GB2170699A - Foldable clothes drier - Google Patents

Abstract

A foldable rotary clothes drier comprises a standard (11) which in use extends generally upright relative to the ground, a plurality of arms (15) distributed around the standard (11) to support clothes, each of the arms (15) being secured at one end to a boss (16) which is slidable relative to the standard (11) to facilitate folding of the arms (15) relative to the standard, the standard (11) being provided in at least two, preferably three, parts (12, 13, 14), a first part (12) carrying the boss (16), and a second part (13) being adapted to be received directly in the ground, and third intermediate part (14), the first and second parts (12, 13) each having at their lower and upper ends respectively (23, 25) means to secure the parts (12, 13) together directly, or through the intermediate part (14). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Foldable clothes drier This invention relates to a foldable clothes drier comprising a standard which in use extends generally upright relative to the ground, a pluralityofarms distributed around the standard to support clothes, each of the arms being secured at one end to a boss which is slidable relative to the standard to facilitate folding of the arms relative to the standard.

Such a clothes drier will hereinafter be referred to "as ofthe kind specified".

It is desirable to provide a foldable clothes drier which can be conveniently carried, for example, in the boot of a car and which may be erected in any desired location so that clothes may be dried for example, on a camp or caravan site.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a new or improved foldable clothes drier.

According to one aspect ofthe invention we provide a foldable clothes drier ofthe kind specified in which the standard is provided in at least two parts, a first part carrying said boss, and a second part adapted to be received directly in the ground, the first and second parts each having attheir lower and upper ends respectively, in use, means to secure said parts together directly, orthrough an intermediate part or parts.

Preferably, said standard is provided in three parts, the first part carrying said boss, the second part being adapted to be received in the ground, and a third intermediate part, the intermediate part having at its upper and lower ends, means to engage the lower and upper ends respectively, of the first and second parts.

For example,thefirst and second parts may provide attheir lower and upper ends respectively, a male projecting formation or a female socket formation, in which casetheintermediate part at its ends would provide a female socketformation or a male projecting formation to interfit with the male and female formations ofthe first and second parts.

Preferably though, the first part has at its lower end a female socketformation, and the second part has at its upper end, a male projecting formation, and the intermediate part has at its upper end, a male projecting formation, and at its lower end, a female socketformation. In this event, the female and male formations on the lower end ofthefirst part and the upper end ofthesecond part, maybe engageable directly where an intermediate part is not required.

Thethree standard parts are preferably of generally equal length, together providing a standard of between one and three metres high when received in the ground the second standard part, which in use, is received in the ground, extending upwardly from thegroundforatleasti5cm.

Because the second standard part extends upward ly for at least 15 cm, removal ofthe second standard párq from the ground is considerablyfacilitated.

Preferably, the second part ofthe standard is, at its end which is adapted to be received in the ground, of tapered configuration to facilitate receiving the first part directly in the ground Thusthere is no need for any cemented in socket or other member permanently secured in the ground, such as a ground spike with which the standard needs to be engaged.

It has been found that such afoldable clothes drier in accordance with the invention can conveniently be reduced in length for handling, by separating the standard into a plurality, preferablythree generally equal parts, to facilitate transportation of the clothes drierfor example, to a camp or caravan site.

It will be appreciated that preferably the boss carried bythefirst standard part, would only be able to slide on the first standard partto fold the drier, and thus the arms, any stays which extend between the arms and a collarthe longitudinal position of which is fixed relative to the standard, and any flexible elements which extend between the arms to facilitate support of clothes to be dried, may be constructed so that the arms may be folded to a position generally parallel to the standard, by the boss sliding over onlythefirst standard part.

According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide a foldable clothes drier of the kind specified in which the standard is provided in three parts of generally equal length, a first part carrying said boss, a second part adapted to be received directly in the ground or in a membersecured in the ground, and a third intermediate part, secured to the first and second parts.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an exploded perspective view of a clothes drier in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, a foldable drier 10 comprises a standard 11 which is in three parts, namelyafirst part 12, a second part 13, and an intermediate third part 14.

The first part 12 carries a plurality of outwardly extending arms 15, in the present example three arms, which are each pivoted at one of their ends to an outwardly extending lug of a boss 16 which surrounds the first standard part 12 and is arranged to slide upwardly and downwardly relative to the standard 11.

The first standard part 12 carries at its upper end, a collar 18 which again has three outwardly extending Iugsto each of which one end of a stay 19 is secured, again in pivotal manner the other end of each ofthe stays is secured in pivotal mannerto one ofthe arms 15, as shown at 20.

