GB2159701A - Window mounted assemblies for carrying drying washing - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly has upper and lower spaced rails (10 and 11) interconnected at or towards their ends, rail 11 in use carrying washing. The upper rail is slidable in a box-like mounting 19 which is connected to a frame (27, Fig.3) mounted over a window frame so that the rails can be slid from a retracted position, in which they are within a room, to an extended position in which they project outwardly from the window. A latch 25 pivoted on mounting 19 latches the rails in the extended position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to window mounted assemblies for carrying drying washing The invention relates to window mounted assemb lies for carrying drying washing.

In flats, and other high rise dwellings, particularly in countries where the climate is warm, it is customary, to dry washing by hanging it outside one or more of the windows ofthe property. In general,this is done bX stretching lines between supports arranged outside the building or extending between the building and an adjacent building. To place washing on the line, it is necessaryto use a pole; one end of the pole being engaged with the item of washing and then the pole being extended outofthewindowofthe propertyto place the washing on the line. A similar procedure is necessary to return to the property dry washing.

Itwill be appreciated that dealing with the washing on an item-by-item basis istime-consuming and if the washing is not correctly placed on the line, it mayfall.

It also necessitates the arrangement of suitable lines and this can be difficult, particularly where there are no adjacent properties.

An alternative proposal isto peg or slip drying washing to poles (for example, of bamboo) after which ends of the poles are located in holders provided on an exteriorwall oftheproperty,sothat the washing-carrying pole projects outwardly and upwardly from the wall. This, however, has the disadvantage that it requires considerable strength to Iiftthewashing laden poles into position. This also involves leaning out of the window which can be dangerous and there is a high risk of the pole being dropped, with possiblytragicconsequencesforper- sons below. In addition, the poles may snap underthe weight of the washing.

According to the invention, there is provided a window mounted assembly for carrying drying washing and comprising upper and lower side-byside rails interconnected atthe ends thereof, a single supportmemberformounting on an opening of a windowframe, the single support memberengaging the upper rail for sliding movementtherethrough so that washing carried on the lower rail can be moved from the retracted position within a building, when an outer end of the upper rail is at or adjacent the support member, to an extended position outside the building, when an inner end ofthe upper rail is at or adjacent the support member.

The assembly may include a frame for connection over thewindowframe, said frame including at least one memberwhich extends across an upper edge of a window opening and to which the support member is connected.

Preferably, an inner end ofthe lower rail is detachably connected to the inner end of the upper rail. This detachable connection may be by the use of a V-shaped rest in which, normally, the inner end of the lower rail sits but from which the inner end of the lower rail can be disengaged.

The interconnection between the inner end ofthe upper rail and an inner end of the lower rail may comprise a connecting piece which extends downwardly beyond the lower rail to form a handle for manual movement of the rails between the retracted and extended positions.

The support member preferably comprises a guideway of generally rectangular cross-section. One side of such a support member may be open to allow the upper rail to be engaged with and disengaged from the support member.

The support member may include one or more rotatable bearing surfaces in sliding engagement with the upper rail.

A catch may be provided which prevents retracting movement of the rails when said rails are in the extended position.

Preferablythe catch is carried on the support member and engages automaticallywith the rails when the rails reach the extended position.

There may be provided a hook memberfor mounting within a building to support the inner ends of the rails when said rails are in the retracted position. The upper and lower rails may be formed by hollow tubes.

In this case, a wire may be provided stretched along the interior of the upper rail.

The following is a more detailed description of one embodiment ofthe invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a support member and rails of an assemblyforcarrying drying washing, Figure 2 is an end elevation ofthe assembly on the arrow A in Figure 1, with the support member of the assembly omitted for clarity, Figure 3 is an end elevation ofthe support member ofthe assembly of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is an elevation of a U-latch of a catch carried on the support member of Figure 2, Figure 5 is an elevation of latching lever carried by the U-latch of Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a frame of the assembly, to which the support member is connected.

