GB2382521A

GB2382521A - Combined parasol and clothes dryer

Info

Publication number: GB2382521A
Application number: GB0123935A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wendy Stewart; Paul Crawford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-05
Filing date: 2001-10-05
Publication date: 2003-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-05
Also published as: GB0123935D0; GB2382521B

Abstract

The lower support arms 7 of a folding waterproof parasol or umbrella 6 are provided with hooks or holes 8 by which a clothes line is supported. The device has two open positions, one as shown to act as a parasol and the other (Fig 2) in which the support 9 is lower whereby arms 8 slope upwards from the central support 1 to act as a clothes dryer. The arms may be raised/lowered by an electric, hydraulic or pneumatic motor and the cover 6 may include side flaps 12 and be easily removable.

Description

DUAL FUNCTION WEATHER PROTECTION APPARATUS This invention relates to an outdoors apparatus that can operate as a parasol in sunny weather, as a clothes drying apparatus in both sunny and rainy weather, and can be folded down to a minimum storage size in other conditions.

Parasols are well known but suffer the disadvantage in most cases of requiring ground space that could otherwise be used for clothes drying when required. Clothes drying stands are also well known but usually suffer from the disadvantage of exposing the clothes to rain, airborne dirt and UV light.

The objective of this invention is to combine the parasol, with its umbrella function in rainy conditions, with support for a clothes line in such a manner that it is possible to adjust the apparatus for the most convenient position according to the needs of the user. An additional objective is to provide a safe storage position for those occasions when neither a parasol nor a clothes drying apparatus is desirable, for example in high winds or when mowing grass under the apparatus.

Accordingly, this invention provides a vertical support shaft to be strongly mounted outdoors, a waterproof parasol top whose lower arms support a washing line, and a mechanism for raising, lowering and locking the arms in the three main positions to function as a parasol, as a clothes drying stand, or for storage.

Preferably the underlying mechanism is made from a strong light material suited to outdoors operation, such as aluminium or plastic materials, but any other materials that meet the mechanical strength and outdoor survival requirements such as suitably treated wood could also be used, and any combination of materials that is appropriate. Preferably the parasol cover is made from a light flexible material that is waterproof and UV opaque, such as dyed plastic or waxed cloth, but any material or combination of materials meeting the mechanical and waterproof requirements could also be used.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a cross sectional view of the apparatus in the parasol position.

FIGURE 2 shows half of the cross sectional view in the clothes drying position.

FIGURE 3 shows a top view of the apparatus in the clothes drying position, and illustrates a garment attached to the clothes line.

FIGURE 4 shows half of the cross sectional view in the storage position.

As shown in Figure 1, the apparatus comprises of an upright support post 1 attached to a base 2 which is normally fixed by a suitably strong arrangement to the ground outside. The best fixing arrangement would be to a buried support such as a concrete block or similar that provides sufficient strength to survive any high wind speeds in normal use, however, the use of a temporary base of sufficient weight is also sufficient.

The top of the support post 1 has a support plate 3 to which each of the upper arms 5 of the parasol mechanism are attached by a flexible coupling 4. The example embodiment used in the figures is based on four arms, but any number of arms from three and upwards is suitable.

The support plate and upper arms provide support and attachment facilities to the parasol cover 6 which optionally has downward flaps 12 to provide enhanced rain protection. In the figures these flaps 12 are illustrated as being of a comparable length to typical parasol use, however, for increased rain protection under windy conditions longer flaps could be attached. With

significantly longer flaps there may be additional shrouded ventilation holes at the top to enhance air circulation for faster drying.

The actual attachment method for the cover is not illustrated in the figures. This method could be a permanent approach such as adhesive or rivets, but it is preferable to make the cover replaceable through the use of a detachable approach such as screws or ties, etc, to extend the useful life of the apparatus and to allow styling changes.

The lower arms 7 of the parasol are attached to the upper arms 5 by a flexible coupling 4 and by another flexible coupling to the vertical operating rod 9. These lower arms have support means 8, such as holes or hooks, for the clothes line which is not visible in this cross sectional view, but is shown in Figure 3.

The arms in Figure 1 are shown in the parasol position, and here they provide the maximum head room clearance to the lower arms 7, and any clothes line attached to the support means 8, for people to sit out of the sun under the cover 6 and avoid sun bum, etc, as shown by the chair in Figure 1.

