Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: Hills Industries Limited Actual Inventor: Timothy Hooper Address for Service: C/- MADDERNS, GPO Box 2752, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: RETRACTING CLOTHES LINE IMPROVEMENTS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to retractable clothesline assemblies. 5 PRIORITY This patent application claims priority from: - Australian Provisional Patent Application 2009902891, titled "RETRACTING O CLOTHESLINE IMPROVEMENTS", and filed on 23 June 2009. The entire content of this application is hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND 5 This invention relates to retractable clothesline assemblies of the type comprising a base portion which is secured to a vertical surface such as a wall, and a drawbar, where an array of spaced apart lengths of line are supported between the base and the drawbar. More specifically, the base incorporates a frame supporting a plurality of spaced apart spools, where there is one of these spools supporting each length 0 of line in the array. The drawbar can be separated from the base and supported at a distance from the base so that the assembly provides a clothesline between the drawbar and the base. When not in use, the drawbar can be returned to the base and the clothesline lengths retracted within the base and onto their respective spools. 25 The applicant has previously devised of clothesline assemblies of the above described type that incorporate a line tensioning mechanism, so that after the clothesline has been extended from the base and secured, the tensioning mechanism can be employed to tension each length of line in the array collectively forming the clothesline. 30 A problem with these previously devised tensioning mechanisms is that tensioning of the line lengths is largely ineffective for lengths of clothesline of less than approximately 4m. This is a problem, as these retractable clothesline assemblies are ideal for use in relatively confined spaces, where only a short length (6m or less, and frequently 4m or less) of line is all that is required. 35 It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a retractable clothesline assembly which substantially ameliorates the above described difficulties, or which at the least is a useful alternative to known retractable clothesline assemblies.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of this invention there is proposed a retractable clothesline assembly comprising a base rotatably supporting a spool, a drawbar that is separable from the base, a length of line extending between the spool and the drawbar, and a line tensioning element located between the spool and the 0 drawbar, where at least a portion of a surface of the tensioning element is adapted to frictionally engage the line, and wherein in use, the tensioning element is adapted to be rotated and thereby cause a portion of the line to be wound around the frictionally engaging portion of the line tensioning element, thereby tensioning the line. 5 In one form, the tensioning element is supported by the base so as to be rotatable between a first, non line tensioning home position and a second line tensioning position. In one form, the tensioning element is a shaft having a spindle keyed thereto, where an aperture and the frictionally engaging surface portions are formed into the spindle. 0 In one form, there is a spindle for each spool, and where each spindle is aligned with a spool. In one form, the frictionally engaging surface portion of each spindle incorporates a plurality of ribs extending in a direction of elongation of the shaft and spindle. 25 In one form, the frictionally engaging surface portion of each spindle may incorporate a roughened surface, or a tacky or adhesive surface. In one form, each of the drawbar, the tensioning element and the spools has a 'home' position. In one form, each of the spools and the drawbar are biased toward their home positions by biasing 30 means. In one form, each spindle is divided longitudinally into two portions, a first of which incorporates the frictionally engaging surface portion, and the second of which incorporates the aperture passing therethrough. 35 In one form, the spindle is oriented so that the line passes straight through the aperture when the spindle is in its home position.
