EP1467016B1 - Foldable laundry drying rack - Google Patents

Abstract

The foldable washing drier comprises hinges which incorporate safety elements interacting with other elements of the hinge mechanism and the end pieces of the drier wings so that the operating safety of the drier is improved.

Description

The present invention relates to a clothes dryer with a collapsible frame with legs, which are pivotally supported at joints about a first axis and at least one side wing with end pieces which are pivotally mounted in the region of the joints on the legs about a second axis, wherein the end pieces engage at least partially between disc-like parts of joint bodies, on the other hand, securing means are provided on these end pieces on the one hand and on the joint bodies on the other hand, to secure the stand legs of the frame when erected frame and unfolded side wing.

A tumble dryer of the type mentioned is in the DE 198 02 275 A1 described. Dryers of the type mentioned are also referred to as drying rack. Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, the term tumble dryer will be used. The dryer is collapsible in a flat transport or storage position in which the legs are used swiveled so that they are approximately parallel to the frame on which the laundry is dried. In addition to a main frame of the dryer has so-called side wings, which are hinged and can be pivoted from a non-use position into a position of use by about 180 ° to the outside. In this dryer is provided that on securing means on the joint bodies on which the side wings are pivotally mounted and the legs are pivotally mounted, and further together with these acting securing means on end pieces of the side wings, securing the legs in the erected position of the frame is intended to increase the stability. As these securing means are used in the known tumble catch body, which are located on the outside of disc-like parts of the joint body. On the side wings are outer drying rods, which engage behind locking lugs of this locking body can. In addition, an increase in stability is achieved via a leg of the end pieces, which there have approximately an angular shape, and which rest on unfolded side wings on the legs, since the weight of the unfolded side wing blocks the leg. When folded side wings is provided to connect the two opposite side wings with a clip, so that even then a certain blockage of the legs is achieved. The transfer to the transport state happens, in which the legs are folded in the opposite direction of rotation as the side wings, so that the legs are then finally approximately parallel to the struts of the main frame and approximately parallel to the folded side wings, resulting in a relatively flat collapsed non-use position results.

In the known tumble dryer another function is already provided, wherein a roller blind from a tubular roller blind cover is pulled out, so that you can pull this blind over the drying rods of the main frame. The blind may for example be a web made of a flexible plastic or a textile material, which is used in particular when the drying of delicate laundry items such as sweaters or other laundry items is provided in wool, in which the impressions of dry rods is to avoid when dry , Such blinds can also be used as sun blinds. The joint body of the joints of the tumble dryer must be constructed so that you can attach to the joint bodies parts that are needed for the roller blind and the roller cover.

Object of the present invention is to further develop a clothes dryer of the type mentioned, in particular in With regard to a further improvement in the reliability, the stability of the raised clothes horse. Object of the present invention is also to provide a clothes dryer with joint bodies that can be produced with reasonable manufacturing effort, meet all the above functions and also allow easy attachment of other accessories to the dryer in the region of the joint body.

The solution to this problem provides an inventive dryer of the aforementioned type with the characterizing features of the main claim. An increased stability of the laundry dryer according to the invention results from the special design of the securing means. The securing means are arranged according to the invention, on the one hand on the mutually facing inner sides of the disc-like parts of the joint body and on the other hand in the region of the end pieces, which engages between the disc-like parts of the joint body. This makes it possible to make the securing of the legs on the end pieces of the side wing quasi in the inner region of the joint body, so that the joint body in the outer areas can be constructively designed so that they allow additional functions such as the attachment of accessories. This is possible in particular with a relatively space-saving design of the joint body, since the securing means do not interfere with the attachment of further functional elements in the outer region of the joint body by the attachment of the securing means in the inner region between the disk-like parts of the joint body. In addition, it has the advantage of a better visual appearance and there are no protruding parts that can be easily damaged.

The tumble dryer according to the invention is preferably designed so that it does not matter when setting up whether you first fold out the legs or first the side wings. Operating errors when setting up are excluded. When the tumble dryer is installed, the end piece of the side wing locks in the joint body. This can be done via differently shaped securing means. For example, serve as securing means on the end pieces cams, projections or depressions. The securing means on the disc-like parts of the joint body may be, for example depressions, recesses, holes or projections, which cooperate with the aforementioned securing means of the end pieces. For example, it is possible to provide cams on the end piece of the side wing, which engage in corresponding receptacles of the joint body. The fact that the pillar is connected to the side wing via a hinge, a lock is achieved so that when the wing is folded out the pillar can not be folded. In addition, the pillar in the joint is tensioned by this locking, which significantly increases the stability of the tumble dryer.

