EP3575478B1

EP3575478B1 - Improved vertical clothes drying rack

Info

Publication number: EP3575478B1
Application number: EP19176803.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrea Andreani
Original assignee: Filplast Srl
Current assignee: FILPLAST Srl
Priority date: 2018-05-29
Filing date: 2019-05-27
Publication date: 2021-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-27
Also published as: EP3575478A1

Description

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to an improved vertical clothes drying rack.
In order to better illustrate the innovative features and the advantages of the invention, the structural configuration of a traditional vertical clothes drying rack is described, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
A clothes drying rack (S) comprises a frame provided with stabilization feet (P) and composed of two identical uprights (M), which are connected by multiple crossbars (T), of which at least one lower crossbar (T1) that extends astride the base of said uprights (M), which act as support for at least one tilting grille (G) supported by an opposite coaxial pair of pins that protrude from two uprights (M), in such a way that said tilting grille (G) can move from a first idle position, wherein it is disposed in a vertical position that is basically coplanar to the two uprights (M), to a second operating position, wherein it is disposed in a horizontal projecting position relative to said uprights (M).
Generally speaking, four feet (P) are provided, being suitable for revolving around a vertical axis in such a way that also said feet (P) can be closed in a first idle position, wherein they are basically disposed on the same vertical plane where the pair of uprights (M) lies, or opened in a second operating position, wherein they are perpendicular to the vertical plane where the pair of uprights (M) lies.
Such a type of clothes drying rack is very popular and much appreciated for its minimum volume, which is basically two-dimensional while the clothes drying rack is not used, saving space during storage and transportation for the manufacturer, and during storage also for the final user.
According to such a standardized structural and functional configuration, from time to time designers have chosen and used different construction solutions for fixing the stabilization feet (P), which are in any case suitable for revolving by at least 90° around a vertical axis.
Otherwise said, two categories of clothes drying racks with feet that revolve at least by 90° are already known on the market.
According to a first category, said clothes drying rack of the prior art comprise a pair of revolving feet (P) at the base of each upright (M). In such a case, a bracket (ST) is used, which is provided with a housing for receiving the lower end section of each upright (M), whereas an opposite pair of housings for the pivoting pins (P2) of the two feet (P) is provided at the sides of said central housing, as clearly shown in the enlarged view of Fig. 2.
In these cases, the lower reinforcement crossbar (T1) is fixed directly at the base of the uprights (M) and does not contribute to support the feet (P).
A clothes drying rack of this first category is disclosed in KR20110000546U . KR20110000546U discloses a vertical laundry rack comprising two uprights, each of them comprising a base pivoted to two feet that revolve around pivoting pins with vertical axis. The pivoting pins of the revolving feet are disposed on opposite sides of the upright, in such a way that the upright is disposed between the two pivoting pins and the vertical plane where the axes of said pivoting pins lie also contain the longitudinal axis of the upright.
More precisely, the housings of said pivoting pins are obtained at the opposite sides of a coupling that connects the upright with a crossbar. In particular, such a coupling comprises a hole with vertical axis for inserting the upright, and a hole with a horizontal axis for inserting the crossbar.
As already mentioned, a second category of clothes drying rack with feet that revolve at least for 90° is known.
The clothes drying racks of this second category comprise two feet (P) fixed in the center and astride the reinforcement crossbar (T1) that is inevitably subject to high torsion stress generated on the opposite pair of feet when an unbalanced load occurs between the tilting grilles (G) disposed on opposite sides relative to the vertical plane where the pair of uprights (M) lies.
In this second category of vertical clothes drying racks, the fixing of the opposite pair of revolving feet to the crossbar (T1) is made by means of a first coupling, which allows for assembling and disassembling the pair of feet relative to the crossbar (T1) rapidly and easily. Another clothes drying rack is provided in US2012/138557 A1 .
In order to easily assemble and disassemble the crossbar (T1) relative the uprights (M), a second coupling is used, which is provided with fastening means for fastening to the uprights on one side, and with fastening means for fastening to the crossbar (T1) on the other side.
The purpose of the present invention is to improve this second type of clothes drying rack, where the feet (P) are anchored to the crossbar (T1) and not to the base of the uprights.
The first purpose is to reduce the stress of the reinforcement crossbar.
An additional purpose of the invention is to simplify the structure of the clothes drying rack, using the lowest number of couplings to join the crossbar (T1) to the uprights (M) on one hand, and to join two opposite pairs of revolving feet (P) to the crossbar (T1) on the other hand.
These and other purposes are achieved by the present invention, which relates to an improved vertical clothes drying rack according to claim 1.
The detailed description of the invention continues with reference to the appended figures, which only have an illustrative, not limiting purpose wherein:

Fig. 3 is a view of the improved clothes drying rack according to the invention;
Fig. 4 is an exploded view of a construction detail, which refers to the innovative coupling provided at the two ends of the crossbar (T1) used in the improved clothes drying rack of the invention;
Fig. 5 is a view of an enlarged detail of Fig. 3, which shows the connection between the feet (P) and the crossbar (T1) and between the crossbar (T1) and the uprights (M).
Fig. 6 is the same as Fig. 3, except for it shows a different structure of the coupling provided at the two ends of the crossbar (T1) used in the improved clothes drying rack of the invention.

With reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a preferred embodiment of the clothes drying rack according to the invention is described, which is generally indicated with reference numeral (S2).
The clothes drying rack (S2) of the invention comprises a frame provided with two uprights (M), each of them being provided with a base (B) suitable for facing the ground, and a lower crossbar (T1) used to connect the two uprights (M) in lower position.
Two opposite pairs of revolving feet (P) are connected to the frame and preferably support two ground wheels (23) of swiveling type.
A plurality of tilting grilles (G) is supported by the two uprights (M). In particular, each tilting grille (G) is supported by an opposite coaxial pair of pins that protrude from the two uprights (M), in such a way that the tilting grille (G) can be moved between an idle position, wherein the tilting grille (G) is in vertical position, and a working position, wherein the tilting grille (G) is in a horizontal projecting position relative to the two uprights (M).
With reference to Figs. 4 and 5, the lower crossbar (T1) comprises two end sections (TT) and two transverse end sections (ST).
In particular, the end sections (TT) of the lower crossbar (T1) comprise pivoting means (M2) for pivoting the two opposite pairs of feet (P) that revolve around respective vertical axes.
Specifically, in correspondence of each side of the end section (TT), said pivoting means (M2) provided in each end section (TT) of the lower crossbar (T1) comprise two overlapped perforated shelves (211) and two plugs (213) disposed inside holes (212) with vertical axis obtained in said shelves (211). Each revolving foot (P) comprises a fastening portion (Z) for fastening to the lower crossbar (T1) provided with a hole (P1) with vertical axis. In particular, the fastening portion (Z) of each revolving foot (P) is dimensioned in such a way to be exactly disposed between the two shelves (211) disposed in correspondence of one of the two sides of the end section (TT), with the hole (P1) disposed in coaxial position relative to the holes (212) of the two shelves (211), in such a way that each plug (213) of the pivoting means (M2) of the lower crossbar (T1) is inserted in the holes (212) of the shelves (211) and in the hole (P1) provided in the revolving foot (P). In view of the above, the revolving feet (P) are exclusively pivoted to the lower crossbar (T1).
Said lower crossbar (T1) is molded in one piece from plastic material and reinforced with an internal metal core and a rib that runs along the upper edge of the lower crossbar (T1).
With reference to Figs. 4 and 5, the transverse end sections (ST) of the lower crossbar (T1) comprise connection means (M1) for connecting the lower crossbar (T1) to the two uprights (M). In particular, said connection means (M1) provided in the transverse end sections (ST) of the lower crossbar (T1) are configured in such a way to cooperate with said connection means (M3) provided in the base (B) of each upright (M).
More precisely, the connection means (M1) of each transverse end section (ST) of the lower crossbar (T1) advantageously comprise two binocular nozzles (210) with vertical axis, whereas the connection means (M3) of each upright (M) comprise a sleeve (110) with vertical axis, from where two spaced-out overlapped shelves (111) protrude laterally, each of them being provided with two holes (112) with vertical axis suitable for being crossed by two plugs (113).
In particular, the binocular nozzles (210) are dimensioned in such a way to be exactly disposed between the shelves (111) that protrude from the sleeve (110), in such a way that each plug (113) is inserted in one of the holes (112) of the shelves (111) of the sleeve (110) of the upright and in one of the binocular nozzles (210), connecting the upright (M) to the lower crossbar (T1).
Preferably, the sleeve (110) supports a small swiveling wheel (12) in lower position, as illustrated in Fig. 5.
With reference to Fig. 6, the connection means (M1) provided in the transverse end sections (ST) of the lower crossbar (T1) for connecting the lower crossbar (T1) to the two uprights (M) can comprise a hook (300) provided with a vertical groove (301) with a T-shape section, instead of said binocular nozzles (210).
In such a case, the connection means (M3) provided in the base (B) of each upright (M) comprise a sleeve (110) with vertical axis, from where a rib with vertical axis (114) protrudes laterally, having the same dimensions and profile as the vertical groove (301) of the hook (300) of the connection means (M1) of each transverse end section (ST) of the lower crossbar (T1), in such a way that said rib (114) of the sleeve (110) of the upright (M) is inserted in the vertical groove (301) of the hook (300) of the lower crossbar (T1), thus connecting the lower crossbar (T1) to the upright (M).

