EP1780327A1

EP1780327A1 - A double layered roll of cloth which opens out to cover laundry on a drying rack

Info

Publication number: EP1780327A1
Application number: EP06425738A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giovanni Carbonara
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-28
Filing date: 2006-10-25
Publication date: 2007-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2026-10-25
Also published as: EP1780327B1; PT1780327E; ATE451494T1; DE602006010955D1; ITRM20050135U1; ES2336938T3

Abstract

Device (1) for covering laundry on a drying rack, comprising a first cloth (3) and a second cloth (4), wrapped around at least one spring roll, placed on a support frame, said first cloth (3) can be unwrapped from said spring roll, said spring roll as a consequence rolling and causing the opening of said second cloth (4).

Description

The present invention concerns a double layered roll of cloth which opens out to cover laundry on a drying rack.
The present invention relates to the field of devices whose aim is protecting laundry, on a drying rack, from damages caused by the atmospheric phenomena such as rain and excessive insulation, but also other damages such as those two to pollution, i.e. the deposit of dust and filth over the laundry on the drying rack.
Different kinds of devices used to protect laundry from the listed damages are already known on the market. As an example, it is on trade a roll of cloth that can be opened out in order to cover the upper part of a drying rack where laundry is drying. In particular, this device is comprised of a raincoat cloth wrapped so to form a roll, which is applied on one of the side bar of the drying rack and can be unwrapped so that the raincoat cloth upperly covers the drying rack. The free end of the cloth is secured to the side bar opposed to the one on which the roll is applied. After use, the cloth is wrapper anew around the roll, which is dismantled from the drying rack and stored until its following utilisation.
This kind of device presents different limits two to the fact that, once it is opened out in order to cover the laundry, the cloth results to be particularly subjected to possible blows and can wrap around itself or move, leaving the laundry uncovered, or it can even unhook and fall down, with the possibility to cause damages. On the other side, if the cloth is fixed more firmly to the side bars of the drying rack, the action of the wind could cause a scratch, or even the complete tear, of the cloth.
Further, this kind of device covers only the upper part of the laundry, and can not prevent the laundry on the external side of the drying rack from being exposed to the rain or solar irradiation.
The problem faced by this invention relates both to the need of assuring a better protection of the covering cloth from damages caused by the action of the wind, and to the need of assuring a better protection of the laundry on the external part of the drying rack from atmospheric and polluting agents.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a device for covering laundry on a drying rack which allows not only to solve the aforesaid problems, but also comes out to be simple and functional, with reduced production costs.
It is therefore a specific object of the present invention a device for covering laundry on a drying rack, comprising a first cloth and a second cloth, wrapped around at least one spring roll, located on a support frame, said first cloth can be unwrapped from said spring roll, said spring roll as a consequence rolling and causing the opening of said second cloth.
According to the invention, said first cloth and said second cloth are wrapped around the same spring roll, or are each wrapped around a roll, at least one of which is a spring roll, said rolls being linked together by means of a movement transmission system.
Further, according to the invention, on the more external portion of said first cloth at least one rigid bar is preferably present and on the more external portion of said second cloth at least one load and/or at least one rigid bar is present.
Still according to the invention, on the more external portion of the first cloth, which is the upper cloth, at least one magnet and/or at least one hook is present.
Preferably, according to the invention, said frame is comprised of a shell, inside which is located said at least one roll around which said two cloths are wrapped, a portion of the cloths coming out from the shell through a side opening.
The device according to the present invention comprises means for coupling with the drying rack, said being selected amongst at least one of the following: an insertion conduit for a yarn of the drying rack crossing said frame all along its length, two rings screwed to the opposed end of said frame, two hooks shaped for stable coupling with the opposed bars of the drying rack, two bands to wrap around a yarn of the drying rack.
Further, always according to the invention, the device can comprise means for coupling with an adjacent device of the same kind, said means being selected amongst at least one of the following: a magneted portion on each of the opposed end of the frame, a male coupling on one of the two ends of the frame and a female coupling on the oppesed end.
The present invention will now be described, for illustrative, non limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiment, particular reference being made to the enclosed drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the device for covering laundry on a drying rack according to the present invention, in a closed position,
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the same device shown in figure 1, in an open position, and
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the same device shown in figure 1, in an open position, on a drying rack.