Preferably, two side wings are provided on the tumble dryer. It is then possible to fold only one or both side wings. The side wing is pivoted inward by about 180 ° and placed on the middle section of the tumble dryer. In the inwardly pivoted position, the aforementioned cams of the end pieces of the side wings, for example, put in a recess of the joint, which also fixation of the legs and thus securing against folding of the legs is achieved with inwardly folded side wings. This depression can for example be designed so that when exposed to a larger force, ie at an overload the Leg can still be folded. This is done if you want to completely fold the dryer and put in the non-use position. The above-mentioned securing means, which become effective when the side wings are folded in, can also be designed differently. It is possible and advantageous to use at least the securing means provided on the end pieces both for securing in the abovementioned position with the folded-out side wings also folded out. On the joint bodies are usually provided for both positions of the side wings (folded or unfolded) different shots, wells or the like.

The type of fuse has the advantage that the laundry dryer according to the invention can be used flexibly. It can be used with two folded side wings, with a folded-out and a folded-in wing, whereby the stability of the frame of the tumble dryer is always given in the respective positions.

According to a preferred development of the invention, it is provided that, when the tumble dryer is completely folded into the non-use position, further securing means fix it in this position in the joint region. For example, cams or the like may be present on the end pieces of the side wings, which are then fixed in the region of the joint body. These cams can engage, for example, in a designated position and thereby prevent an independent unfolding of the frame.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the hinge body of the tumble dryer further recordings for the attachment of accessories.

Such accessories may include a dry roller blind, as it is known from the cited document from the prior art or a tubular sleeve for the roller blind cover. In addition, however, other accessories are preferably attachable in the region of the joint body, such as caps for the joint body, a tube which accommodates sliding dry rods, a sock holder, which is additionally attachable to the frame of the clothes dryer or a clothes peg container. Preferably, these accessories can each be assembled and disassembled without the aid of a tool, for example via plug-in, snap, snap-in connections or other form-fitting connections. This makes it possible to realize different variants of the tumble dryer in a simple manner without installation effort, wherein the hinge body are preferably designed so that they allow the said different variants and thereby also the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The features mentioned in subclaims relate to preferred developments of the task solution according to the invention. Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

Fig. 1

eine Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Wäschetrockners;

Fig. 2

eine vergrößerte Detailansicht eines Gelenks bei ausgeklapptem Seitenflügel;

Fig. 3

eine entsprechende Ansicht eines Gelenks bei eingeklapptem Seitenflügel;

Fig. 4

eine entsprechende Ansicht eines Gelenks bei vollständig zusammengeklapptem Wäschetrockner;

Fig. 5

eine enfsprechende Draufsicht auf das Gelenk gemäß der Stellung von Fig. 2;

Fig. 6

eine entsprechende Draufsicht auf das Gelenk gemäß der Stellung von Fig. 3;

Fig. 7

eine entsprechende Draufsicht auf das Gelenk gemäß der Stellung von Fig. 4;

Fig. 8

eine Ansicht auf das Gelenk von der Innenseite her gesehen;

Fig. 9

eine Ansicht des Gelenks in Richtung des Pfeils IX von Fig. 8 gesehen;

Fig. 10

eine Draufsicht auf den Gelenkkörper von Fig. 9;

Fig. 11

eine vergrößerte Detailansicht eines Ausschnitts des Gelenkkörpers, wobei man von Innen auf eines der scheibenartigen Elemente des Gelenkkörpers sieht;

Fig. 12

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Gelenkkörpers;

Fig. 13

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Endstücks des Seitenflügels;

Fig. 14

eine Seitenansicht des Endstücks von Fig. 13;

Fig. 15

eine Ansicht des Endstücks in Richtung des Pfeils XV von Fig. 14;

Fig. 16

eine Ansicht des Endstücks in Richtung des Pfeils XVI von Fig. 14;

Fig. 17

eine Draufsicht auf das Endstück von Fig. 14.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to embodiments. Show in it

Fig. 1

a view of a clothes dryer according to the invention;

Fig. 2

an enlarged detail view of a joint with the side wing unfolded;

Fig. 3

a corresponding view of a joint with folded side wing;

Fig. 4

a corresponding view of a joint with fully folded tumble dryer;

Fig. 5

a corresponding plan view of the hinge according to the position of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6

a corresponding plan view of the joint according to the position of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7

a corresponding plan view of the joint according to the position of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8

a view of the joint seen from the inside;

Fig. 9

seen a view of the joint in the direction of the arrow IX of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10

a plan view of the joint body of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11

an enlarged detail view of a section of the joint body, wherein one sees from the inside on one of the disc-like elements of the joint body;

