AU2018204470B2 - Clothes line tensioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

A clothes dryer having a line tensioning device, the dryer including a rectangular frame with a line extending between the frame and fixed at one location on the frame. The line extends at intervals spaced along the frame allowing for movement of the line through the frame. A tensioning device is attached to the frame and including a spool that engages the line to pull it taut.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a clothes line tensioning device, and is particularly useful in relation to fold down clothes lines where the line extends across multiple times between a U-shaped frame.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0002] Clothes lines are basically an essential part of life. Whilst some people may choose mechanical dryers, most homes utilise an outside clothes line whether that be a fixed or foldable rotary clothes line, a folding frame clothes line or a retractable clothes line.

[0003] The clothes line itself may be made of various materials, the most common being a metal wire sheathed in a plastic sleeve. Regardless of what the line is made from, due to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity and due to the heavy loads experienced by the clothes line the line will over time stretch and sag and needs to be tightened to ensure that it is not unsightly and can support washing. Typically the line clamp is unscrewed, the line pulled to the desired tension and the clamp re-screwed on. Whilst not a difficult task it requires the use of some tools and the line to be pulled that for some, especially the elderly may be a difficult task to perform.

[0004] The object of this invention is to provide a clothes line tensioning device to alleviate the above problem

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] In a first aspect the invention comprises a clothes dryer having a line tensioning device, the dryer including a rectangular frame with a line extending between the frame and fixed at one location on the frame, the line extending at intervals spaced along the frame allowing for movement of the line through the frame, and at least one tensioning device attached to the frame and including a spool that engages the line.

[0006] Preferably the tensioning device includes an operating wheel that rotates a worm operatively connected to a gear that drives the spool to rotate retracting the line thus pulling the line taut.

2018204470 20 Jun 2018 [0007] It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below as appropriate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows.

[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tensioning device when mounted on a clothes line;

[0010] Figure 2 is an underside view of the tensioning device when mounted on a clothes line;

[0011] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the clothes line tensioning device;

[0012] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the tensioning device with a cover removed;

[0013] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the wheel used by the tensioning device to spool the line;

[0014] Figure 6 is an exploded view of the tensioning device illustrating the separate components; and [0015] Figure 7 is a view of a whole clothes line with the device attached.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0016] The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

2018204470 20 Jun 2018 [0017] Turning now to the drawings in detail there is shown a clothes line 10 having a frame 12 with a line 14 fed multiple times between the frame in a parallel arrangement. This is well known in the art. The clothes line includes a wall mount 16 that attaches the clothes line to a wall or other fixture. In the case of a folding clothes line a strut 18 allows the clothes line to be either folded down or in an extended arrangement again as is well known in the art.

[0018] Attached typically at the end of the line, being the last line is a line tensioning device 20 the subject of the invention. The device includes a base 22 that is attached to the frame 12 and includes a body 24 to house the internal workings (discussed below) with a cover 26. The cover 26 is attached to the body 24 using screws 28.

[0019] To tension the line there is provided an operating wheel 30 that can operated by a thumb. The wheel 30 includes grooves/teeth as illustrated in the drawings to prevent slipping of the thumb as the wheel is turned. The wheel includes an axle 32 that supports a worm 34 that in turn engages gear 38. Connected to the gear 38 is spool 40. Thus as the operating wheel is turned the worm rotates causing the spool 40 to rotate as well.

[0020] Attached to the spool is line 14 ending in a knot 42. Thus as the spool rotates the line is either fed onto or released from the spool through hole 36 in the body 24. To assist in guiding the spool is guide 44 that is locked into place through aperture 46 in the body 24.

[0021] In a particular embodiment the worm has a pitch of 1.5*n, the direction of rotation is right hand, the major diameter is some 13mm with a minor diameter of some 6.5mm and a thread angle of 24.1°.

[0022] The gear is a helical gear with a normal module of 1.5, some 20 teeth, a tooth width of 10mm, normal pressure angle of 20° and a helix angle of 4.3°.

[0023] The body 24 includes various internal protrusions to keep the mechanism fixed in place and it is not intended to discuss them in detail.

[0024] The reader will now appreciate the present invention which provides a easy to use clothes line tensioning device that can be used progressively to tension a clothes line. When the line has been pulled into the device over time and the spool is arguably full, the user can quickly open the device and cut the end of the line and retie it to the spool. The

2018204470 20 Jun 2018 device can also be used on rotary type clothes lines where there are multiple separate lines, each line having its own tensioning device.

[0025] The gear reduction ensures that when tensioned the line remains taut. In a single line apparatus, a person may simply pull the line taut at each span and then take up the slack at the end of the line with the tensioning device.

LIST OF COMPONENTS [0026] The drawings include the following integers.

clothes line	10
frame	12
line	14
wall mount	16
strut	18
tensioner device	20
base	22
body	24
cover	26
screw	28
operating wheel	30
axle	32
worm	34
hole	36
gear	38
spool	40
knot	42
guide	44
aperture	46

[0027] Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which

2018204470 20 Jun 2018 is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in this field.

[0028] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word comprising and its derivatives including comprises and comprise include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

Claims (7)

1. A clothes dryer having a manual line tensioning device, the dryer including:

a frame having two parallel spaced apart side channels joined to each other at an outer end by a front channel;

an first end of the line attached to a side channel and extending a plurality of times between the two side channels at spaced apart intervals and then the other end of the line fixed to one of the side channels;

the line being able to be stretched between the side channels; and at least one tensioning device located at one end of the line and engaging the line through a spool that engages the line whereby the tensioning device is manually operable to tension the line.

2. The clothes dryer as in claim 1 wherein the line extends between a first side channel to the second side channel.

3. The clothes dryer as in claim 2 wherein the tensioning device is attached to the side channel adjacent to the front channel.

4. The clothes dryer as in any one of the above claims where the channels are rectangular enclosed channels.

5. The clothes dryer of claim 1, the tensioning device including an operating wheel that rotates a worm operatively connected to a gear that drives the spool to rotate retracting the line thus pulling the line taut.

6. The clothes dryer of claim 1 including multiple lines each line having a separate tensioning device.

7. The clothes dryer as in claim 1 wherein the device is attached to the frame.