GB1588202A

GB1588202A - Clothes drying or airing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB1588202A
Application number: GB457778A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Clegg J D
Current assignee: Clegg J D
Priority date: 1978-05-30
Filing date: 1978-05-30
Publication date: 1981-04-15

Description

(54) CLOTHES DRYING OR AIRING APPARATUS (71) I, JOHN DENNIS CLEGG a Brit ish subject of Abbey Works, Bleachfield Street, Alcester, in the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention is concerned with an apparatus on which clothes can be hung for drying or airing purposes.

According to the invention I provide a clothes drying or airing apparatus compris ing a self-supporting structure having a lower part which comprises at least three legs extending from a central location and movable between an erected position in which they extend outwardly from said central location thereby to provide a stable support for the apparatus on the ground, and a collapsed position in which they lie alongside and closely adjacent to one another, and an upper part which comprises a number of arms extending from a central location at which they are supported by the lower part, the arms being movable between an erected position in which they extend outwardly from said central location, and a collapsed position in which they lie along side and closely adjacent to one another, flexible elements extending between the arms so as to be pulled taut on erection of the upper part thereby to form supports from which clothes can be suspended.

The upper and lower parts of the appar atus may be movable between their col lapsed and erected positions independently of one another but preferably they are operatively combined so that they are mov able together between said positions. Thus, the arms may be formed by extensions of the legs, each associated leg and arm being formed by a single member and the mem bers being pivotally connected together intermediate their ends at a common location which corresponds to both of the aforesaid two central locations.

Preferably the apparatus has three said members providing three legs and three arms so that, when erected, it defines two three-sided pyramid structures the apexes of which meet at said common location.

The apparatus may incorporate a structure of second arms extending from a central location vertically above the central location of the first arms, i.e. the said common location in the preferred arrangement, these second arms being pivotally connected to the first arms so as to be movable with the latter between an erected position in which they extend outwardly from their said central location, and a collapsed position in which they lie alongside and closely adjacent to one another and to the first arms, flexible elements extending between the second arms and being arranged to be pulled taut on erection of the apparatus to provide further supports for clothes The whole apparatus is therefore collapsible into an elongate "stick" form for storage and transporation.

Manually-operable means may be provided for releasably locking the apparatus in its erected position.

The invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompany drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of one form ot clothes drying or airing apparatus embodying the invention showing the apparatus in its erected position for use, and Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged perspective views showing details of the apparatus.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings comprises an upper part generally designated 10 and a lower part generally designated 11.

The upper part 10 comprises three arms 12 and the lower part 11 comprises three legs 13. The arms are formed by extensions of the legs, each associated arm and leg being formed by a single member consti tuted by a length of metal tubing. The three members 12, 13 are pivotally connected together intermediate their ends at a com mon location 14 which is central to both the arms 12 and the legs 13. Thus, the arms and the legs define two three-sided pyramid structures the apexes of which meet at location 14.

The pivotal connection of the members 12, 13 at location 14 is shown in detail in Figure 2. The connection is constituted by an element 15 having three equally spaced radially extending pivot pins which pass through apertures in the respective mem bers and have caps at their outer ends to maintain the members connected to the element, whereby the members are turnable relative to the arms of the element.

Extending between the arms 12 are flexi ble elements 16 constituted by a single length of plastics-coated cord which extends through metal loops 16a attached to the arms, one end of the cord being anchored in the end of one arm and its other end carrying a knob 16b.

The apparatus also has a further three sided pyramid structure comprising three arms 17 which extend outwardly and down wardly from a central location 18 at which they are pivotally connected together, said location being disposed vertically above the location 14 at which the members 12, 13 are pivotally connected together. The pivotal connection of the arms 17 at location 18 is shown in detail in Figure 3 and is provided by a three-armed element 19 similar to the element 15, the arms of the element extend ing through apertures in the arms 17 and having end caps 20, whereby the arms 17 are turnable relative to the element 19. The arms 17 extend beyond the arms 12 and are pivotally connected to the latter at locations intermediate their ends. The arms 17 are constituted by lengths of metal tubing.

Flexible elements 21 extend between the arms 17, these elements being constituted by a single length of plastics-coated cord arranged in the same way as the cord 16 with metal loops 21a and a knob 21b.

Plastics end caps 22 are fitted to the ends of the arms 12 and 17, and plastics caps 23 are fitted to the legs 13. The legs are slightly outwardly splayed.

The apparatus is movable between a collapsed position and an erected position which is shown in Figure 1. On collapsing of the apparatus the pivotal connections at locations 14 and 18 move vertically away from one another and as a result the legs 13 move to positions in which they lie alongside and closely adjacent to one another, the arms 12 move to similar positions relative to one another, and the arms 17 move to positions in which they lie alongside and closely adjacent to one another and to the arms 12. The whole apparatus is therefore collapsed into an elongate "stick" form. The apparatus is collapsible in one operation which may be effected simply by grasping two of the arms 12 and moving them towards one another.

On erection of the apparatus, which can similarly be effected by grasping and pulling apart two of the arms 12, the cords 16 and 21 are pulled taut and provide supports at six levels from which clothes (and other articles) can be suspended.

Means are provided for releasably locking the apparatus in its erected position. These means comprise a manually operable toggle device 24 comprising three links 25 pivotally connected together at a central location vertically above the locations 14 and 18 by a three-armed element similar to the element 19, and pivotally connected at their outer ends to the respective arms 12. One of the links has a hand-grip portion 26.