Claims

Improved vertical clothes drying rack (S2) comprising:
- a frame comprising two uprights (M) and a lower crossbar (T1) that connects said two uprights (M) in lower position; each upright (M) comprising a base (B) suitable for facing the ground;

- two opposite pairs of revolving feet (P) that are connected to the frame wherein each revolving foot has a vertical axis;

- at least one tilting grille (G) supported by said uprights (M) and supported by an opposite coaxial pair of pins that protrude from said two uprights (M), in such a way that said at least one tilting grille (G) is configured to be movable between an idle position, wherein said at least one tilting grille (G) is in a vertical position, and an operating position, wherein said at least one tilting grille (G) is in a horizontal projecting position relative to said two uprights (M), wherein said lower crossbar (T1) comprises two end sections (TT) and two transverse end sections (ST), wherein the end sections (TT) of said lower crossbar (T1) comprise pivoting means (M2) for pivoting said opposite pairs of revolving feet (P), around respective vertical axes, and said transverse end sections (ST) of said lower crossbar (T1) comprise connection means (M1) for connecting the lower crossbar (T1) to the two uprights (M); each upright (M) being provided, in correspondence of its base (B), with connection means (M3) that are configured in such a way to cooperate with said connection means (M1) provided in the transverse end section (ST) of said lower crossbar (T1),
characterized in that said lower crossbar (T1) is moulded in one piece from plastic material and reinforced with an internal metal core and a rib that runs along the upper edge of the lower crossbar (T1).
The clothes drying rack (S2) of claim 1, wherein:
said pivoting means (M2) provided in each end section (TT) of said lower crossbar (T1) comprise, in correspondence of each side of said end section (TT), two perforated overlapped shelves (211) and two plugs (213) disposed inside holes (212) with vertical axis obtained in said shelves (211);

each of said revolving feet (P) comprising a fastening portion (Z) for fastening to the lower crossbar (T1) provided with a hole (P1) with a vertical axis and dimensioned in such a way to be exactly disposed between said pair of overlapped shelves (211) of the pivoting means (M2), with the hole (P1) disposed in coaxial position relative to the holes (212) of said pair of overlapped shelves (211), in such a way that each plug (213) of the pivoting means (M2) of said lower crossbar (T1) is inserted in the holes (212) of the shelves (211) and in the hole (P1) provided in the revolving foot (P).
The clothes drying rack (S2) of claim 2, wherein
said connection means (M1) of each transverse end section (ST) of said lower crossbar (T1) comprise two binocular nozzles (210) with vertical axis;
said connection means (M3) of each upright (M) comprise:
- a sleeve (110) with vertical axis, from where two perforated shelves (111) protrude laterally in spaced-out overlapped position; each shelf (111) being provided with two holes (112) with vertical axis, in side-by-side position, and

- two plugs (113) with vertical axis, inserted in the holes (112) of the shelves (111) of the sleeve;
said binocular nozzles (210) of the connection means (M1) of each transverse end section (ST) of said lower crossbar (T1) being dimensioned in such a way to be exactly interposed between said shelves (111) of the connection means (M3) of each upright (M), in such a way that each plug (113) is inserted in one of the holes (112) of the shelves (111) of the sleeve (110) of the upright and in one of the binocular nozzles (210).
The clothes drying rack (S2) of claim 1, wherein:
- said connection means (M1) of each transverse end section (ST) of said lower crossbar (T1) comprise a hook (300) provided with a vertical groove (301) with a T-shaped profile,

- said pivoting means (M2) provided in each end section (TT) of said lower crossbar (T1) comprise, in correspondence of each side of said end section (TT), two perforated overlapped shelves (211) and two plugs (213) disposed inside holes (212) with vertical axis obtained in said shelves (211);

- said connection means (M3) of each upright (M) comprise a sleeve (110) with vertical axis, from where a rib with vertical axis (114) protrudes laterally, having the same dimensions and profile as the vertical groove (301) of the hook (300) of the connection means (M1) of each transverse end section (ST) of the lower crossbar (T1), in such a way that the rib (114) of the sleeve (110) of the upright (M) is inserted in the vertical groove (301) of the hook (300) of said lower crossbar (T1).
The drying clothes rack (S2) of claims 3 or 4, wherein said sleeve (110) and said revolving feet (P) support ground wheels (12, 23).