Fig. 12

a perspective view of the joint body;

Fig. 13

a perspective view of the tail of the side wing;

Fig. 14

a side view of the end piece of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15

a view of the tail in the direction of arrow XV of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16

a view of the tail in the direction of arrow XVI of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17

a plan view of the tail of Fig. 14th

First, reference is made to FIG. 1. The illustration shows an overall perspective view of an exemplary tumble dryer according to the invention, which is designated overall by 9. The clothes dryer has a collapsible frame with legs 8, which are pivoted about hinges to move the clothes dryer in a flat non-use position. The tumble dryer 9 has a main frame 7 with drying rods 4 or clothes lines, can be stored or hung on the laundry. In addition to this main frame 7 so-called side wings 15 are present, which can be folded out about the axis of the aforementioned joints to the outside by about 180 ° in the functional position shown in Fig. 1. In this case, both the side wings 15 and the legs 8 are respectively pivoted in the erected state of the dryer horizontally extending axes, which are located in the region of the joint bodies 10. A total of four such articulated bodies 10 are present, in each case in the four corner regions of the main frame 7, of which both the legs 8 and the side wings 15 go out. On the joint bodies 10 is the first axis 5 (see Fig. 2), which is the pivot axis for the legs 8. The side wings 15, of which only the end pieces 11 are visible in Fig. 2 in principle, are in turn connected in the region of the joint body 10 about a second axis 6 pivotally connected to the legs 8, so that the side wings or their end pieces 11 about this axis 6 can be pivoted relative to the legs 8 and also the legs 8 can be pivoted about the first axis 5 with the hinged side wings at folding the tumble dryer.

The aforementioned movements are explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7. 2, 3 and 4 show side views in each case in an end region of the tumble dryer in the various positions, wherein FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show the respective plan views. FIG. 2 shows the raised tumble dryer in the region of its articulated body 10 in the functional position with the side wing 15 folded out. The end piece 11, in which, for example, frame bars of the side wing 15 are held, can be seen. This end piece 11 is pivotally connected to the pillar 8 about the axis 6, wherein in the position shown in FIG. 2, this axis 6 is located within the joint body and in the upper end portion of the supporting leg 8. From the functional position shown in Fig. 2, in the the side wing 15 is unfolded and thus can be used in addition to the drying of laundry items (see also Fig. 1), the side wing 15 can now be pivoted inwardly by pivoting about the axis 6 by about 180 ° in a position in which it is approximately parallel above the main frame 7, as can be seen from Fig. 3. If now the tumble dryer from the position shown in Fig. 3 are completely folded into its non-use position in which both the main frame 7 and the legs 8 and the side wings 15 are each approximately parallel (see Fig. 4), then starting from the situation shown in FIG. 3, the pillar 8 with the attached thereto end piece 11 pivoted about the hinge axis 5. From Fig. 3 and 4 it can be seen that the hinge axis 5 is located in the lower region of the joint body 10, at a distance from the axis 6. By this pivotal movement of the supporting leg 8 about its axis 5 inwardly in the parallel position shown in FIG the main frame 7, pivots the hinge axis 6 out of the area within the hinge body 10 out to the outside. In addition, the angle which the end piece 11 and the leg 8 in Fig. 3 include each other by pivoting movement of the end piece 11 relative to the leg 8 about the axis 6 further reduced, so that the folded non-use position shown in Fig. 4 is achieved.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show the respective plan views of the corner region of the tumble dryer with the joint body 10. It can be seen from FIG. 5 that the joint body 10 consists essentially of disk-like parts 12, 13 and the end piece 11 and also the upper one End of the supporting leg 8 (less clearly visible in Fig. 5) between these two disc-like parts 12, 13 of the joint body engage. In the view according to FIG. 2, therefore, the upper end of the supporting leg 8 lies behind the outer part 12 of the joint body 10. The upper end of the supporting leg 8 is flat and the end of the end piece 11 facing inwardly in FIGS. 2 and 3 is approximately bifurcated with a slot 21, so that the flat end of the stand 8, which is denoted by 8a, in the slot 21, where the joint 6 is located (see Fig. 2). In the folded position of FIG. 7 can be seen the outer end of the slot 21, and a piece of the flat end 8a of the supporting leg.

