Due to the size and shape thereof, the prior known metal-frame drying cabinets are not suitable for cramped spaces, nor are they portable. These features set limitations to the use of a cabinet. The prior known driers designed for the drying of footwear comprise heaters, operating on an electric resistance and adapted to be placed inside a piece of footwear.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable garment drier, said garment drier being applicable for the drying or ventilation of heat- and airflow resistant garments and equipment basically in all locations which are pro- vided with a power source required for operating the system.

According to the invention, this object has been achieved in such a way that the drying air flow received from a blower is adapted to be delivered to a distribution element, which is designed as a garment hanger and fitted with two or more discharges for distributing the air flow into component flows.

In room facilities, which due to the shortage of space cannot accommodate a drying rack or cabinet, as well as on leisure and business trips, it is possible to use a drier of the invention. The garment drier components are almost entirely flexible and lightweight in regard to the manufacturing material thereof. By virtue of its flexible components, the drier in a disassembled condition can be packed in a compact space. The drier can be assembled easily and quickly to working order. The number and relative disposition of components used in the drier is selected according to an item to be dried.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view, showing a hanger included in a drier of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view, showing a hanger included in a drier of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a partial cutout view, showing an exemplary embodiment for a garment drier of the invention.

Various examples of application regarding the structure and operation of a portable garment drier of the invention are schematically depicted in fig. 3.

The basic drier configuration includes a blower 2 for delivering a drying air flow - possibly heated - as well as a distribution element, designed as a clothes hanger 5 and provided with a plurality (in the illustrated example, four) downward directed discharges 5a for distributing the air flow into component flows.

The blower 2, which can be constituted e.g. by a hair drier, can be connected either directly or by way of a connecting tube 4 to an air intake duct Sc of said distribution element 5. The connections can be per se known friction-based and readily disconnectable crimp connections.

The discharges or outlets 5a of the distribution element 5 are fitted with air- flow impeding caps 5b, some or all of which can be removed whenever necessary for allowing the air flow.

The distribution elementiclothes hanger 5 can be used with the blower 2 as such, but it is generally preferable to fit one or more discharges 5a of the distribution element 5 with an extension 6 for guiding the flow to a desired spot. The extension 6 is preferably constituted by a piece of perforated tubing, one end of which is attached, e.g. with an above-mentioned crimp connection, to the discharge 5a. Such a tubing 6 can also be non-perforated

or it may only be perforated over part of its length, as shown in the left-hand example of fig. 3, wherein the drier is used for drying footwear and a portion of the tubing 6 to be fitted inside a piece of footwear is perforated. In this case, the free end of the tubing 6 is fitted e.g. with a resiliently compressible clamp or holder 8, which engages with a piece of footwear in such a way that, notwithstanding the air blow, the tubing 6 remains attached to the piece of footwear.

For an enhanced drying and controlling the drainage of aquatic moisture, the drier may include a drying bag 7 fitted with a closing mechanism 7a, inside which the garments to be dried are adapted to be placed for the duration of drying on said clothes hanger 5.

The drying bag 7 is provided with at least one lead-in 7f for said clothes hanger 5 as well as with at least one air discharge 7d and at least one water discharge 7c.

When it is desirable to use the blower 2 in such a way that the drying air flow is delivered simultaneously to several targets, as in the example of fig. 3, the blower 2 can be fitted with an airflow distributor 3, which includes a plurality of discharges 3a provided with a removable cap 5b for distributing the blast received from the blower 2 to a plurality of targets. In the example of fig. 3, the airflow distributor 3 is fitted with three connecting tubes 4. The left-hand connecting tube 4 is coupled with a distribution elementihanger 5 used in the drying of footwear, the right-hand one with a hanger 5 for garments to be dried inside the bag 7, and the middle one with the bottom part of the bag 7 for intensifying a drying flow within the bag 7.

The use and exemplary applications of a drier of the invention will now be described in even further detail.

In the clothes drying process, the basic components of a garment drier generally include a blower 2, a clothes hanger 5 designed as a distribution element, and a drying bag 7.

In the exemplary case, air is carried from the blower 2 to the drying bag 7 through the intermediary of connecting tubes 4 having a diameter of e.g.

