WO2023285863A1

WO2023285863A1 - Drying rack

Info

Publication number: WO2023285863A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/056382
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rhinus STEYN
Original assignee: Steyn Rhinus
Priority date: 2021-07-15
Filing date: 2021-07-15
Publication date: 2023-01-19

Abstract

This invention relates to a drying rack (1) more particularly a drying rack (1) for a wet or moist towel or similar object. The drying rack (1) comprising a body (2) which has a plurality of vents (3) leading to a hollow interior the hollow interior containing a moisture absorbent material (5) such as silica gel. When a wet or moist towel is hung over the drying rack (1) to dry, the moisture absorbent material (5) absorbs moisture from the towel and assists in drying the object. The drying rack (1) contains a fragrance releasing agent in order to mask damp odours.

Description

DRYING RACK

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a drying rack more particularly a drying rack for a wet or moist towel or similar object.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

As known in the art towel rails are used to hand wet or moist towels over to allow for air to circulate around the towel to assist in the moisture caught in the fibers of the towel to evaporate into the surrounding atmosphere.

Australian patent number 2017101753 entitled TOWEL RAIL in the name of Alistair Richard Bell (“Bell”) describes a towel rail including a body, and a heating element passing through at 5 least a portion of the body, wherein the heating element has a variable resistance that changes as the ambient temperature changes, such that the heat output of the towel rail is limited at a maximum. European patent number 2028983 entitled TOWEL RAIL in the name of Andrew Keith MacLaren-Taylor (“MacLaren-Taylor”) describes a towel rail and a method of construction thereof which towel rail has at least one vertically extending, tubular support, a plurality of horizontally extending, tubular beams which extend from the support, each of which has a first end and an opposing second end, a first recess formed in the first end and a second recess formed in the second end, a plurality of fasteners, each of which extends at least partially through the support and which is engaged with one of the first or second recess

International patent application number W02008/018044 entitled ABSORBENT ARTICLES INCLUDING AN IMPROVED ODOUR CONTROL SYSTEM in the name of the Procter & Gamble Company (“P&G”) describes absorbent articles which are provided with an odour control system. The odour control system includes at least two classes of odour control materials, wherein a first class comprises at least a material having low volatility, and a second class comprises at least a material having high volatility. The odour control system is provided in the absorbent article in a selected position and amount to provide a prolonged odour control action.

Silica gel is an amorphous and porous form of silicon dioxide (silica), consisting of an irregular tridimensional framework of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms with nanometer-scale voids and pores. The voids may contain water or some other liquids or may be filled by gas or vacuum. In the last case, the material is properly called silica xerogel. An absorbent form of silicon dioxide often wrapped in small packets that is shipped with equipment or medication to absorb moisture. Both Bell and MacLaren-Taylor describe towel rail which partially heat up. This heating can be conducted to a towel hung from the rail to assist in drying of the towel. This could be quite problematic as both documents describe an active means for drying a towel in that the rail must be heated from a power source, such as an electrical connection.

The moisture which evaporates from a damp towel may remain in the room wherein the towel is dried as modern washrooms make use of extractor fans, rather than windows to allow for air to flow through the room. Once again this is an active system as the extractor fans are usually activated in conjunction with a light once switched on, or with a motion detector when someone enters the room. This means that when a room with little windows of airflow is not occupied the moisture will be trapped in that room. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a drying rack which, at least partially, alleviates some of the above-mentioned difficulties. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a a drying rack comprising a body which has a plurality of vents leading to a hollow interior the hollow interior containing a moisture absorbent material. The drying rack may have inside the interior a fragrance releasing material.

The moisture absorbent material is a desiccant such as silica gel, however the invention is not limited in this regard and any suitable substance or material may be used as a moisture absorbent material.

The body may include a locating means to assist in locating the body to a support such as a frame of a support. The locating means may be at the opposing ends of an elongate body to allow for the body to inserted into towel rail supports.

The body may replace existing rails found as part of a towel rail set. The body may be attached to a rail.

The body may have a “C” shape which is complementary to a rail to assist in locating the body to a rail. The body may be retrofitted onto an existing towel rail or to part of a towel rail.

The body may vary in lengths and shape so that any number of shorter bodies can be attached to an existing rail in order to accommodate any length of existing rail. The body may include an attachment means such as friction ribs which assists in attaching the body to a rail, such as a towel rail, however the invention is not limited to being used in combination with a towel rail. The body may have a rectangular or square shape or be in the shape of a panel which would allow for a larger exposure surface to the moisture absorbent material.

The body may include a heating element, however the invention is not limited to using a heating element.

