AU710514B2

AU710514B2 - Fold away support

Info

Publication number: AU710514B2
Application number: AU56233/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alan Coulson Mowbray
Original assignee: DRY X IND Pty Ltd
Current assignee: DRY-X INDUSTRIES Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1987-01-27
Filing date: 1996-07-01
Publication date: 1999-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 2016-07-01
Also published as: AU5623396A

Description

The present invention relates to a fold away support and in particularly to a clothes line.

Originally clothes lines were unmovable fixtures in the yard. Many types of clothes lines have been produced that are removable or foldable. These take several forms from foldable rotary clothes lines to ones which pull out from the wall and attach to posts in the ground. Not all of the existing clothes lines are suitable for every situation, particularly for small inner city yards.

S S In one broad form the present invention comprises a fold away support a first bracket adapted to be secured to said wall; a second bracket adapted to be secured to said wall and spaced apart from said first bracket; a first boom member and an outer boom member with at least one boom member therebetween, each boom member having an upper and lower arm joined at one end with the other end of the upper arm pivotally connected to the first bracket and the other end of the lower arm pivotally connected to the second bracket; a wall mount adapted to be connected to said wall, and located adjacent said first boom member; flexible linking means linking said wall mount to said first boom member and linking adjacent boom members, such that said boom members are adapted to pivot from a closed overlapping position to an extended array, tensioning the linking means and holding the boom members in position. and a releasable latch to which the outer boom member is adapted to be releasably affixed to hold the boom members in the extended array.

In another form the present invention comprises a fold away clothes line, adapted to be secured to a wall, comprising: a first bracket adapted to be secured to said wall; 10 a second bracket adapted to be secured to said wall and spaced apart from said first bracket; a first boom member and an outer boom member with at least one boom member therebetween, each boom member having an upper and lower arm joined at one end with the other end of the upper arm pivotally connected to the first bracket and the other end of the lower arm pivotally connected to the 4: second bracket; a wall mount adapted to be connected to said wall, and located adjacent said first boom member; flexible linking means linking said wall mount to said first boom member and linking adjacent boom members, such that said boom members are 1,Y adapted to pivot from a closed overlapping position to an extended array, tensioning the linking means and holding the boom members in position. and a releasable latch to which the outer boom member is adapted to be releasably affixed to hold the boom members in the extended array.

In a further form the invention comprises: a fold away support, adapted to be secured to a wall, comprising: a wall support means adapted to be secured to said wall; a support means hingedly connected to said wall support means, such that said support means is adapted to hinge from an open position to a closed 10 position where it overlays said wall support means; means to releasably secure said support means in its closed position; a first bracket located on one edge of said support means; a second bracket located on said one edge of the support means remote from said first bracket; 15 a first boom member and an outer boom member with at least one boom member therebetween, each boom member having an upper and lower arm joined at one end, with the other end of the upper arm pivotally connected to the first bracket and the other end of the lower arm pivotally connected to the second bracket; i i.Ai,-, flexible linking means linking adjacent boom members, such that when said support member is in its closed position, said boom members are adapted to pivot from a closed overlapping position to an extended array, tensioning the linking means and holding the boom members in position, and a first releasable locking means to affix the outer boom member thereto, and a second releasable locking means to affix the first boom member thereto, to hold the boom members in the extended array.

The represent invention will now be described by way of example with Sreference to the accompanying drawings: in which 10 Figure 1 illustrates a clothes line in accordance to one embodiment of the present invention, shown in its folded position; F 2 s Figure 2 shows the clothes line of figure 1 in its extended position

