasant to carry a dripping wet umbrella around, particularly indoors in places such as shops or shopping centres. Furthermore, the wetness on a floor surface caused by a dripping umbrella may be hazardous, depending on the nature of the floor covering, certain tiles or vinyl floor coverings being particularly prone to becoming slippery once wet. Thus, there is a need for a device which ameliorates the aforementioned problems.

Summary of the invention

In broad terms, the present invention provides a device for drying an umbrella comprising: a receptacle for receiving an umbrella; and a control unit for controlling operation of the device, the control unit being connectable to the receptacle and to a power supply, the control unit comprising a heating element and a fan, the device further comprising: a switch connectable to the control unit; the control unit being arranged to apply power to the heating element and the fan on activation of the switch to circulate hot air through the receptacle to dry an umbrella located in the receptacle in use.

Preferably, the device further comprises a sensor connectable to the receptacle for sensing the presence of an umbrella in the receptacle, the sensor being connectable to the switch and being arranged to activate the switch on or after detection by the sensor of an umbrella in the receptacle.

In a preferred embodiment, the receptacle is removably attachable to the control unit to permit replacement or cleaning to take place and also to enable easy transportation of the device.

Preferably, the switch comprises a push-button switch activatable by a user.

In a preferred embodiment, the switch may comprise a micro-switch.

Preferably, the sensor comprises an optical sensor.

In a preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a motor for driving the fan.

A second switch is preferably connectable to the heating element and/or to the motor to control power supplied to the heating element and/or motor and thereby the fan.

In a preferred embodiment, the second switch is a time switch to control a time period of operation of the device. The device may further comprise means for resetting the time switch in use after removal of an umbrella from the receptacle.

Preferably, the device further comprises a temperature cut-out means arranged to cut-off the power supplied to the device once a temperature greater than a predetermined temperature is detected to inhibit overheating.

In a preferred embodiment, a coin receiving unit for receiving coins may be provided, the coin receiving unit being connectable to the control unit to permit operation of the device on or after detection of a predetermined coinage being received by the coin receiving unit.

The receptacle is preferably substantially conically shaped for receiving an umbrella in use.

Preferably, a stop is locatable in the receptacle to inhibit an umbrella inserted into the receptacle in use from extending into the control unit.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic sectional elevation of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional end elevation of the device of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of an electrical control circuit for controlling the device of Figures 1 and 2.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Figures 1 and 2 show a device I for drying umbrellas according to a first preferred embodiment. The device I comprises a receptacle 2 for receiving and retaining an umbrella 4. A sensor 6 is locatable within the receptacle 2 to determine the presence of an umbrella 4 inserted into the receptacle 2. The receptacle 2 is preferably conically-shaped with a first free end 7 having a larger cross-sectional area than a second free end 8. The sensor 6 is preferably located within the receptacle, for example, at a position near the second free end 8. The second free end 8 is insertable into and releasably engageable with a control unit 10 for controlling the operation of the device 1.

A stop 12 is located at or adjacent the second free end 8 of the receptacle 2 to prevent the umbrella 4 from interfering with the control unit 10 and its contents in use. The stop 12 could be, for example, a disc formed of a wire mesh to allow the flow of air therethrough.

A fan 14 drivable in use by a motor 16 is located in the control unit 10. A number of heating elements 18 are located in the control unit 10 and are spaced from the fan 14 therein.

As shown in Figure 3, the device 1 is connectable to a power supply 20, preferably an external power supply, and the incoming power is applied to the input of the sensor 6. The output of the sensor 6 is applied to the input of a time switch 22 and the output of the time switch 22 is connected to the motor 16 for driving the fan 14, and to the heating elements 18.

The sensor 6 preferably includes a switch 24 which may be, for example, a micro-switch, or a switch operated by an optical sensor.

In operation, the control unit 10 is connected to the external power supply 20 and power is applied to the control unit 10. In the rest state, that is, when no umbrella 4 is inserted in the receptacle 2, the switches 24 and 22 are in the open position. In use, an umbrella 4 is insertable into the receptacle 2 through the first free end 7 thereof. One end of the umbrella 4 abuts the stop 12 to prevent the umbrella 4 from interfering with the operation of the fan 14 and the motor 16 in the control unit 10. The sensor 6 detects the presence of the umbrella 4 in the receptacle 2 and is activated to close its associated switch 24 and thereby apply power to the time switch 22 to close the time switch 22. Closure of the time switch 22 causes power to be supplied to the motor 16 and heating elements 18 for a time period which is determined by the time switch 22. The motor 16 drives the fan 14 to circulate the hot air heated by the heating elements 18 through the stop 12 and into the receptacle 2 to dry the umbrella 4 inserted therein. On expiry of the predetermined time period, the time switch 22 opens to disconnect the motor 16 and the heating elements 18.

