Mat drying apparatus

Claim 1

MAT DRYING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUPPORT, AN ENCLOSURE MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, SAID ENCLOSURE INCLUDING A FLAT PERFORATED PLATE INCLINED AT A SUBSTANTIAL ANGLE TO THE HORIZONTAL ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A WET MAT THEREON, A VACUUM MANIFOLD, MOTOR AND PUMP MEANS FOR CREATING A PARTIAL VACUUM IN SAID VACUUM MANIFOLD, VALVE MEANS CONNECTING SAID VACUUM MANIFOLD TO SAID ENCLOSURE FOR CREATING A PARTIAL VACUUM THEREIN TO HOLD A WET MAT IN POSITION FLAT AGAINST THE INCLINED PLATE WITH ONE SIDE OF THE MAT EXPOSED DURING DRYING THEREOF, MEANS OPERABLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID PRESSURE MANIFOLD TO REGULATE THE VACUUM THEREIN, RADIANT HEATERS WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE OPERABLE TO HEAT A MAT THROUGH SAID PERFORATIONS AND SAID PLATE TO DRY THE MAT, AND TIMING MEANS OPERABLE TO ACTUATE SAID VALVE MEANS AUTOMATICALLY AFTER A PREDETERMINED TIME TO DISCONNECT SAID VACUUM MANIFOLD FROM SAID ENCLOSURE TO RELEASE SAID MAT FROM SAID PERFORATED PLATE.