EP1980662A2

EP1980662A2 - Attachment and support means for a collapsible laundry drying rack and laundry drying rack

Info

Publication number: EP1980662A2
Application number: EP07012675A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luciano Achilli
Original assignee: Filplast Srl
Current assignee: Filplast Srl
Priority date: 2007-04-13
Filing date: 2007-06-28
Publication date: 2008-10-15
Also published as: ITMC20070077A1; EP1980662A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to an attachment and support means for at least one grid (2) of a collapsible laundry drying rack, which comprises at least one magnetic insert designed to hold the grid, and a collapsible laundry drying rack provided with at least one grid and at least one upright, in which the said grid is held in position with respect to the said upright by means of an attachment and support means (3,30) of magnetic type.

Description

The present invention relates to an attachment and support means for at least one grid of a collapsible laundry drying rack.
Although objects of the aforementioned type are known and largely used, they are impaired by some disadvantages.
According to the known technique, laundry drying racks are traditionally provided with a column-type structure composed of four identical frames generally formed of C-folded tubular elements that are hinged in such a way that they can be closed in a booklike manner to save space or opened to assume a crosslike configuration.
According to the known technique, column-type drying racks are provided with one or more grids used to support and dry clothes, and the grids are traditionally hinged between a coplanar opposite pair of frames in such a way as to be overturned from a horizontal working position to a vertical idle position on the same plane as the coplanar opposite pair of frames.
The terms "horizontal" and "vertical" refer to the drying rack while standing on the ground in normal working conditions.
In dryings racks of the known type the grids are fixed by means of attachment and support means on the upright side of the pair of frames on which the grids are not hinged.
The attachment and support means are normally of click-type, being actuated based on mechanical interference between parts and elastic deformation of materials.
A first disadvantage of the attachment and support means according to the known technique consists in the fact that they require some physical effort both during coupling and uncoupling operations, it being necessary to overcome the mechanical interference between parts and elastically deform the profiles of the attachment and support means to allow the mutual coupling and uncoupling of the grid with the said attachment and support means and fix the grid either in working or idle position.
In order to reduce the physical effort, the interference between the attachment and support means and the grid is normally reduced, although, in such a case, an accidental impact may uncouple the grid, with consequent fall on the ground of the clothes laid on the grid.
Another disadvantage is related to the fact that, due to their click-in configuration, the attachment and support means are subject to easy wear and tear because of the repetitive elastic deformation during the opening and closing of the grid and/or the drying rack. Wear normally results in a reduction of the mechanical interference between the parts of the attachment and support means, with the consequent worsened operation of the attachment and support means and the undesired uncoupling of the grid.
A third disadvantage is given by the fact that attachment and support means are subject to easy breakage, especially due to fatigue stress, which is directly proportional to the said interference.
The purpose of the present invention is to devise an attachment and support means for at least one grid of a collapsible laundry drying rack that provides a simple, inexpensive solution to the problems of known attachment and support means.
The aforementioned purposes are achieved by the present invention with an attachment and support means for at least one grid of a collapsible laundry drying rack that comprises at least one attachment and support means for the grid of a collapsible laundry drying rack, characterised by the fact that the said attachment and support means and the said grid cooperate to fix the grid in working position by means of magnetic coupling between grid and attachment and support means, the said attachment and support means being completely or at least partially made of magnetic material, for example a permanent magnet, and cooperating with the said grid, the said grid being at least partially made or provided with at least one area partially made of suitable metal material that can be attracted by the said magnetic material, or alternatively the said attachment and support means being completely or at least partially made of a suitable metal material that can be attracted by a magnet and cooperating with the said grid, the said grid being completely or at least partially made of magnetic material or alternatively the said grid and the said attachment and support means being completely or at least partially made or obtained in such a way to comprise a permanent magnet. According to a first preferred executive embodiment, the grid of the drying rack comprises at least one border or peripheral rod that constitutes the grid itself faced to the attachment and support means, the said grid or at least the said border or peripheral rod that constitutes the grid being at least partially obtained from iron, or having an iron core covered with plastic, or being made of a suitable metal material that is attracted by the magnet, for example a permanent magnet positioned on the attachment and support means, which is provided at least on one of the frames of the drying rack.