In one form, the second portion of the spindle is the uppermost of the two portions when the spindle is in its home position. In one form, the second portion of the spindle is the lowermost of the two portions when the spindle is 5 rotated from is home position into the line tensioning position. In one form, the tensioned line is caused to follow a tortuous path about the tensioning element when this is in the tensioning position. O In one form, the tensioned line is caused to deform about the ribs of the spindle when the tensioning element is in its tensioning position. In one form, the tensioning element is driven from its home position to the tensioning position by a tensioning actuator. 5 In one form, the tensioning actuator is a lever. In one form, the tortuous path is such that the line from the spool is caused to double back around a lip defining the aperture in the spindle, pass through the aperture and then extend over and around the 0 frictionally engaging surface portion of the spindle before extending to the drawbar. In a further aspect of this invention there is proposed line tensioning system for a retractable clothesline assembly, the system comprising a line tensioning element located between a spool and a drawbar of the clothesline assembly, the tensioning element comprising an aperture therethrough, 25 through which the line is threaded, and where at least a portion of a surface of the tensioning element is adapted to frictionally engage the line, and wherein in use, the tensioning element is adapted to be rotated so as to thereby cause a portion of the line to be wound around the frictionally engaging portion, thereby tensioning the line and preventing slippage of the line relative to the tensioning element. 30 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described with respect to an exemplary embodiment which shall be described herein with the assistance of drawings wherein: 35 Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of a retractable clothesline assembly; a Figure 2 is an underside perspective view of a spool and its corresponding tensioning spindle, where the remainder of the assembly has been removed to permit visibility of these components; Figure 3 is an upper side perspective view of a spool and its corresponding tensioning spindle, where 5 the remainder of the assembly has been removed to permit visibility of these components, and the line is not tensioned by the tensioning spindle; Figure 4 is a side view of the spool and tensioning spindle illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, where the remainder of the assembly has been removed to permit visibility of these components, and the line is 0 tensioned by the tensioning spindle; Figure 5 is a detailed view of a portion of the exploded assembly illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a detailed view of the drawbar receiving bracket with the drawbar secured therein; and 5 Figure 7 is a detailed view of the drawbar receiving bracket and drawbar. In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 0 DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to Figure 1, where there is illustrated a retractable clothesline assembly I comprising a base portion 2 which is adapted to be secured to a vertical surface such as a wall, and a drawbar 4. 25 There are an array of spaced apart line lengths 6 supported between the base 2 and the drawbar 4. In use, the drawbar 4 can be separated from the base 2 and supported at a distance from the base 2 so that the assembly provides a clothesline between the drawbar 4 and the base 2. When not in use, the drawbar 4 can be returned to a home position with respect to the base 2 and the line lengths 6 retracted 30 within the base 2. The drawbar 4 is releasably supported at a distance from the base 2 by a specially adapted drawbar receiving bracket 8, which is itself adapted to be secured to a second vertical surface opposing the first vertical surface to which the base 2 is secured.
The base 2 incorporates a frame 10 supporting a plurality of spaced apart spools 12, where there is one of these spools 12 for each length of line 6 in the array of these (four in this case). Each of these spools 12 is spring loaded so as to bias the spool 12 into retracting the line 6. 5 More specifically then, a first end of each length of line 6 is attached to a spool 12, and a second end of each length of line 6 is attached to the drawbar 4. When the clothesline is extended and the drawbar 4 located in the bracket 8, all that is maintaining tension in the lengths of line 6 are the spring loaded spools 12. The springs that bias the spools 12 are D not sufficiently strong to tension the lines 6 against the weight of a load of wet washing pegged thereto. The assembly comprises a tensioning system therefore. With reference to Figures 2 through 4, it can be seen that this tensioning system comprises a tensioning element being, in this case, a square steel 5 shaft 20 supporting a plurality of spaced apart molded plastic spindles 22, where these spindles 22 are keyed to the shaft 20. The shaft 20 is located between the spool 12 and drawbar 4, has an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of each of the spools 12. Each spindle 22 has an aperture 24 therethrough, through which the line 6 is threaded, and at least a D portion 26 of a surface of the spindle is adapted to frictionally engage the line 6. In use the tensioning element is adapted to be rotated so as to thereby cause a portion of the line 6 to be wound around the frictionally engaging surface portion 26 of the spindle 22, thereby frictionally engaging the line 6 so as to prevent the line from slipping relative to the tensioning element. 5 Each spindle 22 is divided longitudinally and approximately into two halves. A first of these halves is characterised by incorporating the frictionally engaging surface portion 26, and the second of these halves has the aperture 24 (being, in this case, a longitudinally extending slot) passing therethrough. The frictionally engaging surface portion 26 is covered in a series of longitudinally extending ribs 28, 0 which increase the surface area of this frictionally engaging surface portion 26 and create edges on and between ribs 28 that will, in use, impinge line 6 that is caused to be wrapped around the spindle 22. That is, line 6 is caused to deform and conform around spindle 22 and its ribs 28, this effect creating the increased frictional engagement that enhances line tensioning. 5 Each of the drawbar 4, the spindle 22 carrying shaft 20 and the spools 12 has a 'home' position. Moreover, each of the spools 12 and the drawbar 4 are biased toward their home positions by virtue of each of the spools 12 being spring loaded.
