GB2231363A

GB2231363A - Clothes drier and airer; socket

Info

Publication number: GB2231363A
Application number: GB8910776A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Leslie Martin
Original assignee: Beldray Ltd
Current assignee: Beldray Ltd
Priority date: 1989-05-10
Filing date: 1989-05-10
Publication date: 1990-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 2009-05-10
Also published as: GB8910776D0; GB2231363B

Abstract

A clothes dryer and airer comprises a pole having a plurality of arms with a flexible line extending therebetween, and a ground socket for ground penetration and with a tubular portion 12 for receiving the lower end 20 of the pole, a diametrically extending pin 18 forming a support for the pole and an engagement for socket removal. The pin 18 may be a rivet passed through aligned apertures in the socket or a rolled tube passed through the apertures and welded in place. The pole is shown with bayonet socket formations 22 to engage pin 18. This prevents airer rotation and with pin 18 enables socket to be extracted using airer as extraction tool, as an alternative to a tool with a shank having hooked end to engage pin 18. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO CLOTHES DRIERS AND AIRERS This invention relates to clothes driers and airers of the kind comprising a central vertically extending pole, a plurality of arms radiating from the pole, and a flexible line extending between the arms for supporting the clothes to be dried and aired. The pole is engaged in a ground socket usually made of a length of tube crimped to provide a pointed and fluted end portion to facilitate ground penetration, and these flutes extend into the bore of the socket and the bottom end of the pole is supported on them with an interposed washer.

If it is desired to remove the socket for any reason, it is known from Patent GB 2 130 267 to provide a pair of diametrically opposed holes or recesses at the upper end of the socket, and use an extraction tool having a handle and a pair of diametrically opposed portions to engage in the apertures, so that extraction can be accomplished by a straight pull.

The object of the invention is to provide improvements.

According to the invention, the ground socket for a drier and airer is provided with a transversely extending pin between its ends, which forms a support for the bottom end of the pole and also is apt for engagement for socket removal.

The pin may be a rivet passed through diametrically aligned apertures, or a rolled tube may be passed through those apertures and for example tack welded in place.

The advantage of using the pin or equivalent to support the bottom end of the pole, instead of providing a washer, is that if dirt falls into the socket (which may be a frequent occurrence) it is likely to fall past the pin and not offer any obstacle, whereas if a disc of metal is provided as in the prior art, the dirt builds up on the disc and prevents the pole engaging properly in the socket.

An extraction tool may be provided for engagement with the pin, for example in the form of a handle provided with a shank having a hooked end, which can be passed into the socket and engaged with the pin.

Preferably however the bottom end of the pole is provided with a hook, and preferably in the form of a pair of bayonet formations and this can have two functions. Firstly, by engaging the bayonets with the pin, the airer itself may be used as a tool for extracting the socket by a straight pull. Secondly, the pole can be prevented from rotating when the airer is used in high winds.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which the sole figure is an exploded and fragmentary perspective view showing the ground engaging spike 10 formed from a length of tube and comprising an upper circular cross-section portion 12 and a lower portion 14 which is pressed to provide flutes between ribs 16 which facilitate ground penetration. A diametrically located pin or equivalent 18 is engaged in aligned apertures. The pin 18 may be about mid-way along the length of the tubular portion 12, and the fluted portion 14 may be of similar length.

Only the blotto nd 20 of the central pole of the clothes airer is shown, and this is made of a tube of suitable diameter to be an easy sliding fit in the bore of the tube 12. Bayonet socket formations 22 are provided at the bottom end of the tube to engage with the pin 18. It will be appreciated that this locks the pole and hence the airer against rotation in the socket, and providing the pin 18 is engaged in the lateral extensions of the slots, enables the socket to be extracted using the airer as an extraction tool.

Claims

CLAIF;S

1. A clothes drier and airer comprising a central pole, arranged to extend vertically when in use and having a plurality of radiating arms with a flexible line extending between the arms for supporting the clothes to be aired and dried, and a ground socket having a pointed end for ground penetration, a tubular portion for receiving the lower end of said pole, and a transversely extending pin between the ends of the socket to form a support for the bottom end of the pole and an engagement for socket removal.

2. A clothes drier as claimed in Clem 1 wherein the pin is a rivet passe through aligned apertures in the socket.

3. A clothes drier as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the pin is 2 rolled tube passed trough aligned apertures in the socket n welded in place.

4. A clothes drier as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the bottom end of the pole has bayonet socket formations to engage said pin.

5. A clothes drier substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.