Various securing means are now provided which ensure that the support leg 8 and thus the tumble dryer are secured in the erected position both with the side wing 15 folded out according to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 and with the side wing 15 folded in according to FIG. 3 and FIG is to improve the standing position of the tumble dryer. These securing means are located on the one hand on the end piece 11 and on the other hand on the disc-like parts 12, 13 of the joint body. In part, one can see the securing means and their function from FIGS. 2 to 7. In addition, reference is made to the item view of the joint body of FIG. 12 and the detail view Fig. 11 and also to the individual parts of the end piece 11, which in itself is shown in Figs. 13 to 17. As securing means are located at the end pieces 11 two cams 14 which engage in the state shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 with opened side wings 15 in these associated receptacles 16 (see Fig. 5) of the joint body. Characterized in that the leg 8 is pivotally connected to the end piece 11 about the axis 6, the end piece 11 and thus the side wing 15 locked in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the arrangement so that the leg 8 are not folded can. By this locking the leg 8 is also stretched in the joint body 10 and thereby the stability of the clothes dryer is increased. The said cams 14 can also be seen in the folded-in positions of the side wing 15 according to FIG. 6. The position of the cams 14 on the end piece 11 can be clearly seen in FIGS. 13 and 14. 14 also shows the bore 26 of the end piece 11, passes through the hinge axis 6, which connects this with the leg 8. The receptacles 16 of the joint body 10, in which these cams 14 can engage in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, can be seen particularly well in Fig. 11, which shows a corresponding detail of the joint body 10, wherein one on the Inside of the underlying disc-like part 13 looks.

FIGS. 3 and 6 show the position with the side wing 15 folded in, to which one comes when, starting from FIG. 2, the side wing 15 with the end piece 11 pivots inward in the direction of the arrow by approximately 180 °. It can be seen in Fig. 3 that in this position, the cam 14, the upper edge of the joint body 10 projects slightly beyond. From Fig. 6 it can be clearly seen that the cams 14 are in this position in recesses 25 which are located in shoulders 24 of the joint body 10. These depressions 25 are in the upper edge region of the joint body, approximately where the shoulders 24 end. These recesses 25 can be seen well in Fig. 11, in which it can also be seen that the shoulders 24 follow a curve, so to speak, on which the recesses 16 are further below and at a distance from the recesses 25. The fact that the cams 14 of the end piece 11 in the position shown in FIG. 6 set in the recesses 25 of the joint body 10, a fixation of the legs 8 is achieved in this position, the side wings 15, which provide a Einklappsicherung. The recesses 25 are designed so that when overloaded, the pillar can be folded, ie that you can then move the cam 14 out of the recess 25 to fully collapse the dryer in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 ,

At the end pieces, two further cams 17 are present, the position of which can be seen in FIG. 7 and which can also be seen from the single-part illustration of the end piece 11, for example FIG. It can be seen that, as a result of the pivoting movement of the supporting leg 8 about its axis 5, the end piece 11 has moved outwards compared with the position of FIG. 6 in the position according to FIG. 7, so that the two cams 17 of the end piece 11 in the set completely folded position shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 4 in receptacles 18 of the joint body 10. These receptacles 18 can again be seen well in FIG. 11. There you can see that these recordings 18 are located in the region of the shoulders 24 slightly above the recordings 16. On the joint body, additional holes 23 may be present at the height of these receptacles 18 on the disk-like parts 13, so that the cams 17 also project outward and can engage in these bores 23 in order to achieve better securing, as it were, by latching. By the cam 17 of the tumble dryer is fixed in the fully collapsed position in the joint over the end pieces 11 of the side wings 15. The folded tumble dryer of FIG. 4 can not open automatically.

The possibilities for attaching further accessories to the articulated body 10 of the tumble dryer will be explained below with reference to FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, in principle, one looks at the inside of the joint, with a cap fastened there being removed. For example, a sock holder, not shown here, can be attached to the joint body 10 shown in FIG. 8. For this purpose, two receptacles 30, 31 are provided and that once a sleeve-shaped extension 31 of the joint body. In this extension 31, a part of the sock holder can be engaged, which is initially still articulated after this engagement and then pivoted into an attachment position in the one further part of the sock holder, not shown, engages on a bulge 30 of an Anformung 32 of the joint.

The Anformung 32 runs as you can see in areas approximately on a circular path, but is interrupted in places. This Anformung 32 serves in part also the attachment of a cover, wherein in the region of an interruption of Anformung 32 is a recess 33 and a projection 34 is given to a further Anformung, which also serves to attach a tubular cover sleeve, not shown here.

