EP1193339A1

EP1193339A1 - Pin for hanging laundry

Info

Publication number: EP1193339A1
Application number: EP01123427A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Cindy Gonet
Original assignee: Baccini SRL
Current assignee: Applied Materials Italia SRL
Priority date: 2000-09-29
Filing date: 2001-09-28
Publication date: 2002-04-03
Also published as: IT249633Y1; ITFI20000088U1; ITFI20000088V0

Abstract

Pin for hanging laundry, comprising a casing (1) capable of being suspended to a line (10) and making a grip on clothing (16) with a self-locking effect.

Description

Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to a pin for hanging laundry made of plastic material, in particular a pin with heightened safety during use, even under difficult conditions (wet laundry, presence of wind).

Aim of the Invention

Various types of clothes pins are known, all of which however have in common a defect:

low reliability in case of wind or in case of a heavy load (towels or wet blankets that must be hung) and also the inconvenience of leaving the mark of the clothes line on the hanging laundry.

For such the purpose of this invention is the realization of a pin for hanging clothes that overcomes the inconveniences of pins already known.
A second purpose is that of proposing a clothes pin relatively economic but at the same time extremely effective even under difficult conditions.
A third purpose is that of proposing a clothes pin adapted for use on a clothes hanger used in a closet.

Summary

We reached such purposes, according to the invention, making a self-locking clothes pin, capable of increasing the grip on the hanging laundry proportional to the increase in the weight of the load.
According to an ulterior characteristic of the invention, with this pin the hanging laundry does not come into contact with the clothes line, remaining thus shielded from marks or folds.
According to a preferred form of realization the pin is made of only one piece of plastic material.
A first advantage consists in the high level of reliability of the pin even under difficult conditions.
A second advantage consists in the fact that marks and folds on the laundry are avoided due to contact with the clothes line.
A third advantage consists in the economy and simplicity of the proposed solution.

List of Drawings

These and ulterior advantages will be better understood by any technician of the sector from the description that follows and enclosed drawings, which are given as not limiting examples in which:

Fig 1 shows a lateral view of a pin second the invention, in a closed configuration;
Fig 2 shows the pin of fig 1 in an open configuration;
Fig 3 shows a perspective view of the pin second the invention;
Fig.4a, 4b respectively show a cut section and a side view of a detail of a preferred embodiment of the invention

Detailed Description

With reference to the drawings, in a preferred form of realization a pin according to the invention made of one body 1 that in a resting configuration takes the general conformation of a Ω, as illustrated in fig 2, whereas, once closed, takes the general form of a number '8' open at the inferior extremity.
The body 1 is for such formed with a curved part with elastic return 2 from which two arms 3 substantially symmetrical respect to a median axis and formed in their turn by an initial linear length 4, a length of intermediate crossing 5 and a length of extremity 6.
From the internal faces 7 of the lengths 4 of the arms 3 project respectively inclined protuberances 8, 8' converging upwards and capable of intersecting in the closed configuration of fig 2.
As shown in the example of fig 3, the protuberances 8, 8' can be made first by a couple of lateral tongues 9 between which can be inserted and slide freely the protuberance 8' in the movement of closing of the pin.
Advantageously, the intermediate length 5 of the arms 3 is of less thickness respect to the initial length 4 and final 6 in such a way 3 as to constitute a sliding guide 13 relative to the same plane of the two arms 3 once overlapped (fig 1) Advantageously the extremity 11 of the final length 6 of the arms 3 is made with a groove capable of holding a rubber 12 useful to limit further possible damages for hanging laundry.
Second an ulterior advantageous characteristic, the lengths 4 of the arms 3 have lightening holes 15.
When functioning, the pin is initially in the open configuration of fig 2 and can be hooked to a clothes line 10 and then closed as in fig 1, with intermediate lengths 5 that reciprocally form the already described sliding indent.
To hang clothing, it is sufficient to make the lengths 4 meet and make the free extremities retract 11 to insert clothing 16
Releasing the lengths 4 and the free extremities 11 they come together by effect of the elastic return of length 2 and the clothes line 11 remains between the protuberances 8, 8' facilitating the retracting and thus the increase of pressure made on the clothing 16 by the extremity 11.
Advantageously, the more the clothing weighs16, more will be the self-locking effect of the pin that will therefore be able to sustain relatively heavy loads, characteristic particularly useful when the pin is used in a closet and the clothes line 10 would be constituted by the center line of a clothes hanger.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in figures 4a and 4b the free ends 11 of the end portion 6 present a cylindrical cavity 20 into which a rubber cylinder 21 can be securely inserted by pressure, in order to increase the safety of the grip of the pin on the clothes to be hung and to avoid any damage of the same clothes.
Preferably, said cavity 20 is closed by a wall 22 at one end, as best illustrated in figure 4b, in order to avoid a possible sliding of the cylinder 21 out from the cavity 20.
A preferred example of the pin is made of one piece of plastic material, but it is intended that equivalent modifications can be made with respect to the number and arrangement of the components without falling out of the range of the protection of the present industrial invention.

Claims

Pin for hanging clothing, characterized by the fact of being made of a body (1) capable of being hooked to a clothes line or center line (10) and grip clothing (16) with an self-locking effect.
Pin, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said self-locking effect is proportional to the
force made by said clothing (16) on the pin
Pin, according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that said body (1) is made with a curved part with elastic return (2) from which two arms (3)begin substantially symmetrical respect to a median axis and
formed in their turn by an initial linear length 4 a length of intermediate crossing 5 and a final length 6 of grip on hanging clothing 16 in which the internal faces 7 of the lengths 4 of the arms 3 project respect to the first and second inclined protuberance (8,8') converging upwards and capable of intersecting in the closed configuration of the pin so that it can be placed astride a clothes line (10).
Pin, according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the protuberances (8,8') are made first by a couple of lateral tongues (9) between which can be inserted and slide freely the second protuberance (8') in the closing movement of the pin.
Pin, according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the intermediate length (5) of the arms (3) is of less thickness respect to the initial lengths (4) and final (6) in such a way so as to constitute a sliding guide (13) relative to the same plane of the two arms (3) overlapped in the closed position of the pin.
Pin, according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the extremity (11) of the final length (6) has a groove capable of holding rubber (12).
Pin, according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the lengths (4) of the arms (3) present lightening holes (15).
Pin according to claim 3, wherein free ends (11) of the end portion (6) present a cylindrical cavity (20) into which a rubber cylinder (21) can be securely inserted by pressure, in order to increase the safety of the grip of the peg on the clothes to be hung and to avoid any damage of the same clothes.
Pin according to claim 8, wherein said cavity (20) is closed by a wall (22) at one end in order to avoid a possible sliding of the cylinder 21 out from the cavity (20).
Pin according to claim 1, characterized by the fact of being made of one piece.
Pin according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact of being made of plastic material.