GB2284457A - A washing line unit - Google Patents

A washing line unit Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2284457A
GB2284457A GB9423982A GB9423982A GB2284457A GB 2284457 A GB2284457 A GB 2284457A GB 9423982 A GB9423982 A GB 9423982A GB 9423982 A GB9423982 A GB 9423982A GB 2284457 A GB2284457 A GB 2284457A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
spool
cam
locking device
washing line
line
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9423982A
Other versions
GB2284457B (en
GB9423982D0 (en
Inventor
Alan Mccormack
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB9423982D0 publication Critical patent/GB9423982D0/en
Publication of GB2284457A publication Critical patent/GB2284457A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2284457B publication Critical patent/GB2284457B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
    • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
    • B65H75/34—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
    • B65H75/38—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
    • B65H75/44—Constructional details
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
    • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
    • B65H75/34—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
    • B65H75/38—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
    • B65H75/44—Constructional details
    • B65H75/4418—Arrangements for stopping winding or unwinding; Arrangements for releasing the stop means
    • B65H75/4428—Arrangements for stopping winding or unwinding; Arrangements for releasing the stop means acting on the reel or on a reel blocking mechanism
    • B65H75/4431—Manual stop or release button
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/30—Handled filamentary material
    • B65H2701/35—Ropes, lines
    • B65H2701/352—Clotheslines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/50—Storage means for webs, tapes, or filamentary material
    • B65H2701/53—Adaptations of cores or reels for special purposes
    • B65H2701/537—Stopping the winding or unwinding of reels which do not feature spring motors

Landscapes

  • Cleaning Implements For Floors, Carpets, Furniture, Walls, And The Like (AREA)
  • Supports Or Holders For Household Use (AREA)

Abstract

A washing line unit comprises a housing (2, 3) fixable to a wall, a spool (6) for carrying a line, a handle (12) for rotating the spool, and a pivoted pawl (11) engageable with teeth (10) at one end of the spool to lock the spool against unwinding when, in use, the line is at a desired height. The unit may be made of a plastics material. The pawl can be pivoted to permit unwinding of the line. The handle may be removable. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING LINES The present invention relates to a locking unit for a washing line which allows the washing line to be securely fixed at any selected height above ground level. The locking device has the further advantage that it can easily be operated by someone who is not very strong e.g. the old or the infirm. The locking device is also durable in all weathers and is maintenance free.
According to the present invention there is provided a locking device for a washing line comprising a base to allow the device to be fixed in position, a spool having two end walls, the spool being engageable with the washing line, a means to rotate the spool, and a means to lock the spool against rotation, the means to lock the spool against rotation comprising an end wall on the spool engageable with a cam which is pivotably attached to the device adjacent the end wall.
A stop member may be provided adjacent the cam to prevent the cam rotating through 3600. Alternatively, the cam may be L-shaped, and pivotable about the intersection of the two limbs of the L, one limb being longer than the other. In a still further embodiment, the end wall is provided with a plurality of indentations or ramps engageable with a projection on the cam.
The means to rotate the spool is preferably a handle which may be removable from the remainder of the unit, for ease of packaging.
The invention further provides a washing line unit incorporating the locking device as described above together with a length of washing line.
The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a section through the locking device of the present invention; Figure 2 is a section along the line A-A of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a means to lock the spool against rotation, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a means to lock the spool against rotation, Figure 5a is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of a means to lock the spool against rotation1 and Figure 5b is a perspective view of the cam engaged on the spool of the third embodiment of a means to lock the spool against rotation.
The washing line locking device comprises a housing 1 which has a base plate 2 which may be fixed to a wall or other suitable structure to support the washing line. The housing 1 also has a front plate 3 to support the clothes line and provide strengthening for the entire unit. The base plate 2 and the front plate 3 together define an approximately Y-shaped housing 1. The base plate 2 is provided with a lug 4. The housing 1 is also provided with a spool 6 which has a hollow central bore 7 which engages the lug 4. The spool 6 is freely rotatable about the lug 4 and can also move transversely with respect to the lug 4. The spool 6 is also provided with end walls 8 and 9 to retain the washing line when it is wound about the spool 6.
As shown in Figure 3 the end wall 8 may be formed with a series of cogs 10 on its outer circumference. The cogs 10 are engageable with a cam 11 which is pivotably mounted on the base plate 2 about a pivot 16.
When the cam 11 engages the cogs 10, the spool 6 is locked against rotation. A pin 17 is provided adjacent the cam 11 which serves to prevent rotation of the cam 11 through 3600. In an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 4, the cam 11a, mounted about pivot 16a, is L-shaped with the two limbs of the L being of different lengths. In a preferred embodiment shown in Figures 5a and b, the end wall 8 is formed with four indentations or ramps 17 in which a projection 18 on the cam 11b can seat, to lock the spool against rotation.
The front plate 3 is provided with an aperture 5 which communicates with the central bore 7 of the spool 6. The unit is provided with a handle 12, one end of which can be passed through the aperture in the front plate 3 and into the central bore 7 of the spool 6. This end of the handle terminates in claw-like projections 13 which when inserted into the bore 7 of the spool 6 and partially withdrawn again bear against a ledge-portion 14 formed on the internal wall of the spool 6 so as to hold the handle 12 in place. The other end of the handle 12 is formed with a gripping portion 15.
In use, one end of the washing line is fixed about the spool 6 and the free end is attached at another location to extend the washing line.
Once washing is hung on the line the handle 12 is rotated to take up any slack in the line and to adjust the washing to a height above ground selected by the user.
In the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cogs 10 engage with the cam 11 as the spool rotates so that if the handle 12 is released, the spool cannot unwind and the washing line is locked in position. In the embodiment shown in Figures 5a and 5b, the projection 18 on the cam 11b seats in one of the indentations 17 on the end wall 8 so that the spool cannot unwind.
The washing line can thus be gradually adjusted to the desired height.
This allows an old or infirm person to adjust the washing line height in a number of easy movements rather than having to support the weight of the washing line loaded with washing for a longer period of time.
To release the washing line the cam 11 is rotated about the pivot 16 so that the spool 6 is free to rotate and the handle 12 is rotated to lower the washing line. The cam 11 can be rotated about the pivot 16 again to lock the spool 6 against rotation when the washing line is at the desired height. The other embodiments of the cam 11a and 11b can also be rotated about the pivot 16a and 16b so that the spool can be released.
The entire washing line unit is made of a durable plastics material so that it can withstand all weather conditions. It does not require painting or lubricating and is thus maintenance free. The handle is formed separately from the unit so that the unit can be easily packaged and in use the handle 12 is simply inserted into the aperture 5 in the front plate 3 so that the claw-like projections 13 engage the ledge 14 to securely hold the handle 12 in place.
In an alternative embodiment the base plate 2 and front plate 3 are formed as a single piece.