70 mm.

The adhesive tapes or alternatively a zipper 7a included on one of the long sides of the drying bag are unfastened. When the question is about drying a jacket or blouse 100, the plastic caps 5b are removed from discharge bush- ings 5a included in the clothes hanger 5, followed by fitting the bushings 5a with perforated tubes 6 intended for speeding up drying of the sleeves and having a diameter of e.g. 70 mm. Respectively, when drying a pair of trou- sers, the caps 5b are removed from the first two bushings 5a included in the clothes hanger 5 and the bushings are fitted with perforated tubes 6 intended for drying the trouser legs. If necessary, the tubes 6 intended for the sleeves 100 and trouser legs 200 can be reduced in length by making a block to the air flow at a suitable distance from the tip of the tube. A good block is pro- vided e.g. by a knot.

Jackets are placed on the clothes hanger 5 and trousers are suspended by the waistband on a pants hanger 55. The tubes 6 are inserted into the sleeves and legs. The clothes hanger lead-in 7f included in the top end of the drying bag 7 and the clothes hanger along with its garments is pushed within the drying bag, guiding the air intake duct Sc of the clothes hanger 5 through the lead-in 7f having a diameter of e.g. 100 mm. This is followed by attaching to the clothes hanger 5 a suspension hook 66 from outside the bag. The drying bag 7 is hung to suspend from a nail or rod. The top end of the drying bag 7 includes leads-in 7f for two clothes hangers 5. If the drying bag 7 is to accommodate two clothes hangers 5, the air intake ducts Sc thereof must be aimed in opposite directions.

The drying bag 7 is closed. The blower 2 is placed at a suitable height relative to the bag. The blower is fitted with an airflow distributor 3, unless the latter is already there. The plastic caps 5b are removed from two tube- discharge bushings 3a of the air distributor 3, followed by fitting the bushings 3a with the connecting tubes 4, which are pre-fitted with jointing sleeves fitting all other components. The loose end of one connecting tube 4 is attached to the air intake pipe Sc of the clothes hanger 5 and the loose end of the other connecting tube to an air duct inlet sleeve 7b included on the long side of the drying bag 7. A vessel is placed underneath the water drain 7c included below the drying bag 7. If the drying bag 7 includes two hangers 5, the blower 2 must be placed alongside the drying bag 7 and the other clothes hanger 5 must be supplied with air by means of the connecting tube 4 from a vacant bushing 3a of the air distributor 3.

The blower 2 is connected to the mains. A suitable temperature and blowing force are set according to instructions. The air discharges 7d, included in the top corners of the drying bag 7 and having a diameter of e.g. 70 mm, can be used for guiding the exhaust air away from the room space by fitting the same with connecting tubes 4 of a suitable length.

When airing or ventilating clothes, those are placed in the drying bag 7 the same way as in the drying process. When airing the clothes, the blower 2 should be positioned as close as possible to a window or a valve for incoming fresh air. The air can be delivered to the blower 2 also by way of a duct having a diameter of e.g. 100 mm (not shown). The duct is made in plastics and around it extends a metal wire for keeping the duct open during the suction of air. For transport or storage, the duct 1 can be collapsed to the length of a few centimeters.

When drying footwear, depending on the number of pieces of footwear, the tubes 6 intended for drying footwear are connected either directly to the discharge bushings 3a of the air distributor 3 or the discharge bushings 5a of the clothes hanger 5. To make sure that the tube 6 stays firmly within a piece

of footwear, the tube 6 is pushed through to a holder 8. The holder 8 is clamped in the toe portion of a piece of footwear upon pushing the tube 6 into the piece of footwear. The holder 8 is especially important whenever wet pieces of footwear are set hanging with shafts pointing downwards for removing drip water.

All components of the garment drier are manufactured to resistant to the applied air flow and heat, with the exception of the fresh air duct. With the exception of bushings used in the connections, the components are made of a flexible material and, thus, all components can be wound into a roll. Within the scope of the invention, it is also conceivable to use solutions other than those described above, whereby the components used in the drying process can be in another shape and order. The components can be manufactured in plastics or possibly other materials resistant to heat and air flow.