Making reference to the figures, it is shown how the covering device 1 according to the present invention is comprised of a frame, in particular, in the embodiment shown it is comprised of a shell 2, inside which a spring roll is provided, on which a first upper cloth 3 and a second lower cloth 4 are wrapped together. When the cloths are completely wrapped around the spring roll, only a tail of each cloth comes out from the shell 2, through an opening 5 having the same width of the cloths 3, 4. Preferably, both cloths are made of an raincoat material.
In particular, the tail of each cloth is hardened by means of one or more rigid sticks, respectively one or more rigid sticks 6 of the first cloth 3 and one or more rigid sticks 7 of the second cloth 4. The function of said sticks 6, 7 is not only that of maintaining both cloths 3, 4 stretched out, but also, as will be seen in the following, that of ensuring the correct positioning of the cloths themselves.
The covering device 1 shown in the drawings is provided with a conduit 8 passing through the device all along its length in correspondence of its axis. The spring roll, around which the cloths 3, 4 are wrapped, is hollow and is placed around the conduit 8, which is free from any obstacle.
In order to use the covering device 1 it is previously necessary to adeguately placed it. This is made by passing one of the yarns 9, in particular a yarn 9', of the drying rack 10 inside the conduit 8 of the covering device 1, and subsequently securing the yarn 9' to the bars 11 of the drying rack 10. In positioning the device 1 it is necessary to control that, orientating the opening 5 of the shell 2 towards the yarns 9 to be covered, the tail of the first cloth 3 coming out from the shell 2 happens to be in a position higher than that of the second cloth 4.
Alternatively, instead of the conduit 8 for passing the yarn 9' of the drying rack 10, the device 1 can comprise different means for installing on the drying rack 10, such as for example rings, provided at the two opposed ends of the shell 2, around which it is possible to knot two yarns, each linked to one of the two bars 11 of the drying rack 10. It is possible to provide for the rings being fastened to the opposed ends of the shell 2, the extent of their fastening giving the rings a yarn tightener function. Alternatively, the shell 2 can comprise two hooks, positioned at two opposed end of the shell 2, for the positioning directly on the opposed bars 11 of the drying rack 10. Further, on the lateral surface of the shell 2, in proximity of the opposed ends of the shell, so that they do not interfere with the cloths 3, 4, i.e. so that they do not cover portions of the opening 5, two bands to be wrapped around the yarn 9' can be present, in order to position the covering device 1 directly on the yarn 9'.
After putting one or more pieces of laundry 12 on the remaining yarns 9 of the drying rack 10, the covering cloths 3, 4 are opened up. In order to do it, the tail of the first upper cloth 3 is opened up, so that it passes over the yarns 9 of the drying rack 10 and covers them. The unwrapping of the upper cloth 3 causes the rotation of the spring roll and the contemporary unwrapping of the lower cloth 4, which opens downwards, under the effect of its own weight, in addition to the weight of the sticks 7. In this way, while the first cloth 3 forms a protecting layer that is substantially horizontal and upperly covers the laundry 12 on the drying rack 10, the second cloth 4 forms a vertical protecting layer covering the laundry on the front side.
Alternatively, the two cloths 3, 4 can be wrapped around two separate rolls, connected to each other through means for transmitting movement, so that the rotation of the roll of the first cloth 3, opened up by the user, causes the rotation and the unwrapping of the roll of the second cloth 4. Such a solution also allows for the regulation of the relative rotation of the two rolls, acting on the transmission ratio, and therefore for the regulation of the amount of the second cloth 4 opening downwards as a consequence of the opening up of the first cloth 3 that upperly covers the drying rack 10. For example, it is possible to provide for a device for changing the transmission ratio allowing, in case the laundry on the drying rack is greater in size with respect to the transversal size of the drying rack, to increase the transmission ratio so that as a consequence of the opening up of a certain portion of the upper cloth 3 a greater portion of the lower cloth 4 is opened. In a basic embodiment of the device according to the present invention, according to which the cloths 3 and 4 are wrapped around the same roll, it is possible anyway to pursue the result of covering the longer pieces of laundry by opening the upper cloth 3 up to and beyond the railing, for example for example passing over the upper edge of the railing and going downwards its side facing towards the interiors of the building, down to the lower part of the railing, to which the tail of the upper cloth 3 is fixed. This solution further allows to protect also the internal side of the laundry on the drying rack.
It is evident that, preferably, in order to obtain the wider protection of the laundry on the drying rack 10, without leaving part of the laundry uncovered or some yarns 9 of the drying rack 10 unused, the covering device 1 has to be applied on the most external yarn 9' of the drying rack 10.
The upper cloth 3 must be fixed so that it remains in an open position. This aim can be achieved in different ways. For example, the sticks 6 on the most external tail of the cloth 3 can be realised by magnetic material, so that they are attracted by the metallic railing 13. Optionally, taking into account that not always drying racks are positioned on railings, on the sticks 6 can be provided hooks 14, in order to ensure the grip to the railing or, lacking other handholds, to the most internal yarn 9" of the drying rack 10.
According to the preferred solution according to the present invention on the tail of the upper cloth 3 a plurality of sticks 6 are present, free to articulate one with respect to the other, so that they can adapt to different profiles of different railings 13.
The using of a plurality of independent magnetic sticks 6 further allows to modulate the fastening force of the cloth 3 to the railing 13. Such expedient is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of the cloth 3. In fact, the regulation of the fixing force of the cloth allows, in the case that wind submits the cloth 3 to stresses that could damage it, to establish a limit to the stress beyond which the magnetic force of attraction ensuring the fixing is overcome, causing the detachment of the cloth 3 from the railing 13 and the wrapping of both cloths 3, 4 around the spring roll, inside the shell 2. Further, the integrity of the cloth 3 is protected through an adequate regulation of the spring of the spring roll, which takes into account the nature of the material the cloth 3 is realised by. As a consequence of normal wind blows, or other non-excessive stresses that tend to stretch the cloth 3, the spring roll will allow for the unwrapping of a further portion of the cloth 3, which is subsequently wrapped around the roll as the stress comes to an end.
Optionally, at the opposed ends of the shell 2 some magnetic portions are present, allowing to place two or more devices according to the invention one after another and to maintain them in contact, in cases where the drying rack 10 has such a dimension that it is not possible to fully cover it by means of a single covering device 1. Further, the magnetic portions can be useful in order to ensure the correct positioning of the device 1 on the drying rack 10, in cases where the dimensions of the covering device 1 are smaller tha those of the drying rack 10 and it is desirable to place the covering device 1 on a lateral portion of the drying rack 10, the magnetic portion being in contact with a bar 11 (usually a metallic bar) of the drying rack 10.
The placing side by side of a plurality of covering devices 1 according to the invention can be alternatively obtained by means of coupling through hooks or other means of coupling between the ends of two or more devices 1 according to the present invention.
The device according to the present invention has the advantage of being an effective solution of the problems it was intended to solve, and to solve at the same time problems of a more properly aesthetic nature. In fact, by means of the laundry covering device according to the present invention, it is possible to safeguard the architectural decorum of a building, since the cloth covering the laundry on the external part of the drying rack, conceals the laundry itself from eyesight. It is further possible that, in a jointly owned building, can be decided to impose to each owner the use of covering cloths of the same colour, thus offering to an external observer a feeling of order and uniformity.
The covering device according to the present invention allows covering two sides (in some cases even three sides) of the laundry, being installed definitively on the drying rack, being opened with a single simple movement, being wrapped thus avoiding scratches in case of excessive stresses due to the wind, absorbing the effect of wind blows thus avoiding the creation of noise due to the stress of the cloth, being always correctly spread out without twisting as an effect of the wind, avoiding the possibility of unhooking and falling down of the device.
Further, by means of some little shrewdness, the covering device 1 according to the present invention can be used if needed also as a awning. In fact, coupling the sticks 6, 7 of the two cloths 3, 4 to each other, so that the tails of the cloths 3, 4 are integral to one another, it is possible to open up the cloths 3, 4 in direction of the wall or the overhanging ceiling, where suitable fixing systems, also magnetic systems, have been previously placed.
Further, the device according to the present invention is a solution simple and economic to be realised and managed.
The present invention was described for illustrative, non limitative purposes, according its preferred embodiments, but it has to be understood that any change and/or modification can be made by those skilled in the art without avoiding its scope of protection, as defined by the enclosed claims.