Flexible lines 21 made of PVC, coloured propylene, nylon or any other suitable material, pass through openings in and thus extend between the arms 15, and thus the arms 15 and flexible elements 21 together provide a support on which clothes may be draped for drying.

The boss 16 and collar 18 are each adapted to be rotatable aboutthestandard 11 and the position ofthe sliding boss 16 can be locked relative to the collar 18 the longitudinal position of which is fixed, by means of a locking bar 22 which can be engaged with the boss 16 and collar 18.

When the locking bar 22 is released from engagement with either or both the sliding boss 16 and collar 18, the boss 16 can be slid downwardly from the position shown in figure 1, which will cause the arm 15 to pivot upwardly relative to the boss 16,towards the axis of the standard 11 until the arms 15 lie generally parallel tothestandard 11. Preferablythe disposition ofthestays 19 and arms 15 is such thatthe arms 15 assume theirfullyfolded position generally parallel to the standard 11 as the boss 16 reaches a position adjacent a lower end 23 ofthe first standard part 12.

The collar 18 may be fixed in position atthe upper end offirststandard part 12 by any desired means,for example bythe means described in ourcoending application No.8412840.

Of course, if desired any other means for locking the sliding boss 16 relative to the collar 18 may be provided as an alternative to the locking bar 22.

The lower end 23 ofthefirststandard part 12 provides a female socketformation for a reason hereinafter described.

The second standard part 13 is, at its lower end 24 provided with a tapering reducing cross section to facilitate inserting the end 24 intothe ground. The upper end 25 ofthesecond standard part 13 comprises a male projecting formation again fora reason hereinafter described.

Thethird intermediate part 14 has at its upper end 26, a male projecting formation and at its lower end 27 a femalesocketformation. It will be appreciated thereforethatthe male projecting formation atthe upper end 26 ofthe intermediate part 14 can be received within the female socketformation atthe lower end 23 ofthefirststandard part 12, and thatthe male projecting formation atthe upper end 25 ofthe second standard part 13 can be received within the female socketformation provided atthe lower end 27 ofthe intermediate standard part 14.

Thus a standard of conventional height can be provided by assembling the three standard parts 12,13 and l4togetheras described.

It wilt be appreciated thatif desired, the lower end 23 ofthefirststandard part 12 may be provided with a male projecting formation, and the upper end 26 of the intermediate part 14 with a female socket formation and/orthe lower end 27 ofthe intermediate part 14 may be provided with a male projecting formation which may be receivable within a female socket formation atthe upper end 25 ofthe second standard part 13.

To erectthe clothes drier,the lower end 240f the second standard part may be driven directly into the ground byforexample, placing a blockofwood overthe upper end 25 ofthe second standard part 13 priorto assembling the intermediate part 14therewith, and striking with a hammer or mallet. The block of wood is required to prevent damage to the upper end 25 ofthe second standard part.

Then the intermediate part 14and first part 12 can be assembled together and withthe secondstandard part 13.

If it is required to move the clothes drier, the arms 15 ofthefirststandard part 12can be folded relative to the first standard part 12 as described hereinbefore, and the three standard parts 12,13, and 14 separated to reducetheoverall length of the clothes drier.

It has been found thatto provide a standard of conventional ieighti.e. between one and three metres, three standard parts 12,13 and 14 ofgenerally equal length, give the best advantage in space saving, whilst permitting the sliding boss 1 6 of the first standard part 12 adequate length of sliding movement to completely fold the arms 15. However, the standard may be divided into more or less than three parts if required, which parts may be connected together as described.

As shown in the drawings, the standard parts 12,13 and 14are each oftubularconfiguration and are preferably made of metal. Of course if the standard parts maybe made as solid rods, particularlywhere the parts are made in another lighter material, in which case female socket formations may be formed on the standard parts by providing suitable connectors.

Where the standard 11 is made in metal, the male projecting formations andthe tapered lower end of the second standard parts 13 may be provided by a swaging operation although again, the male projecting formations may be provided be suitable connec tors,for example a spigot received in the open end of a tubular standard part.

Any other means to connectthe standard parts together, may be provided.

It will be appreciated thatthe arms 15, stays 19 and flexible elments 21 described, are only one example of a clothes drier configuration, and thatthe invention is applicableto any other clothes support construction, preferably provided thatthe sliding boss does not have to slide downwardly beyond the lower end 23 of the first standard part, to completelyfold the drier.

