EP3523475B1

EP3523475B1 - Drying rack comprising multiple hanging tiers which may be ventilated autonomously from one another

Info

Publication number: EP3523475B1
Application number: EP17840498.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fatos MUSTA
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-11-21
Filing date: 2017-11-02
Publication date: 2021-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 2037-11-02
Also published as: WO2018092168A1; EP3523475A1; IT201600117413A1; WO2018092168A4

Description

Field of application of the invention

The present invention finds application in the field of household tools and equipment. In particular, the present invention relates to a drying rack of the "ventilated" type, i.e. equipped with at least one fan capable of generating a preferably heated air flow which blows over the rails at which clothes can be hung. Said rails may lie at the same height from the ground or be arranged so as to form multiple hanging tiers generally placed on top of each other.
Among the ventilated drying racks, those in which the present invention finds application comprise multiple hanging tiers placed at different levels. More specifically, the present invention relates to a drying rack of the aforesaid type, the hanging tiers of which may be ventilated autonomously from one another.

Review of the prior art

The drying racks of the ventilated type generally comprise a pole connected, at a first end, to a support structure by means of which the pole may be put on the ground in a preferably vertical position. Said support structure usually comprises three or four rails arranged in a sunburst pattern around the pole and acting as feet for supporting the drying rack on the ground. At a second end opposite to said first end, the pole is connected to a plurality of rails for hanging clothes usually arranged horizontally so as to form a hanging tier. Depending on the length of the pole, a drying rack may comprise one or more intermediate hanging tiers, i.e. preferably horizontal tiers placed on top of each other between the support feet and the tier at the second end of the pole. Ventilated drying racks further comprise a fan close to the support feet, by means of which fan, when activated, it is possible to generate an air flow directed towards the upper part of the drying rack, i.e. towards the hanging tier placed at the second end of the pole. The fan may be equipped with an electrical resistance heatable by Joule effect and arranged so as to intercept the air flow exiting the fan. Said air flow is thus heatable by forced convection. Such drying racks are known for example from KR-A-2012-0,113,644 .
As for the operation, when the time for drying the clothes hanging on the drying rack needs to be minimized, it is sufficient to turn on the fan and possibly heat the electrical resistance. Thereby, a possibly hot air flow is generated, directed from the support feet of the drying rack towards the upper part of the latter. However, if the drying rack comprises multiple hanging tiers placed on top of each other, the clothes hanging at the lower tiers obstruct the hot air flow, preventing the latter from reaching the clothes hanging at the upper tiers. In addition, when proceeding towards the upper hanging tiers, the air flow becomes more and more humid. Therefore, the drying effectiveness is lower for the clothes hanging at the higher tiers. Ultimately, if only some of the clothes to be hung are to be ventilated (for example, for the delicacy of the fabric of said clothes), the hanging must occur in two steps: one during which the clothes to be ventilated are hung (thus keeping the fan on) and the other during which the clothes not to be ventilated are hung (thus keeping the fan off).

Objects and summary of the invention

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks specifying a drying rack comprising the combined features of independent claim 1.
The hanging tiers, in place of said rails or in addition thereto, may comprise strings or other equivalent means adapted to allow the clothes to be hung. For ease of presentation, here and below in this description, when stating that the hanging tiers comprise rails, the expression "rails" shall mean any equivalent means, adapted to allow the clothes to be hung.
By way of example, the pneumophorous means comprise a fan.
By virtue of the presence of conveying means, the air flow generated by the pneumophorous means may reach each hanging tier. Unlike the ventilated drying racks of the prior art, each hanging tier may therefore be reached by at least one component of said air flow coming directly from the pneumophorous means and not from a tier placed, for example, at a lower level. This ensures that all tiers may be at least partially ventilated with air not humidified by the passage through the clothes hanging at other tiers of the drying rack.
Further innovative features of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.
According to an aspect of the invention, the conveying means comprise means for limiting said air flow at at least one of the hanging tiers.
The term "limiting means" shall mean means adapted to limit the flow rate of the air flow conveyed towards the hanging tier. The limiting means may also interrupt the ventilation of the corresponding hanging tier. Preferably, the flow rate of the air flow is adjustable by a user of the drying rack.
Stating that the limiting means are at a hanging tier shall mean that the limiting means are adapted to limit the flow rate of the air flow conveyed towards said hanging tier.
According to another aspect of the invention, the limiting means at a hanging tier are controlled independently of the limiting means at the other hanging tiers. According to another aspect of the invention, the limiting means are at each of the hanging tiers.
Advantageously, in the drying rack of the present invention, the hanging tiers are ventilated autonomously from one another. In particular, it is possible to decide which hanging tiers to ventilate and to what extent.
According to another aspect of the invention, the drying rack further comprises means adapted to heat said air flow.
Preferably, the amount of heat transferred to the air flow by the heating means is adjustable by a user of the drying rack.
The heating means comprise, by way of example, an electrical resistance heatable by Joule effect.
According to another aspect of the invention, the conveying means comprise at least one pipe communicating with the pneumophorous means at at least a first mouth (defined "inlet mouth") by means of which the air flow may enter the pipe, the pipe comprising, for each hanging tier, at least a second mouth (defined "outlet mouth") by means of which the air flow may exit the pipe directed towards the hanging tier,