Referring first to Figure 1, the assembly comprises an upper rail 10 and a lower rail 11. The upper rail 10 is a square cross-section tube and is made of, for example, a galvanized mild steel. Within the upper rail 10, and at each end thereof, there is provided a bracket 13, and a steel wire 14 is stretched between these brackets 13 and extends along the length of the upper rail 10, for a purpose to be described below.

The lower rail 11 is of circular cross-section and is formed from an aluminium oran aluminium alloy. At one end of the upper rail 10, hereinafter referred to as the outer end of the upper rail 10, there is provided a connector 15 of inverted U-shape whose base is fixed to the end of the upper rail 10, with the outer ends of the limbs of the U embracing and being connected to the corresponding end of the lower rail 11, to position this end of the lower rail 11 at a spaced distance from the outer end of the upper rail 10.

Adjacent to, but not at, the opposite of the upper rail The drawing(s) originally filed was(were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

10, hereinafter referred to the inner end of the upper rail 10, a square cross-section connecting member 16 depends from the inner end of the upper rail 10. A V4ork 17 is attached to the connecting member 16 ata distance from the upper rail 10 which is substantially equal to the spacing of the upper and lower rails 10, 11 at their outer ends. ThisVfork 17 supports the inner end of the lower rail 11 but allows the lower rail 11 to be lifted out of the V-fork 17 to enable items to be slid overthe end ofthe lower rail 11.

The portion of the connecting member 16 depending belowthe V-fork 17 provides a handle 18, for a purpose to be described in more detail below.

The upper rail 10 is carried in a single support member 19 (see also Figure 3) which is of generally rectangularsection and has a slot 20 provided in one sideto allow the upper rail 10 to be engaged with and disengaged from the member 19. As best seen in Figure 3, upper and lower bearings 21 are provided at each end of the single support member 19 for engagement with upper and lower surfaces of the upper rail 10, so assisting relative sliding movement therebetween. Each bearing 21 is formed by a pair of wheels 22 (see Figure 31 rotatably mounted on a shaft 23 extending between the sides ofthe single support member 19.

A catch 24 is mounted on the support member 19 and is formed by a U-shaped latch 25 (see Figure 4) whose free ends are mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis at one end of the support member. A latching lever 26 (see Figure 5) is connected to and projects from one end ofthe latch 25.

The assembly is used in the following way.

First, a frame 27 (see Fig. 6) is fixed overthe window frame. The frame 27 includes two parallel but spaced L-shaped members 28 whose horizontal links are interconnected bytwo members 29 which are generally horizontal but which have lower surfaces which are slightly inclined upwardly towards the exteriorofthe window. The vertical limbsareofthe L-shaped members are fixed to a wall above the window, in such a positionthatthehorizontal members29 are disposed across an upper edge of an opening in the window.

The support member 19 is fixed to the horizontal members 29 so that the length of the member 19 is transverse to the length of the window frame, i.e. so thatthe memberextendsfromtheinteriortothe exterior of the window frame. The support member 19 is mounted so that the catch 24 is atthe end of the support memberwhich is at the interiorofthe room.

The upper rail 10its then inserted through the slot 20 in the support member 19 so that the upper and lower surfaces engage with the bearing wheels 22 within the support member 19.

The handle 18 provided by the connecting member 16 is then used to retractthe rails 10,11 until they are within the room. In this position the outer ends ofthe rails10,11 are at oradjacentthe support member 19.

A hook (not shown) is removably connected to a ceiling ofthe room and engages the inner end ofthe upper rail 10 tc support the rails 10, 11 in the retracted position. The items to be dried are then attached to the lower rail 11 by pegs or clips or any other suitable device.

