AU736868B3 - Clothes-type peg - Google Patents

Description

TITLE: CLOTHES-TYPE PEG THIS INVENTION relates to pegs. In particular, it is directed to a clothes-type peg whereby one peg can be used to hold a number of items simultaneously if required.

There are essentially two types of conventional clothes peg in use today a first and the more common type wherein two jaw-like members are pivotally connected or hinged together whereby, in use, a spring-loaded substantially V-shaped recess can be created to hold and subsequently release an item held by the peg; and a second type whereby two jaws are held in fixed relationship to each other creating a recess between the two jaws wherein an item is held as an interference fit.

In either type of prior art peg, at least one peg is required to hold each item of clothing, manchester, etc on a line. For example, while a single peg may be sufficient to hold a sock, it usually requires two such pegs to hold a towel; and more than two pegs may be required to support a relatively heavy item such as a blanket.

Further, common supports to hang clothes, etc. out to dry include the "rotary line" whereby a number of radial tubular frames support one or more wires connected therebetween, and a tubular perimeter frame which supports one or more wires running between opposite sides of the frame. In each case, the items are held onto the wires by one or more pegs. The dimensions of these radial and perimeter frames are such that the prior art pegs cannot be used thereon. There is thus a significant and wasted portion of these known supports which cannot be used with the prior art pegs.

Still further, in places such as caravan parks and camping grounds, it is virtually impossible to secure items of clothing etc. placed on communal washing lines against theft.

It is thus a general object of the present invention to overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the above problems.

According to the present invention, there is provide a peg for use on a device which can hang articles such as clothes, manchester and similar, said peg including: a first support member which is separate to, or a part of, said device; and a second substantially elongate support member having one end moveably fixed to said first support member and its other end releasably fixed to said first support member; whereby, when said second support member is in an operative position to hang said articles, said articles are held in an interference fit between said first support member and said second support member.

Preferably, said second support member is sufficiently elongate to hold two or more said articles in juxtaposition.

As a first optional feature, said second support member includes a number of notches to assist holding said articles between said first support member and said second support member.

As a second optional feature, said other end of said second support member is further adapted to include a locking means to lock said second support member in its operative position.

Preferably, said locking means is a padlock.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, whereby said peg is used on a device which comprises a number of radial tubular frames supporting one or more wires connected therebetween, or on a device which comprises a tubular perimeter frame supporting one or more wires running between opposite sides of the frame, said first support member is a section of said frame(s).

In a second embodiment of the present invention, said first support member is separate from said device and is adapted to be releasably affixed to said device.

The invention will now be described with reference to various preferred embodiments which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.1 is a perspective sketch of a first embodiment of a peg of the present invention attached to a rotary line; FIG. 2 is a perspective sketch of an arm of the rotary line depicted in FIG. 1 illustrating the first embodiment of a peg of the present invention in more detail; FIG. 3 is a perspective sketch of a second embodiment of a peg of the present invention attached to the arm of a rotary line; FIG. 4 is a perspective sketch of a third embodiment of a peg of the present invention; and FIG. 5 is a perspective sketch of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 2, there is a conventional rotary line comprising a vertical support and radial arms with wires extending between the radial arms A rod is of suitable dimensions so that it can abut the lower surface of the an arm The surface of the rod nearest to the lower surface of the arm includes the optional feature of a number of spaced notches therealong. A bore (FIG. 2) passes through the rod near one end thereof. A cable tie passes through the bore and around the arm to enable the rod to pivot away from the arm (illustrated in phantom). A loop of any suitable material such as plastic coated wire or chord, is of a suitable dimension to pass over the rod and the arm and is adapted to move freely in either direction A to retain or release the other end (11) of the rod as required.

In use, the rod is positioned as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2. Clothes or other articles are then hung over the rod which is then returned to its operative position (solid). The notches can assist in preventing the clothes or other articles from sliding along the rod In the operative position, the clothes or other articles are held as a tight fit between the rod and the arm With reference now to FIG. 3, a short section of suitable plank-like member (12) such as plastic or timber is held to the arm of the rotary line by cable ties (13a,b) passing through appropriate bores in the member A rod (16) is loosely fixed near one end to the underside of the member (12) by a screw The surface of the rod nearest to the lower surface of the member (12) includes a number of spaced notches (27) therealong. A saddle clamp is affixed adjacent the screw (14) to support the rod (16) when it is in an open position as illustrated in phantom. Near the other end (17) of the rod (16) is a slot (18) passing therethrough. A flexible hook having a substantially L-shaped head has its base affixed to the underside of the member (12) such that the shank (21) and head (20) can pass through the slot The underside of the head (20) can engage the undersurface of the rod The hook (19) is adapted so that it can move in either direction B to enable the rod (16) to be retained in its operative position (solid) but can be moved aside to allow the rod (16) to pivot to its open position (phantom).