Removal of the umbrella 4 from the receptacle 2 causes the switch 24 associated with the sensor 6 to open and thereby to interrupt the power being supplied to the time switch 22, the motor 16 and the heating elements 18.

The time switch 24 is also preferably reset at this point in time, If the umbrella 4 is removed from the receptacle 2 prior to the expiry of the predetermined time period, the switch 24 is opened and power is no longer supplied to the time switch 22, the motor 16 and heating elements 18 and these will cease to operate until an umbrella is re-inserted.

In a preferred embodiment, the device 1 may be coin operated and may further include a coin receiving unit connectable to the control unit which is arranged to permit operation of the device I in the manner described above on detection of the correct coinage being received in the coin receiving unit.

Also, a temperature cut-out device (not shown) may be included to open one or other or both of the switches 22 and 24 in the event that the temperature of the device 1 exceeds a predetermined temperature.

The receptacle 2 is preferably detachable from the control unit 10 to permit it to be replaced or cleaned or for ease of transportation.

Thus the device according to preferred embodiments of the invention provides an economical way of drying umbrellas which is easily locatable in a variety of locations, for example in the home for domestic use or in public areas such as shops, shopping centres, lobbies, stations, airports and the like.

Various modifications to the embodiments of the present invention described above may be made. For example, other components and method steps can be added or substituted for those above. In particular, in a further preferred embodiment, rather than being powered by an external power supply, the device 1 may be powered by, for example, a battery which may be included within the device 1. Also, in a further preferred embodiment, more than one receptacle 2 may be included to receive more than one umbrella at a time or, in the embodiment having a single receptacle 1, more than one umbrella may be locatable therein at any one time. Furthermore, whilst the present invention has been illustrated such that the control unit 10 containing the heating elements 18 and fan 14 are locatable, in use, in the base of the device 1 with the receptacle 2 extending upwardly therefrom, it will be appreciated that this is merely a preferred example of the respective locations of the various elements and the control unit 10 containing the heating elements 18 and fan 14 may be locatable not in the base of the device 1 but rather at any position suitable for circulating the hot air heated by the heating elements 18 into the receptacle 2 to dry the umbrella or umbrellas inserted therein. Thus, although the invention has been described above using particular embodiments, many variations are possible within the scope of the claims, as will be clear to the skilled reader, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A device for drying an umbrella comprising: a receptacle for

receiving an umbrella; and a control unit for controlling operation of the device, the control unit being connectable to the receptacle and to a power supply, the control unit comprising a heating element and a fan, the device further comprising: a switch connectable to the control unit; the control unit being arranged to apply power to the heating element and the fan on activation of the switch to circulate hot air through the receptacle to dry an umbrella located in the receptacle in use.

2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor connectable to the receptacle for sensing the presence of an umbrella in the receptacle, the sensor being connectable to the switch and being arranged to activate the switch on or after detection by the sensor of an umbrella in the receptacle.

3. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacle is removably attachable to the control unit.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the switch comprises a push-button switch activatable by a user.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the switch comprises a micro-switch.

6. A device according to claim 2 wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a motor for driving the fan.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a second switch connectable to the heating element to control power supplied to the heating element.

9. A device according to claim 6, further comprising a second switch connectable to the motor to control power supplied to the motor and to the fan.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the second switch is also connectable to the heating element to control power supplied to the heating element.

Ii. A device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the second switch is a time switch to control a time period of operation of the device.

12. A device according to claim 11, further comprising means for resetting the time switch in use after removal of an umbrella from the receptacle.

13. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a temperature cut-out means arranged to cut-off the power supplied to the device once a temperature greater than a predetermined temperature is detected to inhibit overheating.

14. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a coin receiving unit for receiving coins, the coin receiving unit being connectable to the control unit to permit operation of the device on or after detection of a predetermined coinage being received by the coin receiving unit.

15. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacle is substantially conically shaped.

16. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a stop locatable in the receptacle to inhibit an umbrella inserted into the receptacle in use from extending into the control unit.

17. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of receptacles for receiving a plurality of umbrellas, the plurality of receptacles being connectable to the control unit, the control unit being arranged to apply power to the heating element and the fan on activation of the switch to circulate hot air through the receptacles to dry one or more umbrellas located in one or more of the receptacles in use.

18. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one embodiment as that embodiment is illustrated in the. accompanying drawings.