GB2441777A - Clothes drying cupboard comprising a dehumidification unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A dehumidification unit 1 is incorporated into a cupboard, where the unit is powered by mains electricity 3 and water is extracted via a standard hose 2. The unit enables drip drying of clothes to be cried out in the same timescale as mechanical drying. Preferably, the cupboard comprises an upright full height cupboard with the dehumidification unit internally fitted, powered by a mains electrical power supply, and requiring only a waste pipe or gutter to dispel the collected water via a 15 mm hose from the rear of the unit. A timer system may be provided to shut off the drying process once it is completed. Preferably, the cupboard door has a sealing system 4 to increase the drying efficiency and prevent ambient odours from impregnating the clothing whilst drying. A specially designed racking system may also be provided to enhance the drying performance. Preferably, a refillable scent container is situated in the unit enabling the user to apply scent to their clothes. In use, garments are dried whilst hanging and therefore do not require as much ironing; the clothes are also protected from the more vigorous drying cycle found in a conventional dryer. The invention is designed to apply dehumidification techniques to drip-dry clothing in a quiet, efficient, cost effective, and environmentally friendly manner.

Description

2441777

The Humidor fThe Drying Cupboard!

Background (14th September 2006)

Problems with existing technology:

1) Drying Lines. Not everyone in cities has a garden. More people in cities, statistically speaking, live in apartments, which have no outside space. Also whether or not you have outside space in the northern hemisphere it is often too cold, wet, damp or miserable to dry clothing outside. Many people who live in close proximity to one another in built up locations do not wish to expose their clothing to neighbours. Also some items are just too valuable to dry externally.

2) Radiator hangers or drying on the radiator (figure 1). Whilst useful tools in the drying process they are very unsightly. They tend to be very small and consequently hold very little clothing. They tend to pick up and absorb any ambient smells as well as causing the clothing to need excessive ironing due to the creases left in the clothing, which can cause damage to more delicate fabrics.

3) Drying Machines. The excessive temperatures reached in the drying process tend to cause long-term damage and it is recommended not to dry valuable items in this manner. Cannot dry to a full dry state, the recommendation is to part dry and allow natural drying for the remainder of the process. The machine also takes up space in a kitchen without any other function. Therefore it will lie idle for the majority of the time. This method can cause veiy heavy wrinkling and therefore require more ironing. Very costly and uneconomical way to diy clothes, which also has a maintenance cost that is high.

Statement of Invention:

To overcome the above problems with the existing methods available the drying cupboard would come in a freestanding format that would fit exactly into an integrated tall kitchen cabinet, figure 2 (1), wardrobe or integrated fridge freezer carcass. The door would be either the door supplied with die integrated unit as in figure 2 (2) or the cupboard door as in figure 2 (3). This would be hinged in the normal manner as if the unit were not inside the cupboard. Inside the cupboard along the rear of the unit would be a dehumidification unit highlighted in figure 3 (1). The drying cupboard would work in such a way that the dehumidification unit would lower the relative humidity inside the cupboard to facilitate an accelerated drip-drying process. This would then create an atmosphere in the cupboard that would cause clothes to dry in a similar timeframe to a drying machine at a fraction of the cost and far more delicately. The excess water moisture would be expelled via a 15mm flexible rubber hose attached to the dehumidifier at the rear of the unit shown in figure 3 (2), directly plumbed in to a waste pipe, or external gutter. This would then need no maintenance with regard to emptying the water drawn out of the air from the wet clothing.

Pagel.

Furthermore due to the advanced racking system (see figure 4 letters A-F) the unit would act as a wardrobe when not in use, unlike a washing machine, therefore drying while hanging which would necessitate far less ironing. This would allow clothes to last longer and make the process infinitely more environmentally friendly. This would run along the back sited at the centre of the unit for best circulation results as shown in figure 3 (1). The unit would be mains powered, which is fed by a heat resistant flex (l-1.5mm T&E) plugged directly into a 13Amp socket see figure 3 (3). The inside of the carcass would be racked out with various designs of plastic coated metal hanging racks as shown in figures 2 and 3. This would create the maximum use of space and minimal contact between items of clothing and other garments. The drying times and therefore the drying process would be controlled by a timing device which could be sited on the exterior of the unit or the adjacent wall (customers preference). The door would close onto a felt or rubber gasket/seal located in the position as highlighted in figure 3 (4) to maximise the efficiency of drying, the gasket being fitted inside a cut out along the edge of the carcass as in figure 5 (2). On the inner side of the door would be a hooking system, see figure 3 (5), that enabled different scented fragrances to permeate the clothing with the customers required scent. This will be refillable or replaceable when the scent runs out The unit would be supplied flat packed for easy fitting, suitable for the most basic of standards of DIY enthusiast. The fixings for putting the unit together would all be readily available at any DIY store (knock down fixings as shown in figure 5 (1)). The unit would not require plumbing up and therefore would not need the services of a plumber.