The inner end of the upper rail 1 O is then disengaged from the hook and the handle 18 used to push the upper rail 10 through the support member 19 so causing the rails to pass out ofthe window. As the inner end ofthe upper rail 10 approaches the support member 19, one of the limbs of the V-shaped fork 17 knocks the actuating lever 26 of the catch 24to cause the U-latch 25to pivot from a raised inoperative position to engage overthe projecting inner end of the upper rail 10, as seen in Figure 1.This prevents the rails 10,11,which are preferably arranged so that they slope slightly upwardly out of the window, from sliding backwards into the room.

In this position, the washing is outside and can dry for as long as required. The wire 14 within the upper rail 10 ensures that the washing will not be lost if a heavy object falls from above and breaks the upper rail 10. A considerable number and weight of items to dried can be supported on the lower rail 11.

To retract the rails 10, 11, to remove dried items, the catch 24 is lifted manuallyto disengage it from the upper rail 10 and the handle 18 used to withdrawthe rails 10, 11 into the room. The slight upward angle of the rails assists this, as do the bearing wheels 22 within the support member 19. The inner end of the upper rail 10 is then re-engaged with the hook and the washing removed. Furtherwashing can then be hung on the lower rail 11 and the rails extended once again, in the manner described above.

Alternatively, the assembly can be dismantled by disengaging the upper rail 10 from the support member 19 to allow the upper and lower rails to be stored with the property.

It will be appreciated that, in general, it will be convenientto usetwoormoresuch assemblies mounted side-by-side on the frame 27. This will allow a considerable number of items to be dried simultaneously.

Itwill also be appreciated thatthe rails can be made of any convenient length depending on the space available and the weight of items which such rails have to support. Support members 19 can be provided facing eithertothe left or the right, to ease insertion of the upper rail.

The lower rail maycarryclipswith depending aperturesforthe engagement with hooks of coat hangerstoallowitemssupported coathangersto be hung from the lower pole. These clips may comprise a length of wire with a hole at each end; the wire being wound a number of times round the pole until the end holes are in register beneath the lower rail.

Claims (14)

1. Anassemblyforcarrying drying washing and comprising upper and lowerside-by-side rails interconnected atthe ends thereof, a single support member for mounting at an opening in a window frame, the single support member engaging the upper rail for sliding movementtherethrough so that washing carried on the lower rail can be moved from a retracted position within a building, when an outer end ofthe upper rail is at or adjacentthe support member, to an extended position outside the building, when an inner end ofthe upper rail is at or adjacent the support member.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, and further comprising a frame for connection over a window frame, said frame including at least one member which extendsacrossan upper edge of a window opening and to which the support member is connected

3. Anassemblyaccordingto claim 7,wherein an inner end ofthe lower rail is detachably connected to the inner end of the upper rail.

4 An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the detachable connection includes a V-shaped rest in which, normally, the inner end ofthe lower rail sits bul from which the inner end ofthelowerrail can be disengaged.

5. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 tc 4, wherein the interconnection between the inner end of the upper rail and an inner end ofthe lower rail comprises a connecting piece which extends down wardlybeyondthe lower rail toform a handlefor manual movement ofthe rails between the retracted and extended positions.

6. Anassemblyaccordingtoanyoneclaimsl to 5, wherein the support member comprises a guideway of generally rectangular cross-section.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein one side ofthe support member is open to allow the upper rail to be engaged with and disengaged from the support member.

8. An assembly according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the support member includes one or more rotatable bearing surfaces in sliding engagementwith the upper rail.

9. An assembly according to anyone of claims 1 to 8, wherein a catch is provided which prevents retracting movement ofthe rails when said rails are in the extended position.

10. An assembly according to claim 9, wherein the catch is carried on the support member and engages automatically with the railswhenthe rails reach the extended position.

11. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and further comprising a hookmemberfor mounting within a building tosupportthe inner ends ofthe rails when said rails are in the retracted position.

12. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 toll, wherein the upper and lower rails are formed by hollowtubes.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein a wire is stretched along the interior of the upper rail between the ends thereof.

14. An assemblyforcarrying drying washing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.