US20140157618A1

US20140157618A1 - Apparatus for removing scent and moisture from clothing

Info

Publication number: US20140157618A1
Application number: US14/179,609
Authority: US
Inventors: Jamie Zimmerman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-05-05
Filing date: 2014-02-13
Publication date: 2014-06-12

Abstract

The scent removing device has a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom that form an interior compartment. The bottom has a top layer and a bottom layer with a cavity therebetween. A continuous channel within the cavity creates a flow path from the cavity to the interior compartment. An air tube extends through the interior compartment in fluid communication with the channel. A fan motor is in communication with the air tube blows air into the cavity.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 13/281,660 filed Oct. 26, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/115,116 filed May 5, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,119,070 issued Feb. 21, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed toward an apparatus for removing scent and moisture. More particularly for removing scent and moisture from clothing.
Devices are known in the art for adding scent to clothing and for drying clothes, particularly for hunters who hunt big game animals sensitive to human scent. As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,378 to Knight discloses such a device. While these devices accomplish their purpose, the air flow is inadequate for efficient use and the connecting structures allow for leakage of air reducing efficiency. Also, the devices are not designed to remove scent. Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a device that addresses these deficiencies.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a scent removing device having an efficient airflow.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a scent removing device that seals airflow more effectively.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a scent removing device that removes moisture.
These and other objectives will be apparent to one of skill in the art based on the following disclosure, drawings, and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scent removing device;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of a scent removing device;

FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view showing the interior of a scent removing device;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shelf for a scent removing device;

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of a scent removing device; and

FIG. 6 is a cutaway perspective view showing the interior of a scent removing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the Figures, the scent removing device 10 has a housing 12 having a bottom 14, sidewalls 16, a top 18, and a lid 20 that form an interior compartment 22. Preferably the interior compartment 22 has an interior space of 7,140 cubic inches or 31 gallons, but can be of any size. The bottom 14, sidewalls 16, top 18, and lid 20 preferably are connected by an interlocking male tongue 24 and female groove 26 to provide a more secure and airtight connection. In one embodiment the sidewalls have recessed handles 27 for easy transport of the scent removing device 10.
The bottom 14 has a top layer 28 and a bottom layer 29 that form a cavity 34 in the bottom 14. A groove 30 embedded in the top layer 28 engages the bottom layer 29 to create an air tight channel 68 in the cavity 34. In one embodiment the channel 68 has a back 70 with a plurality of fingers 72 extending from the back 70. The top layer 28 covering the channel 68 has a plurality of holes 31 of increasing diameter that facilitate air distribution within compartment 22.
The top 18 has a pair of openings 36 and 38. Opening 36 receives a fan motor 40 that is secured to the top 18 and extends into interior compartment 22. A fan motor 40 having silent technology is preferred. Preferably a single fan motor 40 is used, but the use of multiple is contemplated to increase air flow. Surrounding the motor 40 within the interior compartment 22 is a cover 42 having an opening 44 and opening 46. A second cover 48 is attached to the top 18 on the exterior of the device 10 to cover opening 36. Attached to the second cover 48 is a timer 50 that is operatively connected to motor 40 to activate and deactivate the motor 40. The second cover has an opening 52 that receives a tube 54 that extends to and is received within an opening 56 in a scent box 58.
In one embodiment the top 18 has a top cover 74 that connects to the lid 20 and sidewalls 16. The top cover 74 has a first side 76 that extends from the lid 20 generally upward and bends to form a second side 78 that extends in parallel spaced alignment with the top 18 of the housing 12 and connects to a sidewall 16 thereby encasing the fan motor 40, timer 50, opening 52, tube 54, opening 56, and scent box 58. In this way the top cover 74 provides additional noise reduction for the fan motor 40. In one embodiment the second side 78 has a grating 86 for air to pass through from the fan motor 40.
The second side 78 of the top cover 74 has a door 80 that provides access to the scent box 58 to allow different scents to be inserted into the scent box 58. In one embodiment the first side 76 has an indented portion 82. A switch 84 protrudes from the recess of the indented portion 82 to power on and off the fan motor 40. In another embodiment the timer 50 also protrudes from the recess of the indented portion 82.
The scent box 58 extends through opening 38 in the top 18 and is connected to and in communication with an air tube 60 in any manner to connect an airtight seal such as a threadable male/female connection. The air tube 60 has an opening 62 that receives a tube 64 that extends to and is received within opening 46 in cover 42. The air tube 60 extends from the scent box 58 through an opening 64 in the top layer 28 and into the channel 68. The air tube 60 has an opening 65 at the opposite end of the scent box 58. Inserted within scent box 58 and channel 68 are high grade charcoal activated filters 66 which assist in removing scent from clothing and other objects.
In an alternative embodiment, the charcoal filter 66 is a pad that lays on top of the top layer 28. Preferable the filter 66 is a half-inch high-grade activated carbon filter. In this way air flows through the charcoal filter 66 after being dispersed in the channel 68 to reduce wear on the filter 66. Additionally, the charcoal filter 66 is more easily replaced as the filter 66 rests on the bottom 14 within the compartment 22.
In operation, clothing or other objects are placed in the compartment 22 and the lid 20 is closed. The timer 50 is set to a pre-selected time which activates the fan motor 40. Once activated the fan 40 blows air through opening 36, tube 54, and opening 52 into scent box 58. The air interacts with the charcoal filters 66 in the scent box 58 and continues to flow through air tube 60 and into the channel 68. The air interacts with the charcoal filter 66 in the channel 68 as the air is being dispersed before passing through the plurality of holes 31 in the top layer 28. In this way air is evenly dispersed about the clothing in the interior compartment 22. The motor also pulls air from the bottom to the top of the interior compartment 22 through opening 44 in cover 42 and is directed by the fan 40 through opening 46, tube 64, opening 62 and back into air tube 60 where it is recirculated, creating 130 degrees of recycled air. Preferably, up to 110 cubic feet per minute of recycled air flows through the housing 12. As the air is continually recycled scent and moisture is removed from the clothing or objects.
Thus, a scent removing device been shown, that at the very least meets all of the stated objectives.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A scent removing device, comprising:

a housing having a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom thereby forming an interior compartment;

the bottom has a top layer and a bottom layer that form a cavity;

a continuous channel within said cavity creating a flow path that allows airflow to flow from the cavity to the interior compartment;

an air tube that extends through the interior compartment and terminates in fluid communication with the continuous channel;

a fan motor in communication with the air tube to blow air through the air tube and into the cavity

2. The scent removing device of claim 1 wherein the channel is formed by a groove embedded in the top layer that engages the bottom layer to form an airtight seal.

3. The scent removing device of claim 1 wherein the interior compartment is at least 7,140 cubic inches.

4. The scent removing device of claim 1 further comprising a replaceable filter placed on the top of the top layer.

5. The scent removing device of claim 4 wherein the replaceable filter is a half-inch high-grade activated carbon filter.

6. The scent removing device of claim 1 further comprising a replaceable filter is placed within the channel.

7. The scent removing device of claim 1 wherein the fan motor recycles air in 130 degrees.

8. The scent removing device of claim 1 wherein the fan motor recycles air at a rate of at least 110 cubic feet per minute.

9. A scent removing device, comprising:

the bottom having a top layer and a bottom layer that form a cavity;

a groove embedded in the top layer that engages the bottom layer to form a channel with an airtight seal;

the top layer having a plurality of openings that extend through the top layer;

an air tube that extends that extends through the interior compartment and terminates in the air channel; and

a fan motor in communication with the air tube.

10. The scent removing device of claim 9 wherein the channel has a back and a plurality of fingers.