GB2351438A - Drier with canopy - Google Patents

Abstract

A drier comprises a pole (4) about which are disposed a plurality of radial arms (10) and at least one washing line (8) supported by at least some of the arms (10), the apparatus (2) being provided with a canopy (6) above the arms (10). The canopy (6) may be supported by spokes (20) which are pivotally connected to an upper hub (38). In a preferred embodiment the arms (10) are pivotally connected to a lower slidable hub (12) on the pole and pivotally connected to the spokes (20) so that the arms may be deployed in the manner of an umbrella by sliding the lower hub (12) on the pole (4). It is preferred that the arms (10) carry a plurality of concentric, spaced-apart lines which may be individually tensioned.

Description

2351438 A DRIER The present invention relates to a drier for clothes,

notably to a drier of the type which has a central pole with a plurality of radially-disposed arms, and a line carried by the arms for pegging clothes on. Driers of this type are often called 'rotary driers" because they are typically free to rotate. The term 'rotary drier" will be used herein for convenience to describe such driers. However, it is to be understood that the term includes driers whose arms and/or pole are not free to rotate.

Rotary driers are generally used outdoors, so that the wind dries clothes which are hung or pegged on the drier. When there is little wind the clothes take longer to dry, and dried clothes must be taken in when rain falls. Rotary driers serve only one function and take up garden or other outdoor space when not being used.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a drier comprising a pole about which are disposed a plurality of radial arms and at least one washing line supported by at least some of the arms, the apparatus being provided with a canopy above the arms.

By providing a canopy above the drier, articles which are hung or pegged on the drier may be protected from rain. The articles may also be protected against sunshine, which causes bleaching of susceptible fabrics. Laundry_may therefore be left to dry without 2431MV1 24 June 1999 2 the need to dash outside, or back from the shops, to "rescue" the laundry when it rains.

By arranging the arms of the drier above head height, the drier functions as a parasol or umbrella, under which people may sit or stand to keep out of the sun or rain. The drier is therefore useful even when not being used for drying. The drier may optionally be provided with a table, which may be secured to the pole or separate from the pole. In a preferred embodiment, the table comprises a pair of members which fit together to form a table which has a planar surface and a hole in the middle, the hole being dimensioned to permit the pole to be disposed through it.

In a preferred embodiment, the canopy is supported by a plurality of spokes which are pivotally connected to an upper hub on the pole, and the spokes are pivotally connected to a plurality of arms, each of which is pivotally connected to a lower hub, wherein the upper hub is axially fixed on or to the pole and the lower hub is slidable on the pole. This arrangement permits the drier to be opened and closed in the manner of an umbrella, by sliding the lower hub up or down the pole.

The term 'axially fixecr is used herein to mean that the upper hub is substantially not free to slide down the pole (although some limited upward movement may be permitted). The upper hub may, however, be rotatable about the pole. The upper hub may be mounted on top of the pole.

It is preferred that at least some of the arms that 2431A4V1 24 June 1999 support the spokes also carry the washing line (s) although it would also be possible to provide separate arms for this purpose. In a preferred embodiment the drier has eight spokes and eight support arms, four of the support arms carrying the washing line (s). For convenience hereinafter, the invention will be described with reference this preferred embodiment. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this embodiment.

The support arms which carry the washing line (s) preferably alternate with those which do not carry the washing line(s).

To enable laundry to be pegged out at a convenient height for the person doing the pegging, it is preferred that securing means are provided for securing the lower hub at any one of a plurality of points along the length of the pole. The user sets the lower hub at a convenient height and pegs articles on the line(s). Once all the articles have been pegged out, the user may raise the lower hub so that the laundry is at maximum height and the canopy is fully deployed.

The securing means may comprise, for example, a plurality of holes along the length of the pole, and a pin which is dimensioned to fit into any one of the holes. Insertion of the pin limits the downward travel of the lower hub. Other securing means could also be used; for example, the lower hub may be provided with a spring-biased pin which engages with a hole in the pole and which is releasable by the user operating a lever.

2431A4V1 24 June 1999 A stop member may be provided at or adjacent the bottom of the pole to limit downward movement of the lower hub and prevent the arms and the spokes from pivoting into a substantially parallel alignment in which they might 5 become stuck.