Claims

Device (1) for covering laundry on a drying rack (10), characterised in that it comprises a first cloth (3) and a second cloth (4), wrapped around at least one spring roll, placed on a support frame, said first cloth (3) can be unwrapped from said spring roll, said spring roll as a consequence rolling and causing the opening of said second cloth (4).
Device (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that said first cloth (3) and said second cloth (4) are wrapped around the same spring roll.
Device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said first cloth (3) and said second cloth (4) are each wrapped around a roll, at least one of which is a spring roll, said rolls being linked together by means of a movement transmission system.
Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that on the most external portion of said first cloth (3) at least one rigid bar (6) is present.
Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that on the most external portion of said second cloth (4) at least one load is present.
Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that on the most external portion of said second cloth (4) at least one rigid bar (7) is present.
Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that on the most external tail of the upper cloth (3) at least one magnet is present.
Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that on the most external tail of the upper cloth (3) at least one hook (14) is present.
Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said frame is comprised of a shell (2), inside which is located said at least one roll around which said two cloths (3, 4) are wrapped, a portion of the cloths coming out from the shell through a side opening (5).
Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises means for coupling with the drying rack, said means being selected from at least one of the following: an insertion conduit (8) for a yarn (9') of the drying rack (10) crossing said frame all along its length, two rings screwed to the opposed end of said frame, two hooks shaped for firmly coupling with the opposed bars (11) of the drying rack (10), two bands to wrap around a yarn (9') of the drying rack (10).
Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it compeises means for coupling with an adjacent device (1), said means being selected amongst at least one of the following: a portion magneted on each of the opposed ends of said frame, a male coupling on one of the two ends of the frame and a female coupling on the opposed end.