Claims (7)

Claims
1. A locking device for a washing line comprising a base to allow the device to be fixed in position, a spool having two end walls, the spool being engageable with the washing line, a means to rotate the spool, and a means to lock the spool against rotation, the means to lock the spool against rotation comprising an end wall on the spool engageable with a cam which is pivotably attached to the device adjacent the end wall.
2. A locking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end wall is provided with a plurality of indentations engageable with a projection on the cam.
3. A locking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a stop member is provided adjacent the cam to prevent the cam rotating through 3600.
4. A locking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cam may be L-shaped, and pivotable about the intersection of the two limbs of the L, one limb being longer than the other.
5. A locking device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means to rotate the spool is a handle which is removable from the locking device.
6. A washing line unit comprising a locking device as claimed in any preceding claim together with a length of washing line.
7. A locking device substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in any one of the accompanying drawings.
GB9423982A 1993-12-02 1994-11-28 A locking device for a washing line Expired - Fee Related GB2284457B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IES930930 IES930930A2 (en) 1993-12-02 1993-12-02 "Improvements in washing lines"

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9423982D0 GB9423982D0 (en) 1995-01-11
GB2284457A true GB2284457A (en) 1995-06-07
GB2284457B GB2284457B (en) 1998-05-20

Family

ID=11040195

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9423982A Expired - Fee Related GB2284457B (en) 1993-12-02 1994-11-28 A locking device for a washing line

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2284457B (en)
IE (1) IES930930A2 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2340567A (en) * 1998-06-16 2000-02-23 Sagem Free wheel with freely mounted catch means

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB658802A (en) * 1948-12-29 1951-10-10 Tufnol Ltd Improvements in or relating to pawl and ratchet mechanisms
GB1071101A (en) * 1964-06-17 1967-06-07 Carlton Tyre Saving Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to flexing devices
GB1160421A (en) * 1965-12-09 1969-08-06 Ass Elect Ind Improvements relating to Arrangements for Taking Up and Releasing a Flexible Linear Member.
GB1564748A (en) * 1976-01-28 1980-04-10 Chapuit J Wall-mounted drier or airer

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB658802A (en) * 1948-12-29 1951-10-10 Tufnol Ltd Improvements in or relating to pawl and ratchet mechanisms
GB1071101A (en) * 1964-06-17 1967-06-07 Carlton Tyre Saving Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to flexing devices
GB1160421A (en) * 1965-12-09 1969-08-06 Ass Elect Ind Improvements relating to Arrangements for Taking Up and Releasing a Flexible Linear Member.
GB1564748A (en) * 1976-01-28 1980-04-10 Chapuit J Wall-mounted drier or airer

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2340567A (en) * 1998-06-16 2000-02-23 Sagem Free wheel with freely mounted catch means

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2284457B (en) 1998-05-20
GB9423982D0 (en) 1995-01-11
IES62240B2 (en) 1995-01-11
IES930930A2 (en) 1995-01-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4738341A (en) Lock system for a suitcase or container
US5265816A (en) Double roll tissue dispenser with sliding door
CA2196689C (en) Retractable auxiliary luggage case attachment and security tether mechanism and method
US5553715A (en) Bicycle stand
ES2109908T3 (en) WINDER FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE SEAT BELTS.
CA2127676A1 (en) Detent mechanism for hinged orthopedic brace
GB2262123A (en) Sash window counter balance
US5167364A (en) Rotatable mounting assembly for a rural mailbox
EP0968952B1 (en) Retractable hose reel assemblies
US5470029A (en) Quick rewind chalk line reel
CA2075140C (en) Paper towel dispenser ¬swing bottom|
US5342229A (en) Float tube anchor apparatus
GB2526907A (en) Exercise device
GB2284457A (en) A washing line unit
US20100050403A1 (en) Rotary tensioning device
GB2462284A (en) Home delivery system
WO2002060803A2 (en) Fail-safe device for raising/lowering articles
US5992779A (en) Fishing reel with lockable bail system
US5088448A (en) Combined pet hitching post and storage device
US5092261A (en) Boat anchor
US5102176A (en) Releasable lock mechanism
EP0246338A1 (en) Limit stop device for the opening of sun curtains
CA2063021A1 (en) Detachable personal accessory apparatus for use with panel systems
US5802758A (en) Fish hook setting apparatus
GB2275275A (en) Toilet seat positioning and auto-return device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20011128