GB2412308A

GB2412308A - Rain cover for a rotary washing line

Info

Publication number: GB2412308A
Application number: GB0406668A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Pike; Julia Pike
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-25
Filing date: 2004-03-25
Publication date: 2005-09-28
Also published as: GB0406668D0

Abstract

A rain cover for a rotary washing line which does not require any modification to the washing line. The rain cover is supported on the existing rotary frame, suspended above the washing line, and allows rainwater to run off towards the middle of the frame. An optional spacer may be used to keep the cover further away from the washing line. The cover is attached to the frame in such a way as to allow it to remain in place even when the rotary line is folded down. The cover can be attached to the frame from different positions along the cover so as to accommodate various sizes of rotary washing line and is made from either a clear waterproof material or a fine mesh material.

Description

1 2412308 Rain Cover for a rotary washing line This invention relates to a

rain cover for a rotary washing line.

When washing is left out on a rotary washing line, it runs the risk of getting rained on which prevents it from drying. This can result in the washing having to be repeatedly taken in each time it rains and then hung out again when is stops raining.

Existing rain covers designs usually require a modification to the rotary line's frame and when fitted make the line difficult to use. As a result, these designs are expensive to produce and are unlikely to be used unless it is obvious that it is going to rain.

To overcome this problem, the present invention proposes a rain cover for a rotary washing line which does not require any modification to the washing line. The rain cover is supported by the existing rotary washing line's frame and is suspended above the washing line allowing water to run off towards the middle of the frame.

The rain cover allows washing to be left on the rotary washing line when it is raining without the washing getting wet.

It does not interfere with the normal use of the line, since the cover is suspended above the individual washing lines allowing pegs to be attached to washing without fouling the cover.

It can be quickly and easily fitted to any existing rotary washing line without the frame needing modification.

Rainwater runs off of the cover towards the middle of the washing line, away from anyone hanging up or taking down washing.

The rain cover can be left on the rotary line at all times, even when it is collapsed down Or storage.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings. The shaded areas indicate where the waterproof material is fitted. If a rotary washing line is shown, it is drawn using dotted lines to indicate that it is not part of the rain cover: Figure I shows a perspective view of a Rain Cover fitted to a four arm rotary washing line.

- Figure 2 shows the front elevation view of a Rain Cover fitted to a four arm rotary washing line.

Figure 3 shows the top plan view of a Rain Cover fitted to a four arm rotary washing line.

- Figure 4 shows the row of eyelets and the spacer in more detail.

- Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a Rain Cover fitted to a three arm rotary washing line.

This description is for a rain cover for a four arm rotary washing line, although the design can be applied to rotary lines with 3 or any other number of arms. An example of this can be seen in figure 4, which shows the 3 arm version of the rain cover.

The cover is made of four identical pieces of water-proof material, cut to a shape similar to the segments of the washing line frame, and joined along the sides (marked A in figures 2 and 3). The width between these sides reduces slightly quicker than the distance between the arms of the frame as you move toward the middle.

Hence, as you can see in figure 2, the middle of the cover is held further above the washing line than the edges.

Along the under side of the joined sides (A), there are several eyelets (marked C) to enable the cover to be tied to the frame. By choosing the appropriate eyelet, one size of cover can be attached to rotary frames of different sizes.

When attaching the cover to the frame using the eyelets, a spacer (marked B) can be used to increase the clearance between the cover and the edge of the washing line.

The spacer has a slot running along the top which allows it to slide along the row of eyelets. The cord used to tie the cover is put through the appropriate eyelet, and then passed through the hole in the middle of the spacer before being tied to the end of the arm of the washing line.

The square hole in the middle of the cover allows rainwater to drain away, and also allows the centre column of the frame to pass up through when the washing line is collapsed down for storage.

Each of the four corners of the central square, (marked D in figure 2) has a cord attached to it which is used to tie the cover to one arm of the frame.

Claims

([aims 1. A Rain Cover for a rotary washing line, which is supported on

the existing rotary frame, suspended above the washing line and which allows rainwater to run off towards the middle of the frame.
2. A Rain Cover, according to claim 1, which does not require any modification to the rotary washing line.
3. A Rain Cover, according to claim 1, which is attached to the frame in such a way as to allow it to remain attached even when the rotary line is folded down.
4. A Rain Cover, according to claim 1, which has an optional "spacer" between it and the end of each arm of the frame, which helps to keep the cover further away from the washing line.
5. A Rain Cover, according to claim 1, which can be attached to the frame from different positions along the cover so as to accommodate various sizes of rotary washing line.
6. A Rain Cover, according to claim 1, which is made from either a clear water-proof material to allow sun light to pass through it, or a fine mesh material which would stop the rain but allow the wind to pass through it.