the heating means being interposed between the pneumophorous means and said inlet mouth,
each outlet mouth being placed at a lower level with respect to the corresponding hanging tier.

The hanging tier corresponding to an outlet mouth is the tier towards which the air flow exiting said mouth is directed, i.e. the tier which may be ventilated by means of said mouth.
Advantageously, being the hot air exiting the pipe lighter than the surrounding cool air, the hot air tends to ascend towards the rails of the hanging tier, brushing against the clothes hanging at said rails.
According to another aspect of the invention, with reference to the hanging tiers placed on top of each other, the outlet mouth by means of which the tier placed at the higher level may be ventilated, is at the tier placed on the lower level. Stating that an outlet mouth is at a hanging tier shall mean that the outlet mouth is approximately at the same level as said tier.
Advantageously, it is thereby possible to ventilate the entire volume of space between the two hanging tiers.
According to another aspect of the invention, the rails of the hanging tiers are preferably at least 5 mm wide, and even more preferably at least 10 mm wide. Rail width shall mean the maximum distance between two points of an edge of a cross section of the rail.
According to this aspect of the invention, the rails of the hanging tiers appear as bands. When a clothing item is hanging straddling the rail, the two portions of clothing item hanging from the rail are at a higher mutual distance than the case in which the rail is threadlike. This allows the air flow exiting the pipe to penetrate also between said two portions of clothing item, accelerating the drying thereof.

Brief description of the drawings

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof and from the accompanying drawings, merely given by way of explanation and not by way of limitation, in which:

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic side view of a drying rack according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a top plan view of a pair of hanging tiers of the drying rack in Figure 1.

Detailed description of certain preferred embodiments of the invention

The scale and proportions of the various elements depicted do not necessarily correspond to the real ones.
Figure 1 shows a drying rack 1, of the ventilated type, comprising multiple hanging tiers 2 (present, by way of example, in a number of four) supported by a frame 3 including a plurality of bars 4 and 5 arranged, by way of example, vertically so as to give the drying rack 1, in the configuration shown in Figure 1, an approximately prismatic shape with a rectangular base. More specifically, the frame 3 comprises, by way of example:

a pair of bars 4 (of which only one shown in Figure 1) lying on a longitudinal symmetry plane of the prism, preferably at two side faces thereof opposite to one another; and
four bars 5 (of which only two shown in Figure 1) placed at the four side edges of the prism.

