GB2301024A - Rack for drying clothes - Google Patents

Abstract

A rack (1) for drying clothes comprising an arm (2) which is supported horizontally and a frame (4) moveable along the arm to selectively position the frame on the arm. The frame is movable by a means of a system of ropes and pulleys. The frame has at least one traveller means (8) which travels along the arm. Two members (16) are provided parallel to the arm from which clothes may be hung. The rack is intended to be mounted to the upper portion of a window or a door frame.

Description

RACK FOR DRYING CLOTHES This invention relates to a rack for drying clothes outside an open window or from a balcony.

Clothes are frequently dried outside windows in areas of high density population. In places such as Hong Kong, housing estates have pairs of casement windows or openable balcony frames underneath which a number of cylindrical projections are provided which project from the frame below the window or balcony. Traditionally, bamboo rods are placed into the cylindrical projections and clothing is hung on the bamboo rods for drying. This arrangement for drying clothes has the disadvantage that it is dangerous and difficult for a person to reach out to hang clothing at the far end of the bamboo rods.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rack for drying clothes outside an open window or from a balcony with which it is easy to reach the end of the rack and therefore safe to hang out clothes.

According to the present invention there is provided a rack for drying clothes comprising an arm which is supported horizontally and a frame moveable along the arm to selectively position the frame on the arm.

Preferably, the frame is movable by a means of a system of ropes and pulleys. The frame may have at least one traveller means which travels along the arm.

The frame may comprise at least two members parallel to the arm from which clothes may be hung.

Preferably, the arm is in fixed attachment to an upper portion of a window or door frame. The arm may have a box channel section in which the traveller means may run. The traveller means may optimally be bogies.

A preferred embodiment of a rack for drying clothes in accordance with the present invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rack for drying clothes.

Referring to the drawing, a rack 1 for drying clothes outside an open window or from a balcony has an arm 2 which is fixed at its first end 46 to a top frame member 36 of a window 6 or door. In addition, a bracket 50 attaches the first end 46 of the arm 2 to the ceiling of a room within the window 6 or door. Twin casement windows are illustrated in Fig. 1 which are standard on balconies in housing estates in places like Hong Kong and enable the arm 2 to be attached within the balcony 6 with the arm 2 extending through a grill.

In other window arrangements, the arm 2 can be attached to the outside of the window frame or can be built through the window frame such that the arm 2 still extends inside the window 6 but allows the window 6 to be closed.

The arm 2 has a box channel section which acts as a rail within which traveller means 8, 10 can run.

A frame 4 has a central member 20 which runs parallel to the arm 2. The central member 20 has two traveller means 8, 10 each in the form of a four wheeled bogie, fixed to the top surface of the member 20. The bogies 8, 10 fit within the box channel of the arm 2 and allow the frame 4 to run along the arm 2. The first bogie 8 prevents further movement of the frame 4 in the direction towards and through the window 6 when the bogie 8 meets the end of the arm 2. Similarly, the frame 4 is prevented from detachment from the arm 2 at the second end 48 of the arm 2 by the second bogie 10 being prevented from escaping from the end of the arm 2.

The frame 4 has two parallel members 16 disposed on either side of, and parallel to, the central member 20. Cross members 18, in this example three, support the central member 20 and the parallel members 16. Coat hangers 52 can be hung from the parallel members 16.

A bracket 12 is fixedly attached to the central member 20 of the frame 4 and encloses the arm 2 whilst allowing the arm 2 to move slidably within the bracket 12.

A rope and pulley system is now described which operates the movement of the frame 4 in relation to the arm 2.

A first end 60 of a rope 24 passes through first and second eye loops 30, 32 attached to the wall or ceiling immediately above the window 6. The rope 24 passes along the arm 2 to a bore hole 14 in the bracket 12 connecting the frame 4 to the arm 2. The first end 60 of the rope 24 is attached to the bracket 12 by attachment through the bore hole 14. A second end 62 of the rope 24 passes around a first pulley 28 and through a third eye loop 34, the first pulley 28 and the third eye loop 34 being attached within or to the ceiling or wall immediately above the window 6 adjacent to the first and second eye loops 30, 32. The rope 24 passes around a second pulley 22 on the second end 48 of the arm 2 and passes back along the upper surface of the arm 2 and is attached to the bracket 12 by attachment through the bore hole 14.

The remaining rope 24 hangs between the first pulley 28 and the first eye loop 30 and is operated by the person using the rack 1.

If the rope 24 below the first eye loop 30 is pulled in a downward direction (shown by arrow A), the frame 4 slides along the arm 2 towards the window 6 (direction D). If the rope 24 below the first pulley 28 is pulled in a downward direction (arrow B), the frame 4 slides along the arm 2 away from the window (direction C).

The portion of the rope 24 which hangs freely between the first eye loop 30 and the first pulley 28, has a clip 40 with a female portion 42 for attachment to a male member 44 of the clip 40 which is attached by a strap 54 around the bottom window frame 38.

The clip 40 ensures that the rope 24 does not become detached.

A second rope 26 for reinforcing the attachment of the rack 1 and for positioning the rack 1, runs from the second eye loop 32 to an eye loop 56 on the second end 48 of the arm 2.

The second eye loop 32 is fixed to the ceiling or wall immediately above the window 6. In order for the second rope 26 to perform its reinforcing and positioning functions it is formed of stainless steel wire and in order to create sufficient tension in the stainless steel wire for holding the rack 1 in position, a hook device 58 is provided. The hook device 58 is used to attach the second rope 26 to the second eye loop 32 and the second rope 26 is then tightened until it is taut and holds the rack 1 in place.

In use, the rope 24 is pulled in direction A to bring the frame 4 within the window 6 or balcony. Clothes can then be hung on the frame 4 and then by pulling the rope 24 in direction B, the frame 4 can be moved away, out of the window 6, along the arm 2. The clothes then hang freely outside a window 6, or from a balcony, and are allowed to dry. When dry, the clothes can then be retrieved by again pulling the rope in direction A which slides the frame 4 back through the window 6 or balcony where the clothes can be detached from the frame 4.

Although the present example is for hanging clothes outside a window or balcony, the rack 1 can be used wherever there is an area in which clothes can be hung which is accessible from one side only, the arm 2 extending from the accessible end.

Improvements and modifications to the above can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (7)

1. A rack for drying clothes comprising an arm which is supported horizontally and a frame moveable along the arm to selectively position the frame on the arm.

2. A rack for drying clothes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame is movable by a means of a system of ropes and pulleys.

3. A rack for drying clothes as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame has at least one traveller means which travels along the arm.

4. A rack for drying clothes as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame comprises at least two members parallel to the arm from which clothes are hung.

5. A rack for drying clothes as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arm is in fixed attachment to an upper portion of a window or door frame.

6. A rack for drying clothes as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the arm has a box channel section in which the traveller means runs.

7. A rack for drying clothes substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A rack for drying clothes as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the traveller means is a bogie.

8. A rack for drying clothes substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS: 1. A rack for drying clothes comprising an arm which is supported horizontally and a frame moveable along the arm to selectively position the frame on the arm wherein the frame is movable by a means of a system of ropes and pulleys.

2. A rack for drying clothes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame has at least one traveller means which travels along the arm.

3. A rack for drying clothes as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the frame comprises at least two members parallel to the arm from which clothes are hung.

4. A rack for drying clothes as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arm is in fixed attachment to an upper portion of a window or door frame.

5. A rack for drying clothes as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the arm has a box channel section in which the traveller means runs.

6. A rack for drying clothes as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the traveller means is a bogie.