According to a preferred executive embodiment, the attachment and support means is completely made of magnetic material, for example with a permanent magnet and covered with plastic, and cooperates with a metal grid.
According to an alternative executive embodiment, the attachment and support means and/or the grid comprise a magnetic insert applied to the attachment and support means and/or the grid.
According to the first preferred executive embodiment the magnetic insert is preferably associated with a shelf that protrudes from a U-shaped bracket designed to be recessed along the uprights of the frames.
According to a second preferred executive embodiment, the magnetic insert designed to hold the grid is provided on a border or peripheral rod that constitutes the grid, facing the attachment and support means, the said attachment and support means being provided with an insert made of iron or any suitable metal material that is attracted by the magnet, in such a way as to provide coupling between the grid and the attachment and support means in a similar way to the first executive embodiment, but with a reciprocated position of the magnetic insert and the part made of iron, or in any case capable of being attracted by the magnetic insert, with respect to the first executive embodiment.
According to a third executive embodiment, the grid is completely made of plastic and the attachment and support means comprises a magnetic insert, and the grid is provided with a second magnetic insert on the interface between grid and attachment and support means, with opposite polarity with respect to the magnetic insert associated with the attachment and support means, in such a way as to provide magnetic coupling between the attachment and support means and the grid.
Alternatively, executive embodiments may provide that, in the place of the magnetic insert, the attachment and support means is completely made of magnetic material or in metal material attracted by a magnet positioned on the grid.
Advantageously, the present invention provides a solution to the inconveniences of attachment and support means according to the known technique, since it eliminates the need to provide an attachment and support means of click-in type, in which coupling is generated by the mechanical interference.
In fact, the presence of a magnetic insert eliminates the wear and tear and the easy breakage of the attachment and support means according to the known technique, and makes the drying rack simple to use and very resistant.
As a matter of fact, the user simply needs to place the grids in operating position to make the magnetic insert hold the grid in the correct position.
Basically, the grid rests on the shelf to withstand the vertical load of the clothes that are being dried on the grid; when the clothes are removed, that is to say when the grid is normally pulled upwards with a small force, the same force is opposed by the magnet provided on the attachment and support means, while maintaining the grid in working position.
Moreover, the presence of an attachment and support means provided with magnetic insert designed to hold the grid and at least one upright eliminates the effort that is necessary to position the grid in working position, since the user does not need to overcome any type of resistance to place the grid in working position, because of the lack of interference and consequently elastic deformation.
According to all the aforementioned executive embodiments, the magnetic insert may be associated with a shelf that protrudes from a U-shaped bracket that is recessed along the uprights of the frames, in such a way as to ensure the easy and fast positioning of the attachment and support means.
The present invention also relates to a collapsible laundry drying rack provided with at least one grid and at least one upright, in which the said grid is held in position with respect to the upright by means of at least one attachment and support means of magnetic type.
Further characteristics are the subject of the enclosed claims and subclaims.
The present invention will become clearer with reference to the enclosed drawings, whereby:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a laundry drying rack and an attachment and support means of magnetic type according to the present invention during the positioning phase of the grid;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a laundry drying rack and an attachment and support means of magnetic type according to the present invention during an additional positioning phase of the grid;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a laundry drying rack and an attachment and support means of magnetic type according to the present invention during the positioning phase of the grid;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an attachment and support means of magnetic type according to the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an attachment and support means of magnetic type according to the present invention mounted on the upright of a drying rack;