The vertical operating rod 9 is shown in the cross sectional view of the figures as a pipe concentric with the support post 1, but any acceptably stiff method of providing vertical actuation of the lower support arms 7, such as a ring supported by one or more external rods, is suitable. The use of such a modified operating arrangement could allow the parasol top to be placed in additional angled positions to increase the extent of the sun's shadow cast by the cover 6, there by providing better protection for people under the apparatus, as commonly done with existing parasols.

The lower end of the vertical operating rod 9 is attached to a handle and locking mechanism 10 which is provided with a release method 11 to allow the apparatus to be locked in any of the desired positions. In one example of an implementation the locking force could be provided by a peg or ball pushed by a spring or other compliant system in to dents, ridges or holes in the vertical post 1, and released by hand pressure of a leaver representing the release method 11.

Optionally, the locking mechanism 10 and release method 11 could be implemented by a powered system based on electric motors, hydraulics or pneumatics to permit the apparatus to be raised and lowered by remote control for convenience or to assist the disabled.

In Figure 1 the locking mechanism 10 has to support an upwards force due to the action of gravity on the support arms 5 and 7 and all items attached to them, however, there is also a need to support a downward force under any wind conditions that provide an upwards force on the parasol cover 6.

As shown in Figure 2, the apparatus can be arranged for the clothes drying function by lowering the vertical operating rod 9 so that the lower arms 7 are sloping downward towards the central support post 1. In this position, as compared to parasol position of Figure 1, the clothes line attached to the supporting means 8 of the lower arms is more accessible to allow the garments to be attached to the line using clothes pegs or similar means.

In Figure 2 the locking mechanism 10 has to support a downwards force due to the action of gravity on the support arms 5 and 7 and all items attached to them, however, there is also a need to support an upwards force under any wind conditions that provide an upwards force on the parasol cover 6.

As shown in Figure 3, the clothes line 13 would typically be spiralled through the support means 8 of each lower arm s7 several times to provide a reasonable length of line to attach the garment 14 to be dried using a peg 15 or similar method, as already performed in the well known

examples of clothes drying apparatus already in use. In the interest of clarity, only one short segment of the line is illustrated in Figure 3 but it is still clear that the garment 14 is protected from rain and UV light by the cover 6. Optionally the line 13 may have a spring or other compliant method of keeping optimum tension.

As shown in Figure 4, the apparatus may be stored with minimum ground area and wind resistance for conditions of extreme weather, or to allow easier and safer access to the ground below for mowing grass, etc, by raising the vertical operating rod 9 so that the lower arms 7 and upper arms 5 are sloping almost vertically. In this position the cover 6 continues to protect the mechanism and clothes line from rain and UV light.

Optionally, the extra rain flaps 12 could provide protective cover for the locking mechanism 10 and release method 11 while allowing easy manual access to restore the apparatus to the parasol or clothes drying positions. As shown in the figures, the use of a vertical operating rod 9 of similar length to the arms 5 and 7 has the advantage of making the locking mechanism 10 accessible without the difficulty of having to reach up under the cover 6 when in the storage position.

In Figure 4 the locking mechanism 10 has to support a minor force due to the action of gravity on the support arms 5 and 7 and all items attached to them, however, there is also a need to support both an upwards and a downwards force under any wind conditions that provide an unbalanced force on the parasol cover 6. Additional protection against extreme wind conditions could be provided by a strap or tie that encircles the whole apparatus to bind the cover 6 and all arms 5 and 7 together, this is not illustrated in the figures but is common practice for the storage of umbrellas and parasols.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An apparatus consisting of a vertical support shaft to be strongly mounted outdoors, a waterproof parasol top whose lower arms support a washing line, and a mechanism for raising, lowering and locking the arms in the three main positions to function as a parasol, as a clothes drying stand, or for storage.
2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 where the mechanism to raise and lower the arms has more than three positions.
3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 where the mechanism to raise and lower the arms has less than three positions.
4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim where the mechanism to raise and lower the arms has powered operation through the use of electric motors, hydraulics or pneumatics.
5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim where the parasol cover is easily removed and replaced by the use of non-permanent attachment methods.
6. An apparatus substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.