When in this home position, the drawbar 4 is received into a nested position with respect to the base 2, the aperture 24 through each spindle 22 is on the upperside of the same, and each length of clothes line 6 is substantially wound around its respective spool 12. 5 In use, as the drawbar 4 is drawn away from the base 2, the drawbar 4 and the spools 12 move away from their respective home positions. The spindle carrying shaft 20 however remains in its home position as the line 6 passes through the aperture 24 in this. Referring now to Figure 5, where attached to the end of the spindle 22 carrying shaft 20 is a lever arm 0 30 adapted to drive the rotation of the tensioning element. When the shaft 20 is in its home position, so too is the lever arm 30 in a home position relative to a lower cover 32 of the body 2. In use, the lever arm 30 is adapted to be rotated forward relative to the base 2 and then up and over the body, where it can be captured in either of a first 25 or second 27 detent position on the upperside of 5 the base 2. As the lever arm 30 is rotated, it causes the shaft 20 and the spindles 22 keyed thereto to rotate. As a result, the line 6 is caused to kink around a lip 29 defining the aperture 24 whilst simultaneously being doubled back and wound around the ribs 28 on the spindle 22, which frictionally engage the line 6 and 0 tension this. An advantage of the above described arrangement is the proportionality of this tensioning system, which permits effective tensioning of short line lengths. The degree of tensioning is approximately proportional to the angle of wrap of the line 6 around the frictionally engaging portion 26 of the 25 spindle 22. This proportionality is a function of the shape of the frictionally engaging surface portion 26 and the ribs 28. Tensioning mechanisms of the prior art were ineffective for short line lengths. A further advantage is that as the line 6 is loaded by the suspension of wet washing therefrom, this then increases the angle of wrap of the line around the frictionally engaging portion 26 of the spindle 22, increasing the degree of frictional engagement created thereby. 30 Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, where the drawbar 4 receiving bracket 8 is illustrated in greater detail. This bracket 8 comprises a cradle 50 for receiving the drawbar 4, said cradle 50 being defined between a base portion 52 and a spaced apart opposing wall 54. A pair of spaced apart steel pins 56 extend into the cradle 50 from an inwardly directed surface of the opposing wall 54. Similarly, a 35 drawbar retaining lip 58 extends into the cradle 50 from an upper edge of the opposing wall 54. I7 There is a handle 60 pivotally depending from the base 52 of bracket 8, said handle 60 actuating a pair of spaced apart spring loaded retractable stops 62 which protrude into the cradle 50. When the handle 60 is pulled, the retractable stops 62 are retracted from the cradle 50. Handle 60 extends a distance from the base 52 so as to provide sufficient mechanical advantage to a user thereof. 5 In use, the drawbar 4 is disposed upon the steel pins 56 via a pair of aligned holes 64 in the drawbar 4. The drawbar 4 is simultaneously captured in the cradle 50 beneath the lip 58 and between the retractable stops 62 and the opposing wall 54. When the drawbar 4 is to be released, the handle 60 is pulled and the retractable stops 62 are retracted, permitting the drawbar 4 to be removed from the steel 0 pins 56, and from beneath the lip 58. Throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words "comprise" and "include" and variations such as "comprising" and "including" will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any 5 other integer or group of integers. The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. :0 It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the 25 invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications in its scope.