The arrangement is that, when the apparatus has been erected, the toggle device is pressed downwardly so that its links 25 pivot relative to one another through an overcentre position, the extent of downwards movement being limited by their central pivotal connection coming into contact with the central pivotal connection of the arms 17 at location 18. The toggle device therefore presents relative movement between the arms 12 and the arms 17 and thereby maintains the apparatus erected. To release the toggle device to permit collapsing of the apparatus, the links of the device are pulled upwardly through their over-centre position by the user grasping the hand grip portion 26.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A clothes drying or airing apparatus comprising a self-supporting structure having a lower part which comprises at least three legs extending from a central location and movable between an erected position in which they extend outwardly from said central location thereby to provide a stable support for the apparatus on the ground, and a collapsed position in which they lie alongside and closely adjacent to one another, and an upper part which comprises a number of arms extending from a central location at which they are supported by the lower part, the arms being movable between an erected position in which they extend outwardly from said central location, and a collapsed position in which they lie alongside and closely adjacent to one another, flexible elements extending between the arms so as to be pulled taut on erection of the upper part thereby to form supports from which clothes can be suspended.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. legs 13. The arms are formed by extensions of the legs, each associated arm and leg being formed by a single member consti tuted by a length of metal tubing. The three members 12, 13 are pivotally connected together intermediate their ends at a com mon location 14 which is central to both the arms 12 and the legs 13. Thus, the arms and the legs define two three-sided pyramid structures the apexes of which meet at location 14. The pivotal connection of the members 12, 13 at location 14 is shown in detail in Figure 2. The connection is constituted by an element 15 having three equally spaced radially extending pivot pins which pass through apertures in the respective mem bers and have caps at their outer ends to maintain the members connected to the element, whereby the members are turnable relative to the arms of the element. Extending between the arms 12 are flexi ble elements 16 constituted by a single length of plastics-coated cord which extends through metal loops 16a attached to the arms, one end of the cord being anchored in the end of one arm and its other end carrying a knob 16b. The apparatus also has a further three sided pyramid structure comprising three arms 17 which extend outwardly and down wardly from a central location 18 at which they are pivotally connected together, said location being disposed vertically above the location 14 at which the members 12, 13 are pivotally connected together. The pivotal connection of the arms 17 at location 18 is shown in detail in Figure 3 and is provided by a three-armed element 19 similar to the element 15, the arms of the element extend ing through apertures in the arms 17 and having end caps 20, whereby the arms 17 are turnable relative to the element 19. The arms 17 extend beyond the arms 12 and are pivotally connected to the latter at locations intermediate their ends. The arms 17 are constituted by lengths of metal tubing. Flexible elements 21 extend between the arms 17, these elements being constituted by a single length of plastics-coated cord arranged in the same way as the cord 16 with metal loops 21a and a knob 21b. Plastics end caps 22 are fitted to the ends of the arms 12 and 17, and plastics caps 23 are fitted to the legs 13. The legs are slightly outwardly splayed. The apparatus is movable between a collapsed position and an erected position which is shown in Figure 1. On collapsing of the apparatus the pivotal connections at locations 14 and 18 move vertically away from one another and as a result the legs 13 move to positions in which they lie alongside and closely adjacent to one another, the arms 12 move to similar positions relative to one another, and the arms 17 move to positions in which they lie alongside and closely adjacent to one another and to the arms 12. The whole apparatus is therefore collapsed into an elongate "stick" form. The apparatus is collapsible in one operation which may be effected simply by grasping two of the arms 12 and moving them towards one another. On erection of the apparatus, which can similarly be effected by grasping and pulling apart two of the arms 12, the cords 16 and 21 are pulled taut and provide supports at six levels from which clothes (and other articles) can be suspended. Means are provided for releasably locking the apparatus in its erected position. These means comprise a manually operable toggle device 24 comprising three links 25 pivotally connected together at a central location vertically above the locations 14 and 18 by a three-armed element similar to the element 19, and pivotally connected at their outer ends to the respective arms 12. One of the links has a hand-grip portion 26. The arrangement is that, when the apparatus has been erected, the toggle device is pressed downwardly so that its links 25 pivot relative to one another through an overcentre position, the extent of downwards movement being limited by their central pivotal connection coming into contact with the central pivotal connection of the arms 17 at location 18. The toggle device therefore presents relative movement between the arms 12 and the arms 17 and thereby maintains the apparatus erected. To release the toggle device to permit collapsing of the apparatus, the links of the device are pulled upwardly through their over-centre position by the user grasping the hand grip portion 26. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A clothes drying or airing apparatus comprising a self-supporting structure having a lower part which comprises at least three legs extending from a central location and movable between an erected position in which they extend outwardly from said central location thereby to provide a stable support for the apparatus on the ground, and a collapsed position in which they lie alongside and closely adjacent to one another, and an upper part which comprises a number of arms extending from a central location at which they are supported by the lower part, the arms being movable between an erected position in which they extend outwardly from said central location, and a collapsed position in which they lie alongside and closely adjacent to one another, flexible elements extending between the arms so as to be pulled taut on erection of the upper part thereby to form supports from which clothes can be suspended.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1

wherein the upper and lower parts are operatively combined so that they are movable together between their collapsed and erected positions.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the arms are formed by extensions of the legs, each associated leg and arm being formed by a single member and the members being pivotally connected together intermediate their ends at a common location which corresponds to both of the said two central locations.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 which has three said members providing three legs and three arms so that, when erected, it defines two three-sided pyramid structures the apexes of which meet at said common location.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 which incorporates a structure of second arms extending from a central location vertically above the central location of the first arms, these second arms being pivotally connected to the first arms so as to be movable with the latter between an erected position in which they extend outwardly from their said central location, and a collapsed position in which they.lie alongside and closely adjacent to one another and to the first arms flexible elements extending between the second arms and being arranged to be pulled taut on erection of the apparatus to provide further supports for clothes.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein manuallyoperable means are provided for releasably locking the apparatus in its erected position.

7. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the locking means comprises at least one over-centre toggle device.

8. A clothes drying or airing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.