A Waterproof Shoe Support for a Dryer

The present invention relates to the technical field of dryers, and more particularly relates to a waterproof shoe support for a dryer.

A dryer for household use may output hot air continuously. When it is being used in combination with palm shaped supports or shoe supports, it may be used to dry clothing items like gloves or shoes which are wet or humid.

Said palm shaped supports or shoe supports are generally connected to output pipes of the dryer, so that clothing items like gloves or shoes can be hung on said supports, and hot air from the dryer may be output upwardly from the output pipes into the gloves/shoes, circulates inside the gloves/shoes, and then carries away the wetness inside the gloves/shoes when the hot air exits from the gloves/shoes, thereby achieving the purpose of drying. However, in some situations, users may not pay enough attention to the dos and don'ts of the dryer, where some users may directly hang a completely wetted shoe (usually wetted due to the users accidentally stepped into puddles) on a shoe support of the dryer. Since a currently available shoe support of a dryer according to the prior art is not waterproof, and an air outlet is positioned on a top side of the shoe support, water dripping off from the shoe may drip directly into an output pipe of the dryer causing safety hazards if the water comes into contact with a circuit board or other electrical elements inside the dryer.

In view of the aforesaid disadvantages now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a waterproof shoe support for a dryer capable of avoiding water dripping into the dryer when the shoe support is in use.

To attain the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

A waterproof shoe support for a dryer, comprising a support body; the support body comprises a support plate provided on a top side of the support body and a tubular connecting portion integrally connected to a bottom side of the support plate; a plurality of air outlets are provided on the connecting portion; the plurality of air outlets are positioned below the support plate, and are shadowed by the support plate within a periphery of the support plate.

Said plurality of air outlets comprises a top air outlet and at least one side air outlet.

Preferably, an upper portion of the connecting portion is a semi-spherical surface; each of said at least one side air outlet is a recessed opening recessed from a lateral side of the semi-spherical surface, and each of said at least one side air outlet opens towards a direction perpendicular to an axis of the support body; an inner lower side wall of each recessed opening forming each of said at least one side air outlet is a guiding wall that inclines downwardly; an outer edge of the guiding wall meets an outer side of the semi-spherical surface.

The support plate is positioned inclined with respect to the axis of the support body.

Preferably, a lower end portion of the support plate is provided with a curved surface curving downwardly.

Preferably, at least one flow diversion hole is provided on an upper portion of the support plate; a flow diversion plate is positioned below said at least one flow diversion hole; the flow diversion plate is inclined, and a lower end of the flow diversion plate extends towards a direction away from the connecting portion.

Preferably, the support body is provided with at least one guiding plate positioned at least below said flow diversion plate; a lower portion of the guiding plate is parallel to the connecting portion.

According to the above technical solutions, the present invention has the following technical effects:

When the present invention is used for drying a water dripping shoe, water may first drip onto a top side of the support plate, and then being guided by the support plateto fall onto or around the connecting portion, and then the water will free fall on an outer surface of the connecting portion or around the connecting portion. Due to the specific positioning of the air outlets, water will not enter the air outlets, thereby preventing water from getting inside the dryer. Accordingly, the support body achieves a waterproof function to protect the dryer.

In order to describe the present invention in further details, the present invention will be explained and illustrated by the following specific embodiment.

With reference towhere a waterproof shoe support for a dryer is shown, comprising a support body;

According to the above technical solutions, when the present invention is used for drying a water dripping shoe, water may first drip onto a top side of the support plate, and then being guided by the support plateto fall onto or around the connecting portion, and then the water will free fall on an outer surface of the connecting portionor around the connecting portion. Due to the specific positioning of the air outlets, water will not enter the air outlets, thereby preventing water from getting inside the dryer. Accordingly, the support bodyachieves a waterproof function to protect the dryer.

An embodiment is specifically described as follows:

Said plurality of air outletscomprises a top air outletprovided on a top side of the connecting portion, and at least one side air outletprovided on at least one lateral side of the connecting portion. Air can be output towards different directions through said top air outletand said at least one side air outlet, so that the hot air provided by the dryer can circulate within the shoe more evenly.

Further, an upper portion of the connecting portionis a semi-spherical surface; each of said at least one side air outletis a recessed opening recessed from a corresponding lateral side of the semi-spherical surface, and each of said at least one side air outletopens towards a direction perpendicular to the axis of the support body; an inner lower side wall of each recessed opening forming each of said at least one side air outletis a guiding wallthat inclines downwardly; an outer edge of the guiding wallmeets an outer side of the semi-spherical surface. Due to the semi-spherical surfaceand the guiding wall, even if there is water dripping onto the upper portion of the connecting portion, the semi-spherical surfaceand the guiding wallwill guide the water to flow on the outer surface of the connecting portionsuch that the water will not drip into said at least one side air outlet; since the top air outletis positioned right below the support plate, water is basically unable to enter the top air outletsince it is known that free falling of water will fall only along a vertical direction such that water will only fall onto the top side of the support plate on which water will be guided to fall onto or around the connecting portionas described above and shown in. In this embodiment, said at least one side air outletcomprises three side air outletson lateral sides which are front, left, and right sides of the connecting portionrespectively; with reference to, the side air outleton the front side of the connecting portionis positioned corresponding to a lower end portion of the inclined support plate; said lower end portion of the inclined support platehas a through holethrough which the side air outleton the front side of the connecting portionis exposed; through the guiding wallof the side air outleton the front side of the connecting portion, water dripping downwardly towards the front side of the connecting portioncan be prevented from entering into the side air outletof the front side of the connecting portion.

In said inclined positioned support plate, said lower end portion of the support plateis provided with a curved surfacecurving downwardly to correspond to an outer contour of the semi-spherical surface. Accordingly, water on the lower end portion of the support platecan be guided to slowly flow onto the outer surface of the connecting portion.

In said inclined positioned support plate, at least one flow diversion holeis provided on an upper portion of the support plate; a flow diversion plateis positioned below said at least one flow diversion hole; the flow diversion plateis inclined, and a lower end of the flow diversion plateextends towards a direction away from the connecting portion. Due to said at least one flow diversion hole, when more water drips on the top side of the support plate, some of the water may flow through said at least one flow diversion hole, along said flow diversion plate, and then being guided away from the connecting portion.

Further, to prevent water flowing through the flow diversion holefrom contacting the shoe again, the support bodyis provided with at least one guiding platepositioned at least below said flow diversion plate. With reference to, a lower portionof the guiding plateis parallel to the connecting portionso that water flowing through the flow diversion holewill be guided towards an opening of the shoe and then exits the shoe.

When the support bodyis used with the connecting pipeand the connecting pipeis connected to the output pipe of the dryer, a height of the connecting pipecan be specifically designed such that the support bodycan be spaced apart from the dryer by a specific distance. Accordingly, taller shoes such as long or short boots can also be dried. The connecting portionand the connecting pipecan be fixed to each other by fixation achievable through mutual rotation of the connecting portionand the connecting pipe, accordingly, the connecting portionis being limited to move axially with respect to the connecting pipeso that the support bodyis prevented from being removed from the connecting pipewhen user takes out the shoe after the shoe is dried.

The above embodiment and the accompany drawings are not intended to limit the form and style of the present invention. Any appropriate changes or modifications made by a person skilled in this field of art should also be considered fallen within the scope of the present invention.