Figures 1, 2 and 3 relate to a collapsible laundry drying rack. With reference to the aforementioned figures, a column-type structure is formed of four frames (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D) formed of as many C-folded tubular elements that are mutually hinged by means of two hinging points (1E, 1F) in such a way that they can be closed in a booklike manner to occupy a smaller volume, or opened to assume a cross-like configuration, as shown in the said figures.
Moreover, the drying rack also comprises one or two grids; in particular, the executive, non-limiting example illustrated in the said figures comprises six grids (2) used to hold and dry clothes.
The grids are traditionally hinged between a coplanar opposite pair (1A,1D and 1B, 1C) of the said frames in such a way that they can be overturned from a horizontal working position to a vertical idle position and vice versa, in which the vertical idle position lays on the same plane as the coplanar opposite pair of frames (1A, 1D and 1B, 1C).
For instance, figures 1 and 2 illustrate the grid (2) in overturning position from the idle position to the working position shown in fig. 3.
The grid (2) is provided with at least one border (2A) or peripheral rod (2A) that constitutes the grid (2) faced to the attachment and support means (3).
According to a first preferred executive embodiment, the grid (2) or at least the said border or peripheral rod (2A) that constitutes the grid are at least partially made of iron, or have an iron core covered with plastic, or are made of a suitable metal material that can be attracted by a magnet (3B) illustrated in figures 4 and 5 and provided on the attachment and support means (3, 30) provided on at least one of the frames of the laundry drying rack.
According to the preferred executive embodiment shown in figures 4 and 5, the attachment and support means (3) comprises at least one magnet (3B) integrated or associated with a shelf (3A) that protrudes from a U-shaped bracket (3E) designed to be recessed along the uprights of the frames (1C).
Moreover, according to the preferred executive embodiment illustrated in the said figures, the attachment and support means (3) is provided with two curved guiding profiles (3D, 3C), with convexity towards the grid (2) in order to accompany and guide the passage of a curved area (2B) provided on the border or peripheral rod (2A) of the grid (2).
Furthermore, the attachment and support means is advantageously provided with at least one, preferably two retention teeth (3F) in peripheral position on the shelf (3A) to increase the solidity of the drying rack and holed the grid (2) in position.
Basically, as shown in figs. 1, 2 and 3, the grid (2) is rotated in working position and the curved area (2B) and/or the border of the peripheral rod (2A) of the grid (2) are rotated and laid on the shelf (3A) in order to withstand the vertical load of the clothes that are being drying on the grid (2).
When the clothes are removed, the grid (2) is normally pulled upwards with a small force, which is opposed by the magnet (3B) provided on the attachment and support means (3), while maintaining the grid (2) in position.
According to a second executive embodiment not shown in the aforementioned figures, the magnetic insert (3B) designed to hold the grid is provided on a border or peripheral rod (2A) that constitutes the grid, and not associated with the attachment and support means (3), the said attachment and support means (3) being provided with an insert made of iron or any suitable metal material that is attracted by the magnet, in such a way as to provide coupling between the grid (2) and the attachment and support means (3) in a similar way to the first executive embodiment shown in the aforementioned figures, but with a reciprocated position of the magnetic insert and the part made of iron, or in any case capable of being attracted by the magnetic insert, with respect to the first executive embodiment.
According to an additional executive embodiment not shown in the aforementioned figures, the grid (2) is completely made of plastic and the attachment and support means (3) comprises a magnetic insert (3B), and the grid (2) is provided with a second magnetic insert on the interface between grid and attachment and support means (3), the second magnetic insert having an opposite polarity with respect to the magnetic insert associated with the attachment and support means (3), in such a way as to provide magnetic coupling between the attachment and support means (3) and the grid (2).
Basically, the present invention relates to a collapsible laundry drying rack provided with at least a column-type structure composed at least of one, preferably four frames (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D) formed of as many C-shaped tubular elements that are mutually hinged by means of two hinging points (1E, 1F) in such a way that they can be closed in a booklike manner and at least one or more grids (2) used to hold clothes, being the said grids hinged between a coplanar opposite pair of frames (1A,1D and 1B, 1C) in such a way that they can be overturned from a horizontal working position to a vertical idle position and vice versa, in which the vertical idle position lays on the same plane as the coplanar opposite pair of frames (1A,1D and 1B, 1C) and in which the grid (2) is held in position with respect to the frames by means of an attachment and support means (3), the said attachment and support means (3) being associated with at least one of the frames and provided with one shelf (3A) to support the grid (2) and one magnetic insert or magnet (3B) designed to hold the grid in position with respect to the said attachment and support means (3).
According to a possible advantageous modification of the aforementioned executive embodiments, the attachment and support means is completely made of magnetic material.

