GB2175500A - Cover for a clothes line - Google Patents

Abstract

A clothes line extending between two posts has a convoluted or sectional cover supported on and guided by wires 84, 85. The cover may be drawn back by a line 81 or extended to cover the clothes line. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A ciothesdryerorhoist arrangement This invention rel#testo a ctothes dryer or hoist arrangement primarilyforoutdoor use and constructed so that clothes may be "pegged out" on a line whilst same is at a lower level and thereafter raised to a higher level.

Known arrangements to which the invention relates comprises a single or multiple line extending between two posts, but a disadvantage ofthis arrangement is that the line must be slackened to enable clothes to be pegged out and thereaftertightened or propped clear ofthe ground. Such arrangements also only incorporate a single line orat most a number of parallel lines which are closely spaced.

Itisanobjectofthisinventionto provide an arrangement whereby clothes may be pegged out with the line at a lower level which can thereafter be raised in a simple manner and in which a plurality of lines are provided which in normal use are widelyspaced so that clothes can be adequately dried on each such line.

Broadly, according to one aspectofthis invention, there is provided a clothes line arrangement comprising two spaced vertical posts, each post having an arm pivotally hinged to an intermediate point along its length and able to move in a plane through the longitudinal axis ofthe post, a line extending through an eye atthe end of each arm on each respective spaced post to pass through an eye at the top of the post and downwardly to a point ofsecurement at a lower part of the post, the arrangement being such that the end ofthe line may be moved down or up the post to cause upward or downward pivoting ofthe arms and hence raising or lowering ofthe horizontal run ofthe line which extends between the arms on respective posts.

In a preferred arrangement each post has two such pivotally mounted arms, each including the aforesaid line with the two lines on each post being secured to a common manuallyoperablemembersothatthelines can be drawn downwardlytogetherin orderto raise the arms and hence the respective horizontal runs.

In the arrangement according to the invention the line in each horizontal run will comprise a single length passing from the securement point on one post to the securement point on the other post.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a cover means for a clothes line extending generally horizontally between two vertical support posts, the cover means comprising a plurality of horizontally extending guide lines pulled taut between the two posts with a cover means running along the guides and comprising material formed from discrete segments, ora continuous length of material folded in convoluted or concertina style and including draw lines enabling the material to be extended along the wires to cover a clothes line extending between the posts or drawn back to be stacked at an end against one post This means may be incorporated into an existing clothes line or preferably into the clothes arrangement according tothefirst aspectofthis invention.

In order to enable both aspectofthe invention to be more fully understood reference is now made to the accompanying drawings showing embodiments by way of example only.

In the drawings: Figures 1 to 3 illustrate schemmaticllythe arrangement ofthe line between two posts of a clothes drying arrangement, Figure4 is an end view of one embodiment showing one post, Figure 5 is a side view ofthe embodiment of Figure 4, Figure 6 is a detail showing the two positions for the line, Figure 7 is a detail showing the line passing through the end of one ofthe arms, Figure 8 shows a side view of a line embodying a first embodiment of cover means, Figure 9 shows an end view ofthe cover means of Figure 8, Figure 10 shows a sideviewofafurtherembodi- ment of cover means, Figure 11 shows an end view of the cover means of Figure 10, Figure 12 shows the operating arrangementfora retractable cover, and Figure 13 is a detail ofthe cover operating means.

Referring firstly to Figures 4 and 5, these show one embodiment of a clothes line arrangement according to the invention and comprising two vertical posts 1 supported in the ground 2. Each post has pivotally attached to a point intermediately along its length two arms 3, each of which may swing in a vertical plane through the post upwardly and downwardly.Two lines are provided for each side ofthe structure, these lines 4 extending from a handle 5 upwardly along the postthrough h an eye 6 at the upper end of the post and thereafter laterally to pass through a further eye 7 in the end of each arm and then to extend in a horizontal run 8 to the other post where the lines passes through a similarconfiguration to another handle. The handles are secured to the post by means of a lower fixing means 9 and may be disengaged therefrom and transferred to an upperfixing means 10. This allows the linesto slacken with the resultthatthe arms 3will drop to a lower position by virtue ofthe line running through the eyes 6 and 7.Each handle 5 may be disengaged from the lower securement point 9 to be engaged with the upper point 10 independently thus enabling both runs of line8to be dropped to a lower position as indicated by position A in Figure 6. When in this position clothes may conveniently be hung along the lines which can thereafter be raised by drawing down the handles 5 to re-engage same with the catches 9 at each side, thereby bringing the arms up into position B.