To facilitate raising of the lower hub, the drier may be provided with pulley means, so that by pulling on a rope or the like, the lower hub is raised up the pole.

A hook may be provided on the drier, for the rope to be hung on when the canopy is deployed.

The arms of the drier may carry a single washing line which is wound several times around the arms, in the manner of a conventional rotary drier. However, such a line is difficult to tension evenly because sections of the line may become taut between one pair of arms but loose between other pairs of arms. This causes a particular problem when the lower hub is raised and lowered frequently, because the desired tension will vary with the height of the lower hub. We have surprisingly found that tensioning may be readily and more quickly carried out by providing a plurality of separate lines, each of which may be individually tensioned. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the arms support a plurality of spaced-apart concentric lines, each line being provided with individual tensioning means. Each line may have one fixed end and one free end. The tensioning means may comprise a cleat which permits the user to pull the free end of the line to achieve a desired tension, and then to releasably secure the line by seating it in a waist in the cleat. This operation may be performed very quickly 2431MV1 24 June 1999 for each line.

The washing lines may be conventional in construction, comprising a nonstretch core in a sleeve of a plastics material. To aid tensioning, it is preferred that gaps are provided in the sleeve, where the line passes through a support point (for example, a hole) in each support arm. This facilitates movement of the line through the holes.

The canopy may be formed from any suitable material which will be at least rain resistant, for example (f,-T IVO canvas, nylonX PVC or polypropylene. It may be woven or formed from extruded sheets or the like. Suitable materials will be well known to those skilled in the art of parasol manufacture.

The canopy may be secured to the drier by any suitable securing means. In a preferred embodiment, the canopy is provided with a plurality of pockets about its outer periphery, and the canopy is secured to the drier by locating each spoke in a corresponding pocket. The pockets may be discrete, or they may be part of a circumferential hem around the canopy.

To reduce the risk of the drier being damaged or uprooted by high winds, it is preferred that the canopy is provided with a flap at the top. The flap opens up in high winds to provide a safety valve to reduce the effective wind force on the canopy.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawing in 2431A4V1 24 June 1999 6 which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drier in accordance with the invention in a closed configuration; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the drier in a partially deployed configuration; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the drier in a fully deployed configuration; Figure 4 is a view from underneath of the drier in a fully deployed configuration; is Figure 5 is a view of a detail of part of the drier and the securing of a spoke to the canopy; and Figure 6 is a view of the centre of the drier.

The drier 2 comprises a hollow pole 4 on which is slidably mounted a lower hub 12. The drier has a canopy 6 which is supported on a plurality of spokes 20. As best shown in Figure 4, each spoke 20 is pivotally connected at its proximal end to a fixed hub 38 near the top of the pole 4, and pivotally connected to an arm 10 near its distal end. In this example the 30 pivotal connecting means 24 comprises a bolt.

The arms 10 are in turn pivotally connected to the slidable lower hub 12 so that, by sliding the lower hub 2431A4V1 24 June 1999 12 up or down the drier 2 may be, respectively, fully deployed (as shown in Figure 3) or closed (as shown in Figure 1), in the manner of an umbrella. A stop member 40 is provided near the bottom of the pole 4 to limit 5 downward movement of the lower hub 12.

The spokes 20 and arms 10 may conveniently be made from wood or from plastics materials. However, other materials, including metals, could optionally be used to make the spokes and arms.

The position of the lower hub 12 may also be set to any one of a plurality of intermediate positions by virtue of a set of holes 18 along the pole 4. To set a preferred height for the lower hub 12, a pin 30 is inserted into the appropriate hole 18 and the lower hub 12 rests on the pin 30.

Every alternate support arm 10 is provided with a set of holes through which washing lines 8 are disposed. In the present example, each arm 10 has eight holes. The lines are substantially concentric. Each line 8 has a fixed end which is knotted behind a hole in an arm 10, and a free end which terminates in a handle 28.

A cleat 26 is provided on an arm 10 for each line 8, as best shown in Figure 5. To tension a line 8, the user pulls on the handle 28 and then secures the line 8 in a waist in the cleat. This operation may be repeated very quickly and easily for each line 8. It is preferred that not all of the cleats are provided on the same arm, to reduce crowding and make it easier for the user to adjust the tension of individual lines. In 2431A4V1 24 June 1999 the preferred arrangement best shown in Figure 4, four cleats 26 are provided on each of two opposed arms 10. However it will be appreciated that many other arrangements of cleats on the arms are possible within 5 the scope of the invention.

