This invention is concerned with improvements in a drying device and is particularly concerned with improvements in a drying device for use in drying out flooded dwellings and/or for drying carpets and the like artefacts after a wet cleaning process.

Means for drying out flooded dwellings and/or drying carpets after a wet cleaning process are very well known and conveniently comprise the use of air blowers in combination with dehumidifiers.

As highlighted in our earlier United Kingdom Patent No.GB2397366B, conventional air blowers are configured to blow air at ambient temperature or above in more or less one direction.

However, as disclosed in GB2397366B, the efficiency of an air blower in drying out a flooded dwelling, or drying a carpet, is greatly enhanced when used with a drying device according to the teachings of said Patent. Even so, in extended usage of the device, which comprises opposed sheets of flexible material co-joined along peripheral edge portions thereof with at least an underside sheet of the device being provided with a multiplicity of small apertures over its whole surface area, there still remain certain aspects of the drying device and its usage that may be improved.

In using drying devices made from flexible sheet materials for drying carpets, rugs and floor surfaces and like surface areas, it has been found that the pressure of the drying air from an air blower may be such that the drying device billows, i.e. it is raised above or away from a surface being treated to such an extent that has a marked affect on the efficiency of the drying device leading to longer drying times than are necessary before a dwelling or other building becomes habitable.

To this end the present invention provides means for improving the efficiency and versatility of the drying devices used hitherto when used in combination with an air blower. Thus, the present invention conveniently provides a drying device comprising upper and lower sheets co-joined along peripheral edge portions thereof with at least the lower sheet of the drying device being provided with a multiplicity of small apertures over its whole surface area, or substantially so, whereby, when in use and the drying device is connected to an air blower, air under pressure is caused to flow through the multiplicity of small apertures and impinge upon a surface to be dried, characterised in that the drying device also comprises means for preventing the drying device from billowing away from the surface to be dried, said means allowing air from the air blower to be expelled through the drying device and thereby maintaining the drying device in close proximity to the surface to be dried.

Preferably, the means for preventing the drying device from billowing away from the surface to be dried comprises a series of apertures that extend through the drying device, whereby, when the drying device is in use and connected to an air blower, air is allowed to pass through the series of apertures thereby maintaining the drying device in close proximity to a surface to be dried

More preferably, the apertures are provided in connectors that extend through the upper and lower sheets of the drying device and may be moulded from plastic, metal or a combination of such materials.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, means are provided for closing one or more of the apertures whereby, when the drying device is in use and connected to an air blower, the air allowed to pass through the remaining series of apertures is regulated to maintain the drying device in close proximity to a surface to be dried.

In a modified embodiment provided by the present invention the means for preventing the drying device from billowing away from the surface to be dried conveniently comprises at least one elongate aperture that extends through the drying device so that, when the drying device is in use and connected to an air blower, air is allowed to pass through the elongate aperture thereby maintaining the drying device in close proximity to a surface to be dried.

Preferably, the at least one elongate aperture is between one half and one third the length of the drying device and is located midway between opposite side edge portions of the drying device.

Conveniently, the elongate aperture is between 2cm and 15cm in width.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drying device comprises a plurality of closure flaps that may be moved to an open condition to allow, when the drying device is connected to an air blower, sufficient air to escape from under the drying device to thereby ensure that the drying device is maintained in close proximity to a surface to be dried.

Preferably, the plurality of closure flaps are adhered to opposite side edge portions of the at least one elongate aperture by needled fabric strips, e.g. Velcro (RTM).

More preferably, the plurality of closure flaps may be permanently attached to one side edge portion of the elongate aperture and attached to an opposite side edge portion by needled fabric strips, e.g. Velcro (RTM).

There now follows by way of example of the present invention a detailed description, which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic upper perspective view of a first embodiment of a drying device provided by the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section view along the line II-II of Figure 1 showing the detail of a connector for the second modified drying device; Figure 3 is a fragmentary section view corresponding to Figure 2 and illustrating a connector for use with the device of Figure 1 ; and,

Figure 4 is an upper perspective view of a second embodiment of a drying device provided by the present invention.

The first embodiment of the present invention provides a drying device 90 comprising upper and lower sheets 94 and 96 of waterproof material, the sheets 94 and 96 being rectangular in plan, see Figure 1.

The sheets 94 and 96 are co-joined along peripheral side edge portions 98 and 100; the sheets 94 and 96 also being co-joined along an opposite end portions 102 and 104 respectively. The drying device 90 is also provided with mid portions 98a, 100a, 102a and 104a at its side edge portions 98 and 100 and its opposite end portions 102 and 104 respectively, see Figure 1.

The mid portion 98a, 100a, 102a and 104a are co-joined by needle fabric strips of Velcro (RTM) material, not shown, whereby, in use, the drying device 90 may be connected to an air blower, not shown, at the end portion 102a.

In addition, the drying device 90 may be connected to other like drying devices, not shown, by connection means, which are attached to the drying device 90 at said mid portions 98a, 100a and 104a.

The drying device 90 further comprises a series of apertures 106 that extend through the device 90 to facilitate the adherence of the device 90 as close as possible to the carpet, rug or floor to be dried thereby. When the device 90 is in use and air from an air blower, not shown, enters the drying device 90 there can be a tendency for the device 90 to billow and move away from the carpet, etc. thereby lowering the efficiency thereof. The provision of the apertures 106 allows for a drop in the air pressure from the air blower thereby maintaining the drying device 90 in close proximity with the carpet, etc. The apertures 106 may be formed in the fabric of the drying device 90 or, as shown in Figure 2, the apertures 106 may be provided in a series of hollow connector 108, which connectors are made from any suitable materials, for example moulded plastic, metal or a combination of such materials.