The bars 4 are therefore interposed between two pairs of bars 5 and are connected thereto by means of the tiers 2. The latter are preferably rectangular and are arranged horizontally in the configuration shown in Figure 1. Each tier 2 is hinged, at a first edge 6, to one of said pairs of bars 5 and, at a second edge 7 opposite to the edge 6, to a pair of runners (not shown in the Figure) slidable along respective tracks 8 integrally connected to the bars 4 and preferably arranged vertically. The tiers 2 may therefore be divided into two pairs lying on parts opposite with respect to the bars 4. The tiers 2 belonging to the same pair are preferably placed on top of each other. The drying rack 1 therefore comprises two lower tiers which will also be indicated with the reference numerals 2a and 2b, respectively, and two upper tiers which will also be indicated with the reference numerals 2c and 2d, respectively. By way of example, both the lower tiers 2a and 2b, and the upper tiers 2c and 2d are at the same level. In the configuration shown in Figure 1, the runners of each tier 2 are at the upper end-of-stroke and are held there by means of a stop (not shown in the Figure). Each pair of tiers 2 forms, with the bars 4 and with the pair of bars 5 to which it is connected, a structure resembling an articulated quadrilateral.
The frame 3 may be put on the ground by means of a plurality of wheels 9 present, by way of example, in a number of eight (of which only four are shown in Figure 1). More specifically, one of the eight wheels 9 is at the lower end of each bar 5 and two of the eight wheels 9 are at the lower end of each bar 4. As previously mentioned, in the configuration shown in Figure 1, the tiers 2 are preferably arranged horizontally. In order to reduce the bulk of the drying rack 1, it is sufficient to remove the stops of the tiers 2, lift the bars 5 by rotating the tiers 2 upwards and, once the tiers 2 are in an approximately vertical position, slide the runners of each tier 2 downwards. In this second configuration (not shown in the Figures), the bars 5 are counterposed to the tiers 2 in turn counterposed to the bars 4.
As an alternative to the "opening and closing" mechanism described above, the drying rack 1 may comprise known opening and closing mechanisms, equivalent thereto, such as, for example, that described in patent application WO 2006 032985 A2 . Therefore, further details thereof are not provided herein.
The frame 3 further comprises two pairs of bars 30 placed in the lower part of the drying rack 1. The two pairs of bars 30 lie on opposite parts with respect to the bars 4 and are hinged to the latter at a first end 31. Each bar 30 may be connected to a bar 5 at a second end 32 opposite to the first end 31. In the configuration shown in Figure 1, the bars 30 are arranged horizontally and are connected to the bars 5. They therefore contribute to giving stability to the frame 3. When it is necessary to close the drying rack 1, it is sufficient to disengage the bars 30 from the bars 5 and to rotate the bars 30 upwards until arranging them parallel to the rails 4 (i.e. vertically).
In an alternative embodiment of the frame 3 not shown in the Figures, the hanging tiers 2 may be disconnected from the bars 5. Thereby, if a hanging tier 2 is unused, the hanging tier may be disengaged from the bars 5 to which it is connected and placed between the tracks 8.
The drying rack 1 comprises a fan 10 interposed between the bars 4 and integrally connected to the latter at the lower end thereof so as to be supported by the wheels 9. The fan 10 is capable of generating an air flow (indicated in the Figures with arrows having a black tip), the flow rate of which is preferably adjustable by a user of the drying rack 1. The fan 10 communicates with a pair of pipes 11 and 12 by means of which said air flow may be conveyed towards each of the hanging tiers 2. The pipes 11 and 12 are preferably vertical and even more preferably interposed between the bars 4. Each of the pipes comprises an inlet mouth and a pair of outlet mouths. In particular, the pipe 11 comprises a mouth 13 at which the pipe is connected to the fan 10 for the inlet in the pipe 11 of said air flow, and two mouths 14 and 15 at which said air flow, exiting the pipe 11, may be respectively directed towards the tiers 2a and 2b. Equally, the pipe 12 comprises a mouth 16 at which the pipe is connected to the fan 10 for the inlet in the pipe 12 of said air flow, and two mouths 17 and 18 at which said air flow, exiting the pipe 12, may be respectively directed towards the tiers 2a and 2b. The pipe 11 therefore allows to convey the air flow generated by the fan 10 towards the lower tiers 2a and 2b, and the pipe 12 allows to convey said air flow towards the upper tiers 2c and 2d. In particular, the drying rack 1 comprises a ventilation mouth 14, 15, 17, 18 for each hanging tier 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d.
As can be seen in Figure 1, each of the mouths 14, 15, 17, 18 is preferably placed at a lower level with respect to the hanging tier 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d which may be ventilated thereby. Even more preferably, the mouths 17 and 18 are approximately at the same level as the lower tiers 2a and 2b.
The drying rack 1 comprises an electrical resistance 19 heatable by Joule effect and preferably interposed between the fan 10 and the inlet mouths 13 and 16, so as to intercept the air flow entering the pipes 11 and 12. Therefore, the resistance 19 acts as a means adapted to heat, by forced convection, the air flow generated by the fan 10. The resistance 19 comprises, by way of example, a plurality of resistive elements to which an electrical voltage is applicable. The number of resistive elements under voltage is preferably adjustable by a user of the drying rack 1. This allows to adjust, at least partially, the amount of heat transferred to said air flow by the resistance 19.
The user of the drying rack 1 may therefore decide not only whether to heat or not the air directed towards the hanging tiers 2, but also how much heat to transfer to the air.
The drying rack 1 preferably comprises a covering sheet 20 applicable to the frame 3 as a hood, so as to separate the portions of space underneath the tiers 2 from the surrounding environment. The sheet 20 may be preferably connected to the bars 5 close to the wheels 9, for example by means of a hook (on bars 5) and loop system (on sheet 20).
Figure 2 diagrammatically shows a top plan view of the hanging tiers 2a and 2b together with the outlet mouths 17 and 18. The tiers 2a and 2b (and similarly the tiers 2c and 2d) comprise a plurality of rails 21 for hanging clothes preferably arranged parallel to one another, and even more preferably orthogonally to a plane passing through the bars 4. With reference to a longitudinal section of the rails 21 parallel to the plane of the tier 2 to which they belong, the rails 21 are preferably at least 5 mm wide, and even more preferably at least 10 mm wide.
As can be seen in Figure 2, the mouths 17 and 18 (and similarly the mouths 14 and 15) comprise a plurality of windows 22 for the outlet of the air flow from the corresponding ventilation pipe. Each window 22 is equipped with a shiftable door 23 so as to block, at least partially, the window 22 by limiting or interrupting the air flow exiting the same. The doors 23 of the windows 22 of the same outlet mouth are preferably connected to one another, so as to be jointly movable. The movement of the doors 23 may be preferably controlled by a user of the drying rack 1. Even more preferably, the movement of the doors 23 of an outlet mouth may be controlled independently from the movement of the doors 23 of the other outlet mouths. The hanging tiers 2 may therefore be ventilated autonomously from one another. In particular, a user of the drying rack 1 may decide which hanging tiers 2 to ventilate and to what extent.
According to the description provided for a preferred embodiment, it is apparent that certain changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

