GB2369562A

GB2369562A - Shower cover for a rotary clothes airer/dryer

Info

Publication number: GB2369562A
Application number: GB0029308A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Michael Rooke; Jane Elizabeth Doyle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-12-01
Filing date: 2000-12-01
Publication date: 2002-06-05
Also published as: GB0029308D0

Abstract

The cover includes a supporting frame which is 3 or 4 sided depending upon the type of airer. The frame comprises elongate members h which are preferably in two pans screwed together. At the apices of the frame are 'posts' k having clamps 1 which clamp around the arms of the dryer by means of a screw. The frame members have holes j near the corners through which ties can pass to attach the cover itself to the frame. The cover has a top part which in the case of the three armed airer shown, is triangular, with three side panels which can almost reach the ground. The sides of the adjacent panes can be joined together by press studs g, or by hook and loop type fastenings. There is a hollow seam at the bottom of each panel into which a rod is passed. Attached to this are draw strings q which pass up through a series of holes e in the side panel and though a guide o on the frame. Pulling on the top end of the draw strings allows the sides to be neatly rolled up. Once rolled up they can be fixed in that state by a hook and loop strap and corresponding part c.

Description

SHOWER COVER FOR A ROTARY CLOTHES AIRER/DRYER This invention relates to a shower cover for a rotary clothes airer/dryer of the three-armed or four-armed type that is used outdoors.

The disadvantage of using an outdoor rotary clothes airer/dryer is wet weather lengthening the drying process, either by rain preventing the wet items from drying, or the lost drying time from the items being removed for the duration of the shower (s) and then replaced. The process of removing then replacing the items is itself also a disadvantage.

The object of this invention is to provide shelter from the rain, allowing the drying process to continue whilst the items remain on the rotary clothes airer/dryer, also saving the user the chore of having to remove and replace them.

Accordingly, this invention provides a rigid cover frame that includes fixings to attach the cover frame to the arms of a rotary clothes airer/dryer and a shaped shower cover that includes fixings to secure the shower cover to the cover frame.

Preferably the shower cover is made of polythene and the frame made of hollow plastic tubing.

A description of the preferred embodiment of the invention follows with reference to the accompanying drawings depicting: DRAWING 1/9 shows a shaped shower cover for a three-arm rotary clothes airer/dryer.

DRAWING 2/9 shows a shaped shower cover for a four-arm rotary clothes airer/dryer.

DRAWING 3/9 shows the cover frame components for a three-arm rotary clothes airer/dryer including:

Figure 1 shows the cover frame bars. Figure 2 shows the coverframe cornerposts.

Figure 3 shows the rolling aid tubes.

Figure 4 shows a draw cord guide for a three-arm or a four-arm rotary clothes airer/dryer.

DRAWING 4/9 shows the cover frame components for a four-arm rotary clothes airer/dryer

including : Figure 1 shows the cover bars.

Figure 2 shows the cover frame corner posts.

Figure 3 shows the rolling aid tubes.

DRAWING 5/9 shows a constructed cover frame for a three-arm rotary clothes airer/dryer DRAWING 6/9 shows a constructed cover frame for a four-arm rotary clothes airer/dryer.

DRAWING 7/9 shows a side view of a three-arm rotary clothes airer/dryer with the cover frame attached.

DRAWING 8/9 shows a side view of a three-arm rotary clothes airer/dryer with the cover frame and shower cover attached and raised.

DRAWING 9/9 shows a side view of a three-arm rotary clothes airer/dryer with the cover frame and shower cover attached and lowered.