Claims (15)

1. Afoldableclothes drier ofthe kind specified in which the standard is provided in atleasttwo parts,a first part carrying said boss, and a second part adapted to be received directly in the ground, the first and second parts each havingattheirlowerand upper ends respectively, in use, means to secure said parts together directly, orthrough an intermediate part or parts.

2. Adevice according to claim 1 wherein said standard is provided in three parts, the first part carrying said boss, the second part being adaptedto be received in the ground, and a third intermediate part, the intermediate part having at its upper and lower ends, means to engage the lower and upper ends respectively, ofthe first and second parts.

3. A drier according to claim 2wherein the first and second parts provide attheir lower and upper ends respectively, a male projecting formation or a female socketfo rmation.

4. Adrieraccordingto claim 3wherein the intermediate partatitsendsprovidesafemalesocket formation(s) andlor a male projectingformation(s) to interfitwith the male and female formations of the first and second parts.

5. A drier according to claim 4or claim Swherein thefirstparthasatitslowerend a female socket formation, and the second part has at its upper end, a male projectingformation, andtheintermediate part has at its u pper end, a male projecting formation, and atits lowerend, a female socketformation.

6. A drier according to any one of claims 2to5 wherein the three standard parts are of generally equal length.

7. Adrieraccordingto any one ofthe preceding claimswherein the standard is between one and three, metres in length.

8. A drier according to any one ofthe preceding claims wherein the second standard part extends upwardlyfrom the ground for at least 15 cm.

9. A drier according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the second part of the standard is, at its end which is adapted to be received in the ground, of tapered configuration to facilitate receiving the first part directly in the ground.

10. A drier according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the drier comprises stays which extend between the arms and a collarthe longitudinal position of which is fixed relative to the standard, and flexible elements which extend between the arms to facilitate support of clothes to be dried.

11. A drier according to claim 10 wherein the arms, stays, collar and flexible elements are constructed so that the arms maybe folded to a position generally parallel to the standard, by the boss sliding over only thefirststandard part.

12. Afoldable clothes drier of the kind specified wherein the standard is provided in three parts of generally equal length, a first part carrying said boss, a second part adapted to be received directly in the ground or in a membersecured in the ground, and a third intermediate part, secured to the first and second parts.

13. A drier according to claim 1 2 having any of the features of the drier according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

14. A drier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

15. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

15. Any novel feature or combination offeatures disclosed herein and/orshown in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and havethefollowing effect: New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows: New claims 1-15filed.

1. Afoldable clothes drier ofthe kind specified in which the standard is provided in at leasttwo parts, a first part carrying the boss, and a second part adapted to be received directly in the ground,thefirst and second parts each having attheir lower and upper ends respectively, in use, means to secure the parts together directly, orthrough an intermediate part or parts.

2. A drier according to Claim 1 wherein the standard is provided in three parts, the first part carrying the boss, the second part being adaptedto be received directly in the ground, and athird intermediate part, the intermediate part having at its upper and lower ends, means to engage the lower and upper ends respectively, of the first and second parts.

3. A drier according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein thefirstand second parts provide at their lower and upper ends respectively, a male projecting formation orafemale socket formation.

4. A drier according to Claim 3 when appendantto Claim 2 wherein the intermediate part at its ends provide a female socketformation or a male projection formation to interfit with the male and female formations of the first and second parts.

5. A drier according to Claim 3 wherein the first part has at its lower end a female socketformation, and a second part has at its upper end, a male projecting formation.

6. A drier according to claim 4 wherein the first part has at its lower end a female socketformation and the second part has at its upper end a male projecting formation, and the intermediate part has at is upper end, a male projecting formation, and at its lower end, a female socketformation.

7. A drier according to any one of Claims 2 to 6 where appendantto Claim 2 wherein the three standard parts are of generally equal length.

8. A drier according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the standard is between one and three metres high.

9. A drier according to any one ofthe preceding claims wherein the second standard part, when received in the ground, extends upwardly from the ground for at least 15 cm.

10. A drier according to anyone of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the second part ofthe standard is, at its end which is adapted to be received in the ground, of tapered configuration to facilitate receiving the first part directly in the ground.

11. A drier according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 wherein the boss carried by the first standard part, is slidable on the first standard part only, to fold the drier.

12. Afoldableclothesdrierofthe kind specified in which the standard is provided in three parts of generally equal length, a first part carrying the boss, a second part adapted to be received directly in the ground or ina membersecuredintheground,and third intermediate part, secured to the first and second parts.

13. A drier according to Claim 12 having any ofthe features ofthe drier claimed in anyone of Claims 1 to 11.

14. A clothes drier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.