Self-Supporting Drying System And Method

Abstract

A hands-free dryer allows for drying of a target while permitting the hands of a user to not be controlling the operation of the hands-free dryer. The hands-free dryer includes a blower for providing air flow, an orientation system allowing the blower to be adjustably oriented at an angle. There is a semi-rigid flexible hose connected to the blower that retains its configuration without the user having to maintain the configuration. Also, there is a support system that provides support for the hands-free dryer while worn by the user.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An orientation system for orienting a device, the orientation system comprising:
 a mounting plate fixedly mounted to a support system configured to be worn by a user of the device; and   a rotating plate operatively connected to the mounting plate to allow the rotating plate to rotate along an axis normal to the mounting plate,   the rotating plate comprising a coupling element for coupling a device thereto thereby allowing the device to be adjustably oriented at an angle by rotating the device about the axis.   
     
     
         3 . The orientation system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an index locking system comprising:
 a fixed bracket having a fixed bracket aperture; 
 a pivotal bracket operatively connected to the fixed bracket configured to pivot relative to the fixed bracket, the pivotal bracket having an index peg shaped to be removably insertable into an index hole in the rotating plate, wherein the rotating plate will not rotate while the index peg is inserted into the index hole; 
 a tension bracket mounted to the support system, the tension bracket having a tension bracket aperture; 
 a cable having a cable proximal end and a cable distal end, the cable distal end operatively connected to the pivotal bracket and extending through pivotal bracket aperture and the tension bracket aperture; and 
 a spring surrounding the cable between the tension bracket and the pivotal bracket, wherein pulling on the proximal cable end causes compression of the spring and pivoting of the pivotal bracket, removing the index peg from the index hole and allowing the rotating plate to rotate. 
   
     
     
         4 . The orientation system of  claim 2 , wherein the rotating plate comprises a plurality of index holes;
 wherein:
 each index hole allows the angle of the rotating plate and device to be secured at a predetermined angle. 
   
     
     
         5 . The orientation system of  claim 2 , the support system comprising:
 a back section abutting a back of the user when the support system is worn by the user; and   a harness connected to the back section, the harness comprising:
 a pair of shoulder straps; and 
 a pair of adjustable straps operatively connected between the shoulder straps and the back section to adjust the shoulder straps when worn by the user. 
   
     
     
         6 . The orientation system of  claim 5 , the support system further comprising:
 a chest strap operatively connected between the shoulder straps configured to adjust the shoulder straps when worn by the user;   a waist strap operatively connected to the back section configured to secure the support system to the user; and   a carrying strap connected to the back section.   
     
     
         7 . The orientation system of  claim 2 , wherein the device is a blower comprising:
 a blower housing having a blower proximal end and a blower distal end, the blower proximal end proximate to a blower mechanism located substantially within the blower housing, the blower distal end opposite the blower proximal end;   a blower aperture located at the blower distal end, the blower aperture providing an opening for air from the blower mechanism to leave the blower housing;   a power cable operatively connected to the blower mechanism configured to provide power to operate the blower mechanism; and   blower controls operatively connected to the blower mechanism configured to allow a user to operate the blower mechanism, wherein the blower controls are located on the support system.   
     
     
         8 . The orientation system of  claim 7 , further comprising an adjustable flexible hose operatively connected to the blower, the flexible hose comprising:
 a hose proximal end;   a hose distal end opposite the hose proximal end;   a hose proximal aperture located in the hose proximal end and operatively connected to the blower to accept air flow from the blower into the flexible hose; and   a hose distal aperture located in the hose distal end to provide air flow from the blower to the target;   a hose fastener at the hose proximal end to securely connect the hose proximal end to the blower; and   a plurality of interlocking segmented sections, the segmented sections releasably retaining a configuration of the flexible hose.   
     
     
         9 . The orientation system of  claim 8 , wherein the flexible hose is LOC-LINE. 
     
     
         10 . The orientation system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an index locking system comprising a plurality of magnets connected to the mounting plate and to the rotating plate, wherein one of the plurality of magnets is a locking magnet and the other magnets are index magnets, wherein the locking magnet is connected to the mounting plate and the index magnets are connected to the rotating plate, or vice versa, and wherein the polarity of the index magnet and the locking magnets are arranged such that the attractive force between the magnets is maximized when at least one of the index magnets and the locking magnet are in closest proximity, the maximized attractive force then resisting rotation of the rotating plate.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 rotating a rotating plate of an orientation system configured to orient a device operatively coupled to the rotating plate, wherein the rotating of the rotating plate causes the device to rotate about an axis normal to a mounting plate to which the rotating plate is coupled to, and wherein the mounting plate is coupled to a support system configured to be worn by a user of the device;   orienting the device at an angle; and   securing the rotating plate relative to the mounting plate thereby securing the orientation of the device at the angle.