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DRY1 3 Figure 3 shows a clothes line, in its folded position, according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 shows the clothes line of figure 3, in its extended position; Figure 5 shows a bracket illustrated in figures 1 &2; Figure 6 illustrates a bracket illustrated in figures 3 4; Figure 7 illustrates one means of attaching the boom to the brackets according to the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 4; Figure 8 illustrates a further means of attaching the boom to the brackets according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 illustrates yet a further means of attaching the boom to the brackets, according to another embodiment of the present invention; t°I° Figure 10 illustrates a removable bracket suitable for one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 illustrates a boom according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 illustrates a clothes line, according to a further embodiment of the present invention, in its extended position; DRY1 4 Figure 13 illustrates the clothes line of figure 12 in its folded position; and Figure 14 is a more detailed view of the mounting bracket shown in figures 12 13, in its stored or folded position.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown in figures 1 2, in which the clothes line comprises an upper bracket and a lower bracket mounted to a wall The bracket is shown in detail in figure 5, and comprises a wall mounting section having two holes and a pivot portion with, in this case, three pivot holes The brackets (2 3) are affixed to 10 the wall by means of bolts secured through the holes Boom members are secured to the brackets (2 3) by means of their free ends (10) of the upper (11) and lower (12) arms engaging, as shown in figure 7, in the pivot holes of the respective upper bracket and the lower bracket Preferably the boom members are made of tubular steel or S 15 aluminium, and can be painted or colour bonded. As shown in figure 1, an arm member (13) is secured to the wall. A number of wires or lines (14) extend from the arm member (13) and are supported by the boom members and are affixed to the outer boom member The boom members are so positioned on the pivot section of the brackets (2 3) that, when the outer boom (15) is moved to its fully open DRY1 position and latched to the wall by means of a releasable latch as shown in figure 2, the boom members are positioned at preselected degrees in the array. Further in this position the lines (14) are tensioned. The boom members can be of any suitable length. If desired the positions of the boom members can be adjustable to accommodate the width of the clothing being hung on the line.

oo 10 e oeee A clothes line for attaching to the corner of a wall is shown in figures 3 wherein the construction is similar to that of the previously described embodiment except for the shape of the brackets (17 18). As shown in figure 6, the bracket (17) has a side web to add additional stability and correct positioning on the corner. Thus the clothes line can have a 2700 array.

A further embodiment is shown in figures 12 to 14, which can be mounted on a corner of a wall or a pier. The mounting bracket (22) comprises a triangular wall mount which is affixed to the wall or pier by means of bolts 15 through the holes A triangular support plate (25) is attached to the triangular wall mount by hinge (26.

The upper (11) and lower (12) arms of the boom members are attached to brackets (27) on the lower edge (28) of the support plate The boom members and the line are similar in construction to the embodiments previously described.

DRY1 As shown in figures 13 14, when the clothes line is in its stored position, the support plate (25) is folded down against the pier (29) and the boom members are folded together against the pier To extend the clothes line the support plate (25) is folded up against the wall mount (23), and secured there by the locking pin as shown in figure 12. The brackets (27) fit onto the corner of the pier and the booms members are spread to form a 2700 array. The boom members can be locked by any suitable means into there positions.

The boom members can be pivoted in any suitable manner, and as shown in figure 8, the free ends (10) of the arms (11 12) both engage outwardly through the holes of the pivot portion of the respective brackets (2 A further arrangement is shown in figure 9 wherein all of the boom members are pivoted from a central post (20) as shown in figure 9.

Additionally the brackets (2 3) could be releasably mounted on the 15 wall by means of key hole mounts (21) as shown in figure An adjustable boom member (22) is shown in figure 11, wherein the arms (11 12) are joined by means of a bolt or hinge such that their respective angular displacement can be adjusted, to allow for height and distance adjustment of the brackets.

DRY1 7 Further the clothes lines can be mounted to parallel the slope of the land, a feature which is most advantageous for sloping blocks. The invention could also be mountable on caravans or the like, either permanently or removable for travelling.

The present invention is not limited to a clothes line, as a tarpaulin or shade cloth or the like, could be attached to the boom members, instead of or as well as the lines, to form a shelter.