In use, the rod (16) is positioned as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 3. Clothes or other articles are then hung over the rod (16) which is then returned to its operative position (solid). As in the first embodiment, the notches (27) assist in preventing the clothes or other articles from sliding along the rod In the operative position, the clothes or other articles are held as a tight fit between the rod (16) and the underside of the member (12).

An optional feature is the provision of a bore (28) in the head (20) of the hook When the rod (16) is in its operative position, the hasp of a padlock can be passed through the bore (28) to lock the rod (16) in position.

With reference now to FIG. 4, a short section of suitable plank-like member (42) made from material such as plastic or timber is held to the arm of the rotary line by cable ties (13a,b) passing through appropriate bores in the member A rod also made from a material such as plastic or timber, is loosely fixed near one end to the underside of the member (42) by a first cable (44) extending between the rod (46) and the underside of the member the respective ends of the cable (44) being fixed to the rod (46) and the member (42) by any convenient means known in the art. A second cable positioned spaced from the first cable (44) towards the free end (47) of the rod also extends between the rod (46) and the underside of the member (42), its respective ends being fixed to the rod (46) and the member (42) by any convenient means known in the art. The length of the second cable (45) is greater than that of the first cable (44) such that, when the device is in an open position (as illustrated in phantom in FIG. the rod (46) is held at an angle to the member Near the other end (47) of the rod (46) is a loop (48) of any suitable material, such as plastic coated wire or chord, the loop (48) passing through the member The loop (48) enables the rod (46) to be retained in its operative position (solid) but can be moved aside to allow the rod (46) to pivot to its open position (phantom).

In use, the rod (46) is positioned as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 4. Clothes or other articles are then hung over the rod (46) which is then returned to its operative position (solid). In the operative position, the clothes or other articles are held as a tight fit between the rod (46) and the underside of the member (42).

Turning now to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of the peg (30) comprises a length of plastic-coated resilient wire or similar folded substantially in half to form an upper arm (31) and a substantially parallel lower arm The open end of the upper arm (31) is bent to form a hook (33) which can engage a loop (34) formed in the open end of the lower arm The ends of the hook (33) and loop (34) can be capped by a plastic or rubber or similar end caps well known in the art. The lower arm (32) is configured into a serious of crests (36) and troughs (37) along its length. The resilience of the wire is such that, when the hook (33) is disengaged from the loop the open ends move apart (as shown in phantom) allowing the clothes, etc to be placed on the lower arm When the loop (34) is moved to engage the hook (33) and the peg (30) is thus in its operative position, the crests (36) assist to hold the clothes etc. as an interference fit between the lower (32) and upper (31) arms.

The peg (30) is retained on, for example, the arm of a rotary line by a pair of cable ties (50a,b) which pass around the upper arm (31) of the peg and the arm of the rotary line By using the peg of the present invention, a number of advantages are offered, including: 1. Only one "peg" is required to hang a number of items of clothing, manchester and the like; 2. Can utilize space on conventional lines which is not usable by prior art pegs; 3. Can provide security of the hung articles against theft; 4. Can be used on supports other than conventional "clothes lines"; for example, it may be affixed to essentially any solid support such as a ceiling beam.

It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are only exemplification of the various aspects of the present invention and that modifications and alterations can be made thereto without departing from the inventive concept as defined in the following claims.

Claims (3)

1. A peg for use on a device which can hang articles such as clothes, manchester and similar, said peg including: a first support member which is separate to, or a part of, said device; and a second substantially elongate support member having one end moveably fixed to said first support member and its other end releasably fixed to said first support member; whereby, when said second support member is in an operative position to hang said articles, said articles are held in an interference fit between said first support member and said second support member.

2. A peg as defined in Claim 1, wherein said first support member is releasably affixed to said device and wherein one end of said second support member is pivotally affixed at or nearan end of said first support member.

3. A peg as defined in Claim 1, wherein said peg is a wire or similar material folded substantially in half to form said first support member and said second support member, said second support member being substantially parallel to said first support member when said peg is in said operative position. DATED THIS 7 th DAY OF December 2000 WAYNE DOUGLAS DENHOLM by his Patent Attorney Dr Kevin M Pullen