An approximate keyhole-shaped receptacle 36, to which a dry roller blind can be fastened, is located on an approximate formation 35 in the central region with respect to the molding 32. For example, you put the wave of such a dry blinds in the receptacle 36th

Starting from the projection 34, a further part-circular Anformung 37 is provided, which is smaller than the part-circular Anformung 32 and extending into the latter. At the part-circular Anformung 37 can be, for example, a fitting into this tube (also not shown here) attach for sliding dry rods, such a tube is received in the part-cylindrical space 38. Also, the cap, which covers the joint body 10 towards the inside and which is removed in the illustration of FIG. 8 has a projecting sleeve, which is approximately tubular and can be attached to the receptacle 37, 38. When a sock holder or a dry blind is attached to the inside of the hinge body 10 shown in Fig. 8, the aforesaid cover cap is previously removed, whereby the state shown in Fig. 8 is achieved. The outline of the cap follows approximately at the in the drawing Fig. 8 right side semicircular outline of the joint body having on the left side in the drawing an arcuate boundary 39 with wider radius and the top and bottom each have a straight portion 40, which then merges to the right in the semicircular shape , If a staple bag for receiving clothespins is to be fastened to the joint body 10, then a cap with the outline shape is used, which has holes for the attachment of rods of the clothes-peg bag. The cap is pushed over the Anformung 32 on the one hand, is attached with a projecting sleeve on the Anformung 37 and beyond nor on the cylindrical Anformung 41, which is opposite in the lower left corner of the upper Anformung 31 and has the same shape and the same dimensions as the Anformung 31, which serves to attach the sock holder.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

4

dry bars

5

first joint axis

6

joint axis

7

main frame

8th

mainstays

8a

flat end of the supporting leg 8

9

clothes dryer

10

joint body

11

Tails

12, 13

disc-like parts

14, 17

cam

16, 18

Recordings

23, 28

drilling

24

Shoulder

25

wells

30

bulge

31

sleeve-shaped extension

32

conformation

33

recess

34

head Start

35

conformation

36

key-shaped recording

37

part-circular molding

38

partly cylindrical space

39

arcuate boundary

40

straight section

41

cylindrical shaping

Claims (11)

1. Foldable laundry drying rack, with standing legs (8), which are held on joints in a manner such that they can pivot about a first axis (5), and with at least one side wing (15) having end pieces (11), which are fitted to the standing legs in the region of the joints in a manner such that they can pivot about a second axis (6), wherein the end pieces (11) partially engage between disc-like parts (12, 13) of joint bodies, and wherein securing means are provided on these end pieces, on the one hand, and on the joint bodies, on the other hand, in order to secure the standing legs of the rack when the rack is erected and the side wing unfolded, characterized in that the securing means are arranged, on the one hand, on the mutually facing inner sides of the disc-like parts of the joint bodies (10) and, on the other hand, in that region of the end pieces (11) which engages between the disc-like parts (12, 13) of the joint bodies (10).
2. Laundry drying rack according to Claim 1, characterized in that the securing means are cams (14, 17), projections or depressions on the end pieces (11).
3. Laundry drying rack according to Claim 2, characterized in that the securing means on the disc-like parts (12, 13) of the joint bodies (10) are depressions (25), cutouts, holes (23) or projections.
4. Laundry drying rack according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that securing means are likewise provided on the end pieces (11) and/or on the disc-like parts (12, 13) of the joint bodies (10) and become effective when the side wing (15) is folded in.
5. Laundry drying rack according to Claim 4, characterized in that the securing means on the end pieces (11) also serve as securing means when the side wings (15) are folded in.
6. Laundry drying rack according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that depressions, recesses or latching holes (16) are provided on the disc-like parts (12, 13) of the joint bodies (10) and serve as securing means when the side wing (15) is folded in.
7. Laundry drying rack according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that further securing means (14) are provided in that region of the end pieces (11) which faces the side wing (15) and cause the laundry drying rack to be kept in place when it has been collapsed.
8. Laundry drying rack according to Claim 7, characterized in that cams (14), projections (17) or the like are provided on the end pieces (11) as securing means when the rack has been collapsed.
9. Laundry drying rack according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that receptacles (18) for the securing means which are effective when the rack has been collapsed are provided on the mutually facing inner sides of the disc-like parts (12, 13) of the joint bodies (10).
10. Laundry drying rack according to Claim 9, characterized in that the receptacles (18) on the disc-like parts (12, 13) of the joint bodies (10) are shoulders, offsets, depressions or holes.
11. Laundry drying rack according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that further receptacles for the fastening of accessories, in particular a drying blind, a covering sleeve, a covering cap, a peg container, a sock holder and/or a tube for displaceable drying rods are provided on the joint body (10) and preferably enable these accessories to be fitted without using a tool.

Images