It should be obvious to people skilled in the art that modifications or alteration s to the above described embodiments could be carried out without 10 departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

10 departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

e• e o DRYIb 8 The claims defining the present invention are as follows: 1. A fold away support, adapted to be secured to a wall, comprising: a first bracket adapted to be secured to said wall; a second bracket adapted to be secured to said wall and spaced apart from said first bracket; a first boom member and an outer boom member with at least one boom •a member therebetween, each boom member having an upper and lower arm joined at one end with the other end of the upper arm pivotally connected to the first bracket and the other end of the lower arm pivotally connected to the second bracket; a.* a wall mount adapted to be connected to said wall, and located adjacent said first boom member; flexible linking means linking said wall mount to said first boom member and linking adjacent boom members, such that said boom members are adapted to pivot from a closed overlapping position to an extended array, tensioning the linking means and holding the boom members in position. and

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Claims

2. A fold away support according to claim 1, wherein each boom member is a one piece construction made of tubular material.
3. A fold away support according to claim 2, wherein the support brackets are substantially L- shaped.
4. A fold away support according to claim 3, wherein the bracket has a side web to engage on the corner of a wall.
5. A fold away support according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the boom member comprises two separate arms which are angularly adjustable with respect to each other.
6. A fold away clothes line, adapted to be secured to a wall, comprising: a first bracket adapted to be secured to said wall; a second bracket adapted to be secured to said wall and spaced apart from said first bracket; DRY1b a first boom member and an outer boom member with at least one boom member therebetween, each boom member having an upper and lower arm joined at one end with the other end of the upper arm pivotally connected to the first bracket and the other end of the lower arm pivotally connected to the second bracket; a wall mount adapted to be connected to said wall, and located adjacent said first boom member; a i* .f flexible linking means linking said wall mount to said first boom member and linking adjacent boom members, such that said boom members are adapted to pivot from a closed overlapping position to an extended array, tensioning the linking means and holding the boom members in position. and 00. a releasable latch to which the outer boom member is adapted to be releasably affixed to hold the boom members in the extended array. ,00.. 0 a
7. A fold away clothes line according to claim 6, wherein each boom member is a one piece construction made of tubular material.
8. A fold away clothes line according to claims 6 or 7, wherein the support brackets are substantially L- shaped. DRYlb 11
9. A fold away clothes line according to claim 8, wherein the bracket has a side web to engage on the corner of a wall. A fold away clothes line according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the boom member comprises two separate arms which are angularly adjustable with respect to each other. 11 A fold away support, adapted to be secured to a wall, comprising: a wall support means adapted to be secured to said wall; S a support means hingedly connected to said wall support means, such that said support means is adapted to hinge from an open position to a closed 5 position where it overlays said wall support means; o a first bracket located on one edge of said support means; a second bracket located on said one edge of the support means remote from said first bracket; a first boom member and an outer boom member with at least one boom member therebetween, each boom member having an upper and lower arm joined at one end, with the other end of the upper arm pivotally connected to I t DRY1b 12 the first bracket and the other end of the lower arm pivotally connected to the second bracket; flexible linking means linking adjacent boom members, such that said boom members are adapted to pivot from a closed overlapping position to an extended array, tensioning the linking means and holding the boom members in position. and a first releasable locking means to affix the outer boom member thereto, and a second releasable locking means to affix the first boom member thereto, to hold the boom members in the extended array. A fold a way support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. f f
13. A fold a way support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. S..dated this the 31st day of March 1999 Dry-X Industries Pty Ltd by their patent attorneys Paul R. Taylor Associates I° DRY1 Abstract A fold away support having a top bracket and a bottom bracket which are attached to a wall Pivotally connected to each of the brackets (2 3) are a plurality of boom members each having an upper (11) and lower (12) arm. Flexible linking means (14) link adjacent boom members such that in use the boom members pivoted apart tensioning the linking means The support can thus be used as a fold away clothes line or tarpaulin support for a sun shade. S i":