The cover frame is constructed from cover frame bars (h), screwed together and connected to cover frame corner posts (k) to form either a triangle for a three-arm airer/dryer (Drawing 5/9), or a square for a four-arm airer/dryer (Drawing 6/9). Each side of the cover frame consists of two cover frame bars (h), one with a protruding screw thread, and the other with a receiving screw hole. The protruding screw threads have marks (i) along their lengths to indicate how far the two should be screwed together to cater for various sizes of rotary airer/dryers. The cover frame corner posts (k) incorporate a clamp (I) that is operated by a clamp screw, enabling the cover frame to be secured close to the end of each arm of the rotary clothes airer/dryer (Drawing 7/9) The shower cover (a) is secured to the top of the cover frame by ties (b) that are sewn in to the shower cover (a) and tied to the cover frame bars (h), the ties (b) closest to the cover frame corner posts (k) passing through a hole (j) in the cover frame bars (h). With the shower cover (a) fastened to the cover frame and the cover frame clamped to the airer/dryer, the shower cover (a) is shaped to form drop sides wider than the sides of the airer/dryer (Drawing 919) that are fastened together by sewn in Velcro fastening tabs or plastic pressstuds (g). The sides of the shower cover (a) are long enough to protect the items hanging on the airer/dryer from rain. The shower cover (a) has a drainage hole (d) in the centre that allows rain pass down the centre of the airer/dryer away from the hanging items and prevents rain collecting on the top surface. Each side of the shower cover (a) has a tunnel sleeve (j) on the lower edge for rolling aid tubes (m) to be inserted. The raising and lowering system utilises three parallel lines of small holes (e) in each shower cover (a) side, top to bottom, one line in the centre and one line toward each edge of the shower cover (a) side. At the bottom of each line of holes (e) there is a corresponding hole (n) through the rolling aid tubes (m). At the top of each line of holes (e), where the shower cover (a) meets the cover frame, draw cord guides (o) are attached to the cover frame bars

(h) and also the cc'/raw corMpc , at the positions labelled (xo) on Drawing 5/9 and Drawing 619. The draw cord guide (o) includes a draw cord guide hole (p) through the lower side. Each draw cord (q) is knotted at the bottom end and threaded through a washer (r), the knot being bigger than the hole in the washer (r), and through a hole (n) in the rolling

aid tubes (m). The draw cord (q) is threaded through the corresponding line of holes (e) in the shower cover (a) side in an upward direction, in through the first hole and back out through the next, continuing in this way to the top of the shower cover (a) side. The draw cord (q) passes through the draw cord guide hole (P) in the draw cord guide (o) attached to the cover frame immediately above the threaded line of holes (e), in through the left and out toward the right. The draw cord (q) passes through the draw cord guide holes (p) in each draw cord guide (o) in the same direction along one side of the cover frame, finally passing through the draw cord guide hole (P) in the draw cord guide (o) attached to the first cover frame corner post (k) in that direction. This process is the same for all draw cords (q), nine for a three-arm airer/dryer and twelve for a four-arm airer/dryer, all threaded in the same direction.

There are three draw cords (q) threaded through the draw cord guide (o) on each coverframe corner post (k), which are tied together at the ends.

To operate, pulling on each set of three draw cords (q) raises the shower cover (a) sides, which are secured at the top of each shower cover (a) side by sewn in Velcro fastening strips (c) (Drawing 819). The shower cover (a) sides are lowered by releasing the Velcro fastening strips (c) at the top of each shower cover (a) side, allowing them to drop to their full length (Drawing 9/9) and fastened together by sewn in Velcro fastening tabs or plastic press-studs (g). Alternatively, the sides of the shower cover (a) can be rolled up around the rolling aid tubes (m) and secured at the top of each shower cover (a) side by sewn in Velcro fastening strips (c).

It is noted that Velcro is a registered Trademark.

Claims

CLAIMS SHOWER COVER FOR A ROTARY CLOTHES AIRER/DRYER

1. A shower cover that provides a three or four-sided rigid tubular cover frame including fixings to attach the cover frame to the anus of a rotary clothes airer/dryer, and a three or four-sided shaped shower cover including fixings to attach the shower cover to the cover frame.

2. A shower cover as claimed in Claim 1 where the cover frame fixings include a post at the comers of the cover frame incorporating a clamp and screw to attach the cover frame to the arms of a rotary clothes airer/dryer.

3. A shower cover as claimed in Claim 1 where the shower cover fixings include ties to attach the shower cover to the cover frame.

4. A shower cover as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 3 including a drainage hole in the centre, Velcro fastening tabs or press-studs to fasten the lowered shower cover sides to each other and Velcro fastening strips to secure the shower cover sides when raised.

5. A shower cover as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 3 or Claim 4 including a tube, with small holes through it, attached to the lower edge of each shower cover side and parallel lines of small holes, top to bottom, in each side of the shower cover.

6. A shower cover as claimed in any preceding Claim including draw cord guides that are attachable to the cover frame and comer posts.

7. A shower cover as claimed in any preceding Claim including draw cords, knotted at one end, which when threaded in turn through a washer, a hole in the tube attached to the lower edge of the shower cover side, woven through a corresponding line of parallel holes in the shower cover side and through a draw cord guide attached to the cover frame, provides a raising and lowering system for the shower cover sides.

It is noted that Velcro is a registered trademark.