Advantages:

The unit will come flat packed. This will mean that it will not need plumbing up by an expat but any basic DIY knowledge will be sufficient for installation. It will be much easier to cany up awkward stairs. It will have the same construction techniques required for the majority of flat packed furniture. The unit will speed the drip drying times of clothes and other garments to the speed of a mechanical drying machine. The unit once it has completed the cycle for drying by default will double as a wardrobe. This advantage would mean that no unsightly clothes are viewed around the house. All smells, both damp from the drying clothes and ambient smells will not affect the garments. The damage on normal and delicate clothing will be minimal because the drying process takes place while the clothes are hanging. Again by default the clothes will require less ironing as they are not as wrinkled once the drying cycle has finished. The cost of diying coupled with the environmentally unfriendly method of mechanical diying will be virtually eradicated.

The unit will have a timer therefore will automatically turn itself off after the set period of time or when the relative humidity stat reads that the humidity levels are consistent with dry clothes being in the unit. Once the drying cycle has finished the clothes will not need to be removed immediately as they are already hanging up as they would be in a cupboard. Therefore one can dry and go for as long as the user wishes. Hie advantages outlined above should revolutionise the drying of clothes especially in inner cities and apartments where space is at a premium.

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Detailed Description:

The carcass will be made of ] 8mm melamine, figure 3 (6), with the back being made of 12mm melamine, figure 3 (7). This will ease cleaning and keep the carcass from being damaged due to dampness. At the centre of the back panel will be an 18mm strip which would have four fixing bolt holes for the dehumidifier unit to attach to, see figure 3 (8). The internal side walls of the unit would have predrilled holes so as the adjustable racking system would be installed to the customers requirements by the customer by simply clicking the racking system into the required slots depending on the items being dried as demonstrated by figure 3 (9). At die base of the unit would be a retractable PVC tray to catch any excess water from very wet items, again to prevent water building up in the unit The racking system, figure 4 letters A and B, would be made from standard 2mm wire that is PVC coated to prevent rusting and enable easy cleaning. The dehumidification unit would be plugged in via a 13Amp standard household socket, figure 3 (3). A cable of at least 3m with a 13 Amp plug would be supplied (plug would not be supplied) as it would be detachable so the pre-wired cable could be threaded through any awkward areas in order to locate a convenient plug socket. A 10m (15mm diameter) hose, see figure 3 (3), would be provided for location into an external waste water source. Due to no pumping system being present as in normal waste water pipe work, the hose must work via gravity and have a small but steady fall to an external source. This could be a sink, waste pipe or external rainwater gutter depending on the customers requirements. The hose would be attached to the dehumidification unit via a metal nipple that would squeeze into the rubber hose. The carcass of the unit would be provided with a rubber gasket or seal that sticks on to the external edge of the carcass, see figure 3 (4), which would form a better seal for increased efficiency of drying when the door closed on it. The supplied door of the carcass would be made of 18mm melamine (white), see figure 2 (3) or the existing door of a unit could also be used if matching die unit into existing wardrobes or kitchen units. The door would attach to the unit using concealed hinges, readily available in quality ironmongers, as highlighted in figure 3 (10).

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Claims (5)

Claims:

1) A dehumidification unit as part of an existing cupboard unit, or stand alone. The unit would be powered by mains electricity and water extracted via a standard hose to enable drip drying of clothes to be carried out in the same time scale as mechanical drying.

2) A timer system would shut off the process once completed as claimed in 1 above.

3) The door of the unit will have a sealing system to increase the efficiency of the unit and not allow ambient smells to impregnate the clothing whilst drying as in claim 1 above.

4) The specially designed racking system will enhance and aid claim 1.

5) The scented system provided will give the customer the ability to scent their clothes whilst claim 1 is being carried out.

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