The operation ofthe lines to raise and lowerthe run 8 is also illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 ofthe drawings.

Figure 7 is a scrap sectional viewthrough the end of the arms 3, and as may be seen each line4 passes through or around an arcuate channel defined by a plastic bearing surface 11 which allows the line to freely run through the end of the arm. A bead 12 may be secured to the horizontal run 8 ofthe line, this normally being in abutment with the end of the arm when both arms are fully raised orfully lowered, that is into position A or position B. The end ofthe arm may furtherincludewear-resisting grommets 13 to prevent fraying oftheline.

Figures 8 to 11 illustrate the second aspect ofthe invention which comprises a cover 80 which extends along the top line between the posts to serve as a rain shield.

The cover may have a triangularshape as shown in Figures 8 and 9, oras shown in Figures 10 and 11 may be arcuate in profile. As shown in Figure 12 this cover may comprise semi-rigid segments which can be drawn back by means of a line 81 wherebythey telescope into one another, this action being effected by winding into one another, this action being effected bywinding mechanism 82 with the line passing over a suitable pulley 83. The cover is supported by horizontally extending guides 84which are provided between the posts with suitable support members being provided atthe ends of each post as shown in the end view of Figure 1 2A. Figure 13 shows a detail ofthe arrangement of guides and pulley wire extending between the two posts 1 and Figure 1 3A shows a stiffening memberformed of wire 86 with loops 87 at each end to engage the wires 85 and a further loop 88 atthetopto engage the wire 84, the wire 86then supporting the cover arrangement on the wires and enabling same to be drawn backto one side when not required for use. The cover may be arranged to fold in convoluted manner or concertina fashion and a furtherwire means 81 may be provided to enable the coverto be drawn across the line as required.

The cover arrangement may be incorporated into existing clothes lines by provision of suitable end fixings.

Claims (4)

1. A clothes line arrangement comprising two spaced vertical posts, each post having an arm pivotally hinged to an intermediate point along its length and able to move in a planethroughthe longitudinal axis ofthe post, a line extending through an eye atthe end of each arm on each respective spaced postto pass through an eye at the top of the post and downwardlyto a point ofsecurementat a lower part ofthe post, the arrangement being such thattheend oftheline may be moved down orupthe post to cause upward or downward pivoting of the arms and hence raising or lowering ofthe horizontal run ofthe line which extends between the arms on respective posts.

2. A clothes line arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each post has two pivotally mounted arms, each including the line with the two lines on each post being secured to a common manually operable membersothatthe lines can be drawn downwardly togetherinorderto raise the arms and hence the respective horizontal runs.

3. A clothes line arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the line in each horizontal run comprises a single length passing from the securement point on one postto the securement point on the other post.

4. A cover means according to any preceding claim, wherein the draw lines connectwith a winding mechanism.

4. A cover means for a clothes line or the clothes line arrangement of any preceding claim,the cover means comprising a plurality of horizontally extend ing guide lines pulled taut between two posts with a cover running along the guides and comprising material formed from discrete segments, or a continuous length of material folded in convoluted or concertina style and including draw lines enabling the material to be extended along the wires to cover a clothes line extending between the posts or drawn backto be stacked at an end against one post.

5. A clothes line arrangement as described herein, with particular reference to the drawings.

6. A coverfor a clothes line as described herein, with particular reference to the drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and havethefollowing effect:~ Claims 1 to 4 above have been deleted ortexually amended.

New ortexually amended claims have been filed as follows: CLAIMS

1. A cover means or a clothes line, the means comprising a plurality of horizontally extending guide lines pulled taut between two spaced posts supporting a clothes line, a cover running along the guide lines and comprising overlapping segments, or a continuous length of material folded in convoluted or concertina style with draw lines enabling the material to be pulled to extend along the wires to coverthe clothes line orto be drawn backto be gathered at an end against one post.

2. Acovermeans according to claim 1,wherein three guide lines are provided.

3. A cover means according to claim 1 or 2, whherein the cover is supported by members slidably engaging the guide lines and connected with the cover at spaced locations.