A drying rack (1) comprising:
- multiple hanging tiers (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), each including a plurality of rails (21) for hanging clothes, at least two of said hanging tiers (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) being placed above each other;

- a supporting structure (3, 4, 5) for supporting said hanging tiers (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d);

- fan means (10) for generating an air flow;

- conveying means (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22) for conveying said air flow towards at least one of said hanging tiers (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d),
said conveying means (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22) comprising at least one pipe (11, 12) communicating with said fan means (10) at, at least one, inlet mouth (13, 16), so that said air flow may enter into said pipe (11, 12),

said pipe (11, 12) comprising at least one outlet mouth (14, 15, 17, 18) for each hanging tier (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), so that a portion of said air flow may exit from said pipe (11, 12) and be directed towards each hanging tier (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d),

each outlet mouth (14, 15, 17, 18) being placed at a level lower than the hanging tier (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) towards which the portion of air flow is directed,

characterized in that,
said conveying means (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22) further comprises limiting means (23) for each hanging tier (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) and that said limiting means (23) is independently controllable, for limiting that portion of air flow directed towards each hanging tier (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d).
A drying rack (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each outlet mouth (14, 15, 17, 18) comprises a plurality of windows (22) through which said portion of air flow may exit from said pipe (11, 12), each window (22) being equipped with a door (23) shiftable so as to block, at least partially, said window (22).
A drying rack (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the doors (23) of the windows (22) of the same outlet mouth (14, 15, 17, 18) are connected to one another so as to be jointly movable.
A drying rack (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises heating means (19) of said air flow.
A drying rack (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said heating means (19) are interposed between said fan means (10) and said inlet mouth (13, 16).
A drying rack (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the outlet mouth (17, 18) from which a portion of air flow may exit directed towards said tier (2c, 2d) placed at the higher level, is at said tier (2a, 2b) placed on the lower level.
A drying rack (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said rails (21) of said hanging tiers (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) are at least 5 mm wide.