Claims

Attachment and support means for at least one grid (2) of a collapsible laundry drying rack, characterised by the fact that the said attachment and support means (3) and the grid (2) cooperate to fix the grid in working position by means of magnetic coupling between the grid (2) and the attachment and support means (3), the said attachment and support means (3) being completely or at least partially made of magnetic material, for example a permanent magnet, and cooperating with the said grid, the said grid being at least partially made or provided with at least one area partially made of suitable metal material that can be attracted by the said magnetic material, or alternatively the said attachment and support means being completely or at least partially made of magnetic material that can be attracted by a magnet and cooperating with the said grid, the said grid being completely or at least made of magnetic material or alternatively being the said grid (2) and the said attachment and support means (3) completely or at least partially made or obtained in such a way to comprise a permanent magnet.
Attachment and support means as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that the said attachment and support means (3) comprises at least one magnetic insert or magnet (3B) used to hold the grid.
Attachment and support means as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the said attachment and support means (3) comprises at least one shelf (3A) to support a grid of a drying rack, the said shelf protruding from a bracket (3E) and the said magnet (3B) being integrated or associated with the said shelf (3A).
Attachment and support means as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the said shelf (3A) is a U-shaped shelf designed to be recessed along at least one of the uprights of the drying rack.
Attachment and support means as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that it is provided by at least one, preferably two retention teeth (3F) in peripheral position on the said shelf (3A).
Attachment and support means as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that it is provided with two curved guiding sections (3D, 3C), with convexity towards the side of the attachment means opposite the U-shaped bracket (3E).
Collapsible laundry drying rack provided with at least a column-type structure composed at least of one, preferably four frames (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D) formed of as many C-shaped tubular elements that are mutually hinged by means of two hinging points (1E, 1F) in such a way that they can be closed in a booklike manner and at least one or more grids (2) used to hold clothes, being the said grids hinged between a coplanar opposite pair of frames (1A,1D and 1B, 1C) in such a way that they can be overturned from a horizontal working position to a vertical idle position and vice versa, in which the vertical idle position lays on the same plane as the coplanar opposite pair of frames (1A,1D and 1B, 1C), characterised by the fact that the grid (2) is held in position with respect to the frames by means of an attachment and support means (3), the said attachment and support means (3) being associated with at least one of the frames and provided with one shelf (3A) to support the grid (2) and one magnetic insert or magnet (3B) designed to hold the grid in position with respect to the said attachment and support means (3).
Laundry drying rack as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that the grid (2) is provided with at least one border (2A) or peripheral rod (2A) that constitutes the grid (2) faced to the attachment and support means (3).
Laundry drying rack as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that the grid (2) and/or at least the said border and/or peripheral rod (2A) that constitutes the grid is at least partially made of iron or provided with an iron core covered with plastic, or made of suitable metal material that can be attracted by the said magnetic insert or magnet (3B) provided on the attachment and support means (3), the said attachment and support means (3, 30) being provided on at least on of the frames of the drying rack.
Laundry drying rack as claimed in claim 8, characterised by the fact that the magnetic insert (3B) is provided on the border and/or peripheral rod (2A) that constitutes the grid (2), the said attachment and support means (3) being provided with an iron insert or alternatively made of suitable metal material that is attracted by the magnet.
Laundry drying rack as claimed in claim 8, characterised by the fact that the grid (2) is made of plastic and the attachment and support means (3) comprises a magnetic insert (3B), and the grid (2) is provided with a second magnetic insert on the interface between the grid and the attachment and support means (3), the second magnetic insert having an opposite polarity with respect to the magnetic insert associated with the attachment and support means (3), in such a way as to provide magnetic coupling between the attachment and support means (3) and the grid (2).
Laundry drying rack as claimed in one or more of claims 7 to 11, characterised by the fact that the border (2A) or peripheral rod (2A) faced to the attachment and support means (3) is provided with a curved area (2B) and the curved area (2B) and/or border of the peripheral rod (2A) of the grid are suitable to rest on the shelf (3A).
Laundry drying rack as claimed in one or more of claims 7 to 12 modified by the fact that the attachment and support means (3) is completely made of magnetic material to replace the said magnetic insert (3B).