AU729092B3 - Clothes basket rack - Google Patents

Description

-1- P/00/0011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicants: Actual Inventor: Address for service in Australia: Invention Title: GERHARD K. SALZMANN and ERIKA SALZMANN GERHARD SALZMANN CARTER SMITH BEADLE 2 Railway Parade Camberwell Victoria 3124 Australia CLOTHES BASKET RACK The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us Introduction to the Invention This invention relates to clothes lines and in particular to exterior clothes lines which are used for the air drying of clothes in many domestic situations. In particular this invention relates to a platform structure for use in conjunction with a clothes line to assist in the handling of clothes during the process of hanging the clothes on a clothes line.

Background of the Invention External clothes hoists and in particular the rotary clothes hoist made famous by the Hills Hoist are in prevalent use in many domestic situations, particularly in Australia where just about every backyard has a clothes hoist of some description and more than likely a rotary clothes hoist which includes a central upright pole to which is attached a number of radial poles for suspending a series of wires onto which clothes can be hung.

The manner of use of these products requires the user to bring a basket or other holding device full of wet clothing to the clothes line and the subsequent hanging of the clothes onto the line structure by way of pegs or similar tools.

Commonly a washing basket is brought to the line and placed on the ground and the user then subsequently bends down to pick up the clothes for placement on the line.

This action requires the repetitive bending to the ground on a number of occasions so as to lift the clothes from the basket onto the clothes line. Such repetitive bending is well know to contribute to back and other repetitive strain injuries and this problem is recognised. Various trolleys and other carrying devices are available to assist in the movement of clothes baskets to and from a clothes line.

However, such prior art devices, whilst alleviating some of the problems associated with the placement of washing on clothes lines, do not entirely solve the problem and introduce other difficulties. In particular, clothes basket trolleys tend to be bulky items which are difficult to move around the confines of a house and up and down stairs etc; and, furthermore, such trolleys are difficult to store when not in use. It would be desirable to provide an alternative means for positioning a full clothes basket at or near a clothes line to facilitate the movement of clothes from the MAW:NP:##34146.APP 7 April 2000 clothes basket to the washing line at a more suitable height to minimise the amount of bending required by the user.

Statement of Invention The invention provides a support for use with a clothes line, including a bracket means for fixing to a support pole of said clothes line, said support including an elongate frame member rigidly attached to the bracket means and having pivot means at either end, rigid elongate frame members pivotally attached to said pivot means and braced by at least one further rigid frame member extending between said pivotally attached rigid elongate frame members to defirie a rigid platform means for supporting a laden clothes basket, said pivot means being positioned to enable the platform means to be pivoted from a stored position in which the platform means is substantially vertical to an operative position in which the platform means is substantially horizontal for supporting the clothes basket, said elongate frame member having a length of dimensions similar to the length of the clothes basket.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to a particularly preferred embodiment as shown in Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 1 shows a side view of the support in the second extended horizontal position as fitted to the vertical pole of a clothes line.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the support in a first retracted vertical position.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the support in the second horizontal or extended position.

Figure 4 shows a front view of the support in the first retracted or vertical position.

Detailed Description of the Invention Referring firstly to Figure 1 the support of the invention is shown in one particularly preferred embodiment in the form of a square or rectangular platform 3 which is pivotally fitted to a bracket means 2 and hinge points 4. The bracket means 2 is adapted for fitting to the vertical pole 1 of a clothes line by way of a U- BR 2R ,0 -B:NB"436 140RES2 28 November 2000 oQ,.

bolt 5. The bracket means 2 is formed of square section tubing extending horizontally and terminating in end sections 6. The centre of the bracket means 2 is provided with a vertical section 7 which is adapted to rest against the pole 1 and provide stable fitting of the bracket means 2 to the pole 1 by way of the U-bolt which is fastened around the pole 1 at an appropriate height. The platform 3 is formed of square section tubing and formed in a substantially square, rectangular or circular shape with a central rib 8. The size and configuration of the platform 3 provides a stable platform of suitable dimensions for receiving a laden washing basket which can be placed on the extended platform so as to relieve the user of having to bend down continuously to draw clothing out of the basket for placement on the clothes line. Referring now to Figure 2 the support of the invention is shown in the first retracted position where the platform 3 has been folded up around the hinges 4 so as to adopt a substantially vertical orientation. The bracket means 2 is provided with suitable resistance at the hinge points 4 or suitable catches to ensure that platform 3 remains in the vertical position unless deliberately drawn down to the second extended position by the user. In this manner, the platform can be moved to the first vertical position when not in use in order to keep the platform against the clothes lines pole 1 and out of harms way to passing traffic and other users in the environment of the clothes line. Referring now to Figure 3, a front view of the support in shown with a platform 3 in the second horizontal position. The dimensions and configuration of the platform are clearly demonstrated and the ability and adaptation of the platform for receiving a laden clothes basket can be understood from the perspective of this figure. Referring now to Figure 4, a front view of the support in the first retracted and vertical position is shown.

The vertical section 7 of the bracket means 2 can be provided in various configurations and formats, particularly when the winding mechanism of a clothes line requires the vertical section 7 to have an offset portion so as to allow the support to be lowered onto or in close proximity to the winding mechanism.

The support of the invention provides for the first time, a robust economical and retro-fittable support means for use on a conventional outdoor clothes line and in particular a support that is adapted for use on rotary clothes lines. The support MAW:NP:##34146.APP 7 April 2000 can be readily fitted at any desirable height to a clothes line to accommodate the height of the preferred user and once fitted to the clothes line is readily moveable from a retracted to an extended position to allow ready use when clothes are being hung out or ready retraction to a safe vertical position which will not endanger other users of the environment of the clothes line.

In use, a user would bring a clothes basket of washing to the line either by had or by way of previously described trolley means. The user would then lower the platform of the support to the second substantially horizontal and extended position and move the laden clothes basket onto the platform 3 whereby the clothes could then be readily moved from the basket without the necessity of continually bending down to the ground to pick up the clothes. When all the clothes are removed from the basket, the basket can be drawn from the platform and the platform moved to the first vertical position and fully retracted so as to ensure that the platform does not interfere with any other users of the environment of the clothes line or does not interfere with any clothes hung on the line.

MAW:NP:##34146.APP 7 April 2000

Claims (3)

1. A support for use with a clothes line, including a bracket means for fixing to a support pole of said clothes line, said support including an elongate frame member rigidly attached to the bracket means and having pivot means at either end, rigid elongate frame members pivotally attached to said pivot means and braced by at least one further rigid frame member extending between said pivotally attached rigid elongate frame members to define a rigid platform means for supporting a laden clothes basket, said pivot means being positioned to enable the platform means to be pivoted from a stored position in which the platform means is substantially vertical to an operative position in which the platform means is substantially horizontal for supporting the clothes basket, said elongate frame member having a length of dimensions similar to the length of the clothes basket.

2. The support of claim 1, wherein the bracket means includes a clamping means for engaging the pole, and a downwardly depending member to which the elongate frame member is rigidly secured.

3. The support of claim 1 or 2, wherein the pivot means are mounted on short extensions rigidly secured to the ends of the elongate frame means. DATED: 28 November 2000 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH BEADLE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: Gerhard K SALZMANN Erika SALZMANN S TNB:NB:40436140.RES2 28 November 2000 730