The sheet 96 of the drying device 90 is provided with a multiplicity of small apertures 110 over the whole surface area thereof, whereby, in use, air from an air blower (not shown) that is connected to the drying device 90 passes through the apertures 110 to impinge upon the carpet, rug or floor etc. that is being dried.

An alternative form of hollow connector 108a is illustrated in Figure 3, which connector 108a may be made from the same or similar materials to those that may be used for the hollow connector 108 of Figures 1 and 2.

The drying device 90 referred to herein have been described as comprising a multiplicity of apertures over the whole surface areas of the lower sheets thereof; it is to be realised that the upper sheets of the drying devices may also be provided with a multiplicity of such apertures, particularly where such drying devices are intended for use between spaced structures that are being dried.

The sizing and spacing of the multiplicity of apertures is most important for obtaining the best results in terms of the times taken to dry artefacts such as carpets, etc. or to dry out the fabric of a flooded dwelling.

To this end it has been found that the velocity of the air passing through each aperture should not be less than 6m/sec. thus it will be self evident that the capacity of an air blower to deliver drying air under pressure will have to be controlled to give a constant air flow over the whole surface area of the drying devices while maintaining the drying device at its optimum special relationship with respect to the surfaces being treated. It has also become evident that the multiplicity of apertures 110 should be between 2mm and 8mm diameter or equivalent cross sectional area, more especially between 3mm and 5mm diameter or equivalent cross sectional area and in one specific embodiment of drying device 4mm or equivalent cross sectional area.

It has also become evident that the multiplicity of apertures 110 should be spaced apart one with respect to another by between 20mm and 80mm over the whole surface area of the upper and/or lower sheets of the drying devices. More especially the multiplicity of apertures should be spaced apart one with respect to another be between 40mm and 60mm over the whole surface area of the sheets. Particularly, the multiplicity of apertures should be spaced apart one from another by 50mm.

The apertures 106 that extend through the drying device should be between 10mm and 50mm diameter or equivalent cross sectional area. More especially the said apertures 106 should be between 20mm and 30mm diameter or equivalent cross sectional area and in one specific embodiment 25mm diameter or equivalent cross sectional area.

It has also been determined that the apertures 106 that extend through the drying device should be spaced apart one from another by between 100mm and 600mm, more especially between 150mm and 250mm and especially 200mm.

In one prime example of a drying device 90 according to the present invention, the multiplicity of apertures 110 have diameters of 4mm and are spaced apart by 50mm while the apertures 106 that extend through the drying device have a diameter of 25mm and are spaced apart one with respect to one another by 200mm.

Although not shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, means for closing one or more of the apertures 106 may be provided in order to ensure that the air that is allowed to pass through the remainder of the unclosed apertures 106 is regulated so that the drying device 90 is maintained in close proximity to a surface to be dried. The second embodiment of the present invention provides a drying device 120, which is generally similar in every respect to the first drying device 90 except that the apertures 106 of the drying device 90 are replaced by a longitudinal aperture 122 that extends midway between side edge portions 124 and 126 of the device 120 and is spaced from opposite end portions 128 and 130, see Figure 4.

The aperture 122 is approximately half as long as the distance between the opposite end portions 128 and 130 and is between 2cm and 15cm in width. The effect of the aperture 122 on maintaining the drying device 120 in close proximity to a surface to be dried will depend upon the power of an air blower, not shown, that is used in conjunction with the drying device 120.

The drying device 120 may also comprises a plurality of closure flaps, not shown, that overlie the aperture 122, whereby, when the drying device is in use, one or more of the closure flaps may be moved to an open condition to allow more air to escape from under the drying device 120 thereby ensuring the device 120 is maintained in close proximity to a surface to be dried.

With drying devices that are larger in surface area than the device 120 illustrated in Figure 4, there may be extra apertures 122 as required for efficient drying of the surface against which he drying device 120 is placed.

The extra apertures 122 may also include closure flaps so that the escape of air from beneath the drying device can be regulated to best effect.

The closure flaps may be adhered to opposite side edge portions of the apertures 122 by needled fabric strips, e.g. Velcro (RTM) or the flaps may be attached permanently to one side edge portion of the aperturesl22 and fastened in a closed condition by attachment by needled fabric strips to a second side edge of the apertures 122. The number, size and placement of the extra apertures 122 will vary according to the size of the drying device commensurate with the prevention of billowing of the device when in use.

By the terms 'floor surfaces and like surface areas' where used herein, it is meant: a) floor surfaces, for example concrete floor surfaces, to which a screed of

cement, sand and water is applied to form a smooth surface on said surfaces; b) freshly poured concrete floors; and , c) tiled floors or the like.

In each of the above situations, the drying devices 90 and 120 of the present invention may be used to dry out the floor surfaces leading to a faster use of such floor surfaces than has hitherto been possible.

By the term 'air blower' where used herein, it is meant any machine, apparatus or the like that produces a flow of air at ambient temperature or above which is suitable for drying out flooded dwellings and for drying other artefacts and floor surfaces as hereinbefore described.

It is also envisaged within the scope of the present invention that the drying devices 90 and 120 disclosed herein may find usage in drying damp produce, e.g. grain flour.

Further uses envisaged for the drying devices 90 and 120 include the drying of walls, ceilings and under floor areas.

It is still further envisaged that the drying devices 90 and 120 of the present invention may be used for drying furniture in which case, the drying devices 90 and 120 are hung on the walls and ceilings as well as being placed in inverted condition on the floor to provide an all round heated space where the furniture may be subjected to heated air from the drying device.

Other modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention, for example, the apertures 122 of the second embodiment may have several ribbing strips that extends across the aperture to prevent undue widening of the aperture when in use.