US2614337A - Drier device for boots and the like - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 21, 1952 R. E. DARBO 2,614,337

DRIER DEVICE FOR BOOTS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 18, 1950 Patented Oct. 21, 1952 UNITED STATES rTEN'r OFFICE 2,614,337 DRIER DEVICE FOR BOOTS AND THE'LIKE Rolf E. Darbo, Madison, Wis. Application October 18, 1950, Serial No. 190,768

6 Claims.

This invention relates to drier for boots and the like and aims to provide an improved and simplified device of this kind, for drying out wet boots and shoes.

The invention pertains to devices of this character which pass air therethrough under pressure into the interior of the boot. An important object of the invention is the provision of means for insuring that the injected air will be evenly distributed over the inner surface of the boot, thus enhancing the rapidity and efficiency of the drying operation while at the same time supporting the boot in its natural shape from the interior thereof to prevent distortion or stiffening in the drying process.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, of

illustrative embodiments of the invention, and

in which drawings- Figure 1 shows atypical boot to be dried and into which the device of the present invention may be inserted for that purpose;

Figure 2 is a plan view of one form of a device embodying the present invention;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the device of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the device shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 55 of Fig. 3, a portion of the boot of Fig. 1 for example being shown in broken lines and air circulation being indicated by the arrows;

Figure 6 is a separated view showing a somewhat modified form of the device together with a blower and a conduit member connected therewith; and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary plan view of the device shown in Fig. 6 with the conduit member indicated in broken lines.

Referring in detail to the illustrative constructions shown in the drawings, and turning first to Fig. 2, the device may find embodiment in a boot or shoe form I I which as best seen in Fig. 3 is of somewhat foot-shape having an entrance portion I2 that corresponds somewhat to the ankle portion of a foot, and a discharge portion I3 that corresponds somewhat to the toe of a foot. The form II has a-passageway I4 therethrough for the passage of air under pressure, as later more particularly described, and the passageway I4 is desirably progressively constricted or tapered so as to somewhat compress or ofier resistance to the air passing therethrough and thus tend to warm the air.

On its exterior, the form II carries projections in this instance such as the fins I5, I6, I1 and I8. Desirably, and as here shown, the fins are disposed at ninety degree intervals around the "periphery of the form II and are curved to follow roughly thenormal interior contours of a boot or shoe. At the toe end It or the form, the fins are shown projecting beyond this end, while at the entrance end I2 theymay terminate short of or coincidentally therewith. The uppermost or top fin I5 is curved downwardly at its extremity as at I9 to follow the toe of the boot and the'fin I! has a slight concavity as at 28 to accommodate the sole of the boot. All of the fins at their extremities are desirably curved as at 2% to adapt themselves to the toe. The fin i? is also curved as at 22 to adapt itself to the heel of the boot and to the heel-like formation 23 of the form I i itself. The fins are desirably tapered outwardly as at Ida to cover a minimum of area of the boot interior.

It will be understood that in use the form I is inserted into the boot or other article to be dried such as the boot 2% and pressed thereinto until the toe portion is of the form is well received in the interior toe portion 25 of the boot, with the heel portion 23 of the form snugly nested in the heel portion 26 of the boot. At this time, and as best seen in Fig. 5, the fins I5, i5, Ill and I8 space the form proper from the interior of the boot so that air passages are provided between the form and the boot, and assure that the circulating drying air will reach every part of the boot interior. Return air passageways lie between the fins.

When, now, a conduit such as the air hose '2? is inserted into the entrance end I?! of the device form, as indicated at 23 (Fig. 5), and air, either warm or otherwise, is injected under pressure into the form through the conduit, the air passes through th passageway It as indicated by the arrows 2S and emerges at the toe end I3. Since the fins project beyond the form at the toe end, the air has free emergence from the interior of the form and thereupon passes back over the exterior of the form and through the return air passageways provided by the fins, as indicated by the arrows 343 between the form and the interior of the boot, and out through the top of the boot to rise as it is compressed and forced through the form and boot and this warm rapidly circulating air will quickly dry the boot from its inside out, thus expediting the drying action and preventing or minimizing distortion or stifiening of the boot. If desired, the air may be slightly warmed by separate means.

As seen in Fig. 6, an improved drying action may be obtained, as for example, for low shoes, by providing perforations such as 32 in the form I la at places between the fins, and advantageously particularly at the curve of the instep portion 33 of the form. Air injected through a conduit connected to the form will in part pass outwardly or be short-circuited through the perforations 32 and exert a baille effect which will cause turbulence and improved wiping of the wet leather surfaces in the vicinity of the perforations and thus accelerate drying.

Also as indicated in Figs. 6 and '7, the air may be supplied by a blower such as a hair drying blower 34 which has a rigid discharge pipe 35. For adaptation to this .rigid pipe, a flexible conduit member 36may be provided which again is-received in the entrance end 1212 of the form Ha. To provide an ankle action, the entrance end [2a of the form .I la may be made somewhat oval from front to rear so that when the flexible conduit 36, which may be of rubber, is received therein, the form will have a little give to it somewhat in ankle fashion, so as to facilitate inserting the form into the boot or shoe, or. conversely, putting the boot on the form.

To facilitate insertion of the air inlet conduit into the form and enhance the security of attachment, the upper edge of the entrance portion l2a of form I la maybe slotted at intervals as at 31. This construction is particularly desirable where the form is made of a somewhat flexible and springy material.

The device may be economically made of molded plastic, for example, in half sections, with the parting line along one side of the fins l5l1, as at 38. It can also be made of metal or other suitable material.

It will be appreciated that any suitable number of fins may be provided. If the form is to follow the normal interior contours of the boot or shoe closely to serve as a forming device as Well as a means for distributing the air over the entire interior surface, it may be desirable to employ a larger number of fins and shape their outer edges to fit the boot or shoe more exactly. Where, however, it is desired to furnish a single form to be used for a reasonable range of shoe sizes, a minimum number of fins are employed and they only roughly follow the shoe interior contours.

The invention having been described, what is here claimed is:

1. A drier device for boots and the like comprising a foot-shape form having a passageway therethrough, said form having projections extending therealong for spacing the form from the interior of the boot, at least one of said projections extending beyond the form at the toe thereof, whereby air passageways are provided for the return path of air injected into said form.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the projections extend fin-like along the form and taper decreasingly toward their outer edges.

3. A drier device for boots and the like com prising a foot-shape form having a progressively restricted passageway therethrough, said form having projections extending therealong for spacing the form from the interior of the boot, whereby air passageways are provided for the return path of air injected into said form, there being .perforations in the form between said projections for short-circuiting air therethrough.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein there are at least three projections spaced apart circum ferentially of the form and said projections extend beyond the form at the toe thereof.

5. In a drier device for boots and the like, in combination, a somewhat foot-shaped form having a passageway therethrough, said form carrying projections on the outer surface thereof for spacing the form from the interior of the boot, one of said projections extending beyond the form at the toe thereof, and a flexible conduit member of elastomeric material received in the entrance portion of said form for making connection thereto of a pipe for air under pressure, the form being slotted at intervals about the entrance portion to facilitate receiving and gripping said conduit member.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein the entrance portion of the form is of oval shape and the conduit member has play rearwardly and forwardly in said entrance portion.

ROLF E. DARBO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 629,944 Witmer Aug. 1, 1899 2,018,406 Legge Oct. '22, 1935 2,076,785 Leindorf Apr. 13, 1937 2,444,195 Gruver June 29, 1928 2,446,234 Lieber Aug. 3, 1948

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