The vents, as found throughout the body, may vary in shape and may be in the form of circular vents or elongate vents. The moisture absorbent material as well as the fragrance releasing material may be replaceable, although the body is preferably manufactured not be opened.

The moisture absorbent material may release a fragrance or include a fragrance releasing component.

The body may vary in shape and the length, the overall appearance, the area etc may be varied, the invention is not limited in this regard. As such the body may take on the form of a hook if required. These and other features of the invention are described in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a drying rack according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows an interior of the drying rack;

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the drying rack;

Figure 4 shows an interior of the alternative embodiment of the drying rack;

Figure 5 shows an attachment means and locating means of the drying rack; and

Figure 6 shows another alternative embodiment of the drying rack. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the drawings, a drying rack is generally depicted by reference numeral 1. A drying rack 1 for a towel which has an elongate body 2.

The body 2 has a plurality of vents 3. The vents 3 allow for air to flow from an exterior of the body 2 to an interior 4 of the body 2. A moisture absorbent material 5 such as silica gel, is found in the interior 4 of the body 2.

Moisture can be absorbed by the material 5 from a damp article, such as a towel through the vents 3. This assists in drying the towel which would usually rely on condensation to release moisture into the atmosphere.

The interior 4 of the body 2 includes a fragrance releasing material which can mask any damp or unpleasant odours. Alternatively, the moisture absorbent material 5 may release a fragrance to mask odours or damp smells.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 depict an alternative embodiment of the drying rack 1. The drying rack 1 has an alternative shape body 6 which can be used to retrofit the body 2 over an existing towel rail. The alternative shaped body 6 provides for a locating means in the shape of a cavity 8. The cavity 8 has a number of attachment means 9 to ensure that the body 6 attaches securely to an existing rail.

The body 6 has a plurality of vents 3. The vents 3 allow for air to flow from an exterior of the body 6 to an interior 7 of the body 6.

A moisture absorbent material 5 is found within in the interior 7 of the body 6.

The cavity 8 includes further securing means, such as friction ribs 10 to ensure that the body 6 does not rotate around the rail to which the body 6 is secured. Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of the invention wherein the drying rack 1 has a body 11 which has a rectangular shape such as a panel.

The body 11 has a plurality of vents 3. The vents 3 allow for air to flow from an exterior of the body 11 to an interior 12 of the body.

A moisture absorbent material 5 is found in the interior 12 of the body 11. The moisture absorbent material 5 may have a fragrance releasing component to mask or prevent foul odours or mouldy smell. The body 11 is spaced from a surface by means of supports 13 which create a cavity 14 between the surface and the body 11. In this orientation a moist towel (not shown) may be hung over the body 11 so that more holes 3 will provide for more effective exposure between the towel and the moisture absorbent material 5.

In another embodiment the body may be used to dry other articles such as hand towels, laundry etc. the invention is not limited in this regard. In the future new towel rails will make use of the drying rack and will replace the existing rails which form part of towel rail sets. Existing towel rails can be retrofitted with the drying racks to accomplish the same effect.

The applicant/inventor Rhinus Steyn, South African ID number: 830302 5081 084 believes that this invention should provide a significant improvement on the way towels are hung to dry, especially in environments where air circulation is less than desired.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the precise details as described herein, for instance multiple elongate bodies as shown in figure 1 may be configured next to, or below each other to form a framework of parallel bars resembling a rectangle similar to figure 6.

It is also possible for the moisture absorbent material and/or the fragrance releasing component to be replaced, should the need arise.

Claims

1. A drying rack comprising a body which has a plurality of vents leading to a hollow interior, the hollow interior containing a moisture absorbent material.

2. The drying rack according to claim 1 wherein the interior contains a fragrance releasing material.

3. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the moisture absorbent material is a desiccant.

4. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the body includes locating means to assist in locating the body to a support.

5. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the body can be attached to a rail.

6. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the body includes an attachment means to assist in attaching the body to a rail.

7. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the locating means is complementary to a bar.

8. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the attachment means includes friction ribs.

9. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the body can be attached to a towel rail.

10. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein body defines a panel.

11. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the vents have varying shapes.

12. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the vents have a smaller area than the area of the moisture absorbent material.

13. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the moisture absorbent material is replaceable.

14. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the fragrance releasing material is replaceable.

15. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the moisture absorbent material releases a fragrance.

16. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the body includes a heating element.

17. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the body can be located.

18. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the body has varying lengths.

19. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the body has varying shapes.

20. The drying rack according to any of the preceding claims wherein the body has varying areas.