GB2259849A - Accessory support device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an accessory support device (e.g. a clothes basket support) (10) for attachment to a pole (12), e.g. of a clothes line. The support (10) has a support arm (14) pivotally mounted to a rotatable part (26) of a clamping means (16) secured to pole (12). Clamping means (16) includes a locking means (54) prevents movement of rotatable part (26) relative to a stationary part (24) of clamping means (16). Support arm (14) projects cantilever fashion from rotatable part (26). <IMAGE>

Description

AN ACCESSORY SUPPORT DEVICE This invention relates to an accessory support device for e.g. an upright pole and is especially suited for the support of a clothes basket with respect to the pole of a clothes line.

A device for supporting clothes baskets in a raised position at a clothes line is disclosed in Australian Patent No. 607,403. This device is a multi- component device X ch is expensive and labour intensive in :nanu#cturing, The device is ct:mbersome to use and not very aesthetic in appearance.

According to the invention there is provided an accessory support device for supporting an accessory on e.g. an upright pole, said device including a clamping means for attachment to a pole, an accessory support arm pivotally mounted to a rotatable part of said clamping means for adjustment between a retracted position substantially parallel to said pole and an operative position in which said accessory support arm projects cantilever fashion from said rotatable part, and locking means for preventing movement of said rotatable part relative to a stationary part of said clamping means in said operative position.

Thus there is provided an accessory support device which is simple to use and cheap to manufacture.

Preferably said locking means includes a plunger adapted to be received in a Sure.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whid:- Fig. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of an accessory support device attached to a support pole for a clothes line shown in the operative position; Fig. 2 is a similar view to that of Fig. 1 showing the accessory support device in a first retracted position; Fig. 3 is a similar view to that of Fig. 1 showing the accessory support device with the arm not fully extended; Fig. 4 is a similar view to that of Fig. 1 showing the accessory support device in a second retracted position; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view along and in the direction of arrows i5 of Fig. 1;; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the accessory support device in the position shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a similar view to that of Fig. 6 but in the position shown in Fig.

2; Fig 8 is a cross#ectional view along and in the direction of arrows 8-8 of Pig. 6; Fig. 9 is a similar view to that of Fig. 8 showing disengagement of the plunger; Fig 10 is a cross-sectional view along and in the direction of arrows 10-10 of Fig. 6 d Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view along and in the direction of arrows 11 11 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings there is shown an accessory support device 10 attached to an upright pole 12 of a clothes line. Accessory support device 10 comprises an accessory support arm 14 and a damping means 16. Accessory support arm 14 includes a hollow tubular member 18 with a platform or paddle 20 for defining a horizontal support plane for a laundry basket (not shown). The platform or paddle 20 is preferably formed of plastics material and can be any particular shape e.g. rectangular, oval, etc. Tubular member 18 can be any crosbsectional profile but is preferably of box section to prevent rotation thereof in clamping means 16.

Clamping means 16 comprises four parts, namely a saddle clamp 22, a main body qg, a rotatable part 26 and a pivotal flap means 28. All parts are preferably formed of plastics materials and are readily fabricated. Saddle damp 22 has an arcuate section 30 whose inner periphery corresponds to the circumferential profile of upright pole 12. Simil;uly main body 24 has an arcuate section 32 for contacting the outer periphery of upright pole 12. Main body 24 is joined tosaddle damp 22 using bolts 34 restrained by nuts 36 located in main body 24.

Main body 24 has a stepped bore 38 for reception of a pivot pin 40 in the form of a bolt. Pivot pin 4 is offset from the centre of pole 12 and is pivotally attached to rotatable part 26 by a nut 42. Rotatable part 26 abuts the end face of main body 24 Tubular member 18 can slide freely through a complementary shaped bore 44 as clearly evident in Figs 1 and 3, when required.

Pivotally mounted on rotatable part 26 is flap means 28. In the preferred embodiment flap means 28 is coupled by a hinge pin 46. flap means 28 is resiliently biased by a spring 48 located within a bore 50 of rotatable part 26 and coupled to a tab 52 on flap means 28. A locking means to prevent rotation of rotatable part 26 relative to main body 24 is provided by a pin 54 pivotally coupled to a tab 56 on the inner face of flap means 28. Pin 54 is adapted to be located in a bore 58 in main body 24. As can be seen from Fig. 9, pin 54 can be withdrawn from bore 58 by pulling forward on flap means 28. To assist in this action both flap means 28 and rotatable part 26 include a recess 60 to allow the tips of fingers (not shown) to be located therein.Guidance of pin 54 into bore 58 is enhanced by ramped recesses 62, 64 on main body 24. As rotatable part 26 is returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 pin 54 will ride along either ramped recesses 62, 64 to tension spring 48 and provide a snap-lock effect when pin 54 is above bore 58 to provide a positive-lockin#. To further assist the locking action a resilient ann 74 is provided on the inner face of rotatable part 26. Detent am operates with dents 70, 72 on main body 24.

In use, accessory support device is shown in an operative position h- Figs. 1, 3, 6, 8, 10 and 11. A clothes basket (not shown) may be placed on platform or paddle 20. when not required accessory support device 20 can be swung out of the way into either the positions shown in Fig. 2 or the position shown in Fig. 3. The position shown in Fig. 3 will require support arm 14 to be pushed through rotatable part 26 as evident in Fig. 3. By gripping fingers in recess 60 flap means 28 may be tilted forward as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 8.

Tilting of flap means 28 will allow pin 54 to be withdrawn from bore 58 and rotatable part 26 can be pivotally moved into the positions shown in Figs. 2 or 4.

Resilient arm 74 will engage in detent 72. Once pin 54 is no longer aligned with bore 58 flap meanS 28 may be released whilst rotatable part 26 is moved. Pin 54 will follow either ramped recesses 62, 6 until free thereof.

To return accessory support device 10 to the operative position shown Fig. 6 it is only necessary to rotate rotatable part 26 by moving support ann Pin 54 will ride up ramped recesses 62 or 64 and force flap means 28 to pivot outwardly under the tension of spring 48. When pin 54 is aligned with bore 58, pin 54 will be forced into bore 58 to lock the accessory support device in the operative position.

Claims (5)

1. An accessory support device for supporting an accessory on e.g.

an upright pole, said device including a clamping means for attachment to a pole, an accessory support arm pivotally mounted to a rotatable part of said clamping means for adjustment between a retracted position substantially parallel to said pole and an operative position in which said accessory support arm projects cantilever fashion from said rotatable part, and locking means for preventing movement of said rotatable part relative to a stationary part of said clamping means in said operative position.

2. The accessory support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking means includes a plunger adapted to be received in a bore.

3. The accessory support device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plunger is pivotally coupled to a flap means.

4. The accessory support device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said flap means is resiliently biased.

5. An accessory support device generally as herein described, with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.