The canopy 6 is provided with eight pockets 22 around its periphery. To secure the canopy 6 to the drier, each spoke 20 is inserted into a corresponding pocket 22. The relative dimensions of the canopy 6 and spokes 20 are such that the canopy is held under tension when the spokes 20 are fully deployed.

The canopy 6 is provided with a flap 14 at its top, to permit passage of air through the top when the wind blows hard, thereby reducing lift forces on the canopy.

Referring now to Figure 6, to facilitate raising of the lower hub 12, and deployment of the arms 10 and spokes 20, a pulley wheel 36 is provided on the lower hub. A rope 16 is axially disposed through the pole 4. The proximal end of the rope 16 is disposed through a hole at the bottom of the pole 4, and the distal end is connected to the upper hub 38, via the pulley wheel 36.

When the user pulls on the proximal end of the rope 16, the lower hub 12 is lifted.

The user may therefore set the lower hub 12 at a convenient height by means of the pin 30, peg washing on the lines 8, raise the lower hub 12 by pulling on the rope 16 to lift the washing higher, and secure the lower hub 12 by putting the pin 30 into the top hole 18. Finally, the user may tension each line 8 as 2431A4V1 24 June 1999 described above. The washing may then be lef t to dry without concern for rain.

The pin 30 is secured to the lower hub 12 by a chain 32 which is fixed to a keeper 34. The keeper 34 also provides a hook on which the proximal end of the rope 16 may be hung when the drier 2 is deployed.

In this example, the canopy 6 is formed from sail canvas, and has a width of about 2.7 metres when fully deployed. The pole 4 is made from mild steel and has a diameter of about 38 mm. The materials and dimensions quoted herein are given for purposes of illustration only, and do not limit the invention in any way.

The invention provides a rotary drier which protects drying articles from rain and sun, and which also provides a parasol or umbrella for sheltering under. In a preferred embodiment the drier can be adjusted to suit users of different heights, and has washing lines that can readily be tensioned.

2431A4V1 29 June 1999

Claims (18)

1. A drier comprising a pole about which are disposed a plurality of radial arms and at least one washing line supported by at least some of the arms, the apparatus being provided with a canopy above the arms.

2. A drier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the canopy is supported by a plurality of spokes which are pivotally connected at their proximal ends to an upper hub which is axially fixed on the pole.

3. A drier as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each arm is pivotally connected at its proximal end to is a lower hub which is slidable on the pole.

4. A drier as claimed in claim 3 when dependent on claim 2, wherein each arm is pivotally connected at its distal end to a spoke, whereby the canopy may be opened and closed in the manner of an umbrella, by sliding the lower hub up and down the pole.

5. A drier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the canopy is provided with a plurality of pockets, each of which receives the distal end of a spoke to secure the canopy above the arms of the drier.

6. A drier as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a bottom stop is provided on the pole to limit downward travel of the lower hub.

7. A drier as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein securing means are provided for securing the 2431A4V1 24 June 1999 lower hub at a plurality of positions on the pole.

B. A drier as claimed in claim 7, wherein the securing means comprises a plurality of holes along the length of the pole, and a pin which is dimensioned to fit into any one of the holes.

9. A drier as claimed in claim 4, wherein alternate arms carry the washing line or lines.

10. A drier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of washing lines are supported by the arms, each line being provided with individual tensioning means.

11. A drier as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tensioning means for each line comprises a cleat to which the line may be releasably secured.

12. A drier as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the plurality of lines are spaced apart and substantially concentric.

13. A drier as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein pulley means are provided for sliding the lower hub up the pole.

14. A drier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each washing line comprises a substantially non-stretchable core in a sleeve of a plastics material, the sleeve having gaps where the line is disposed through support points in the arms.

2431A4V1 24 June 1999 12 -

15. A drier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including a table which is disposed about the pole.

16. A drier as claimed in claim 15, wherein the table comprises a pair of members which fit together to form a table which has a hole in the middle, the hole being of suitable dimensions to fit around the pole.

17. A rotary drier which is provided with a canopy.

18. A drier substantially as herein described with reference to or as shown in the drawing.

2431A4V1 24 June 1999