GB2434974A

GB2434974A - Collapsible laundry stand

Info

Publication number: GB2434974A
Application number: GB0526564A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Roberts
Original assignee: Vale Mill Rochdale Ltd
Current assignee: Vale Mill Rochdale Ltd
Priority date: 2005-12-29
Filing date: 2005-12-29
Publication date: 2007-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-29
Also published as: GB0526564D0; GB2434974B

Abstract

A laundry stand comprises a base, a support, and a structural member interconnecting the base and the support. The support is adapted to have clothes hung therefrom. The support and the base may be rotatable relative to each other (Figure 4). The support may comprise a number of arms and the base may comprise a number of legs, the arms and the legs being movable between an erected position, in which the arms and the legs extend outwardly from the structural member, and a collapsed position, in which the arms and the legs lie adjacent the structural member. The support may comprise a support extension, the support extension being movable between a retracted position in which it is inoperative and an extended position in which the support extension is adapted to have clothes hung there from (Figure 4 item 11).

Description

I

A Laundry Stand The invention relates to a laundry stand.

Laundry stands are well known, commonly comprising of a collapsible structure that is movable to an erected position in which it can be used to store ironed clothes on clothes hangers on while ironing. Laundry stands typically comprise of a base assembly of three or four legs assembled around a central pole. At the top of the pole there is an upper assembly comprising of three or four evenly spaced arms, which extend radially outwardly from the central pole in a near horizontal orientation. These arms can be notched to provide spaced out support locations to hang laundry items on clothes hangers.

Laundry stands can be used for a variety of applications such as a convenient stand to hang ironed laundry items on hangers during the activity of ironing, a stand for airing or drying laundry items and temporary storage of clothes on hangers.

Due to their temporary use such stands can usually be collapsed or dismantled for storage. In existing designs, once the laundry stand is opened or assembled the arms & legs of the stand remain fixed in position until the stand is collapsed for storage.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laundry stand comprising a base, a support and a structural member interconnecting the base and the support, the support being adapted to have clothes hung therefrom and the support and the base being rotatable relative to each other.

Preferably, the support and the structural member are rotatable relative to each other.

Preferably, the base and the structural member are rotatable relative to each other io In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laundry stand comprising a base, a support adapted to have clothes hung therefrom and a structural member interconnecting the base and the support, wherein the support comprises a number of arms and the base comprises a number of legs, the arms and the legs being movable between an erected position, in which the arms and the legs extend outwardly from the structural member, and a collapsed position, in which the arms and the legs lie adjacent the structural member.

Typically, when the arms and the legs are in the collapsed position, neither the arms nor the legs extend beyond the ends of the structural member.

Preferably, when the legs and the arms are in the collapsed position, the arms and legs are directed towards each other.

Typically, the support further comprises a first latch mechanism that is operable to retain the arms in the erected position, and the first latch mechanism includes a first release mechanism to release the arms from the erected position so that they are permitted to move to the collapsed position.

Typically, the base further comprises a second latch mechanism that is operable to retain the legs in the erected position, and the second latch mechanism includes a second release mechanism to release the legs from the erected position so that they are permitted to move to the collapsed position.

Preferably, the first and/or second latch mechanism may comprise an inner and an outer collar, the inner and outer being releasably engageable with each other.

Typically, one of the inner and outer collars is non-slidingly mounted on the structural member and the other of the inner and outer collars is slidable along the structural member. Typically, the inner collar is fixed to the structural member and the outer collar is slidable along the structural member.

Preferably, the inner and outer collars are both rotatable relative to the structural member.

Typically, the release member is located on the outer collar.

Where both the first and the second latch mechanism are provided and both latch members comprise inner and outer collars, preferably the collars that are slidable on the structural member are slidable on the structural member towards each other.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laundry stand comprising a base, a support adapted to have clothes hung therefrom and a structural member interconnecting the base and the support, wherein the support comprises support extension, the support extension being movable between a retracted position in which it is inoperative and an extended position in which the support extension is adapted to have clothes hung therefrom.

Preferably, when the support extension is in the retracted position, at least a portion of the support extension is located within a recess in the support, and when the support extension is in the extended position, the portion is not located within the recess.

Typically, the support extension is pivotable between the retracted and the extended positions.

Preferably, the first and second aspects of the invention may be combined, the first and third aspects of the invention may be combined or the second and third aspects of the invention may be combined. Most preferably, the first, second and third aspects of the invention are combined in a laundry stand.

Where the support comprises a number of arms, preferably there is a support extension for each arm.

Typically, each support extension is mounted on its respective arm adjacent the end of the arm remote from the structural member when the arms in the erected position.

Preferably, where the support comprises a number of arms, the recess for each extension member is in each respective arm.

An example of a laundry stand in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a laundry stand fully erected; Figure 2 is a side view of the laundry stand partially erected; Figure 3 is a side view of the laundry stand fully collapsed; Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of the laundry stand in fully open; Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to Figure 4 but with an upper assembly rotated slightly; Figure 6 shows the operation of lift out tabs for additional hanging space; Figure 7 shows the lift out tabs in position; Figure 8 is a cross sectional view through a locking ring mechanism at the position of an operating button.

Figures 1 to 5 show a laundry stand comprising a lower assembly 1, a central pole 2 and an upper assembly 3.

The upper assembly 3 consists of a collar assembly 4, a sliding collar assembly 5, three arms 15 and three links 13. Each arm 15 is pivotally coupled at one end to the collar assembly 4 and each link 13 is pivotally coupled at one end to the sliding collar assembly 5 and pivotally coupled at the opposite end to a respective arm 15.

The lower assembly I consists of an identical collar assembly 4, sliding collar assembly 5 and three links 13. However, instead of three arms 15, the lower assembly I has three legs 16. Each of the three legs 16 is pivotally coupled at one end to the lower collar assembly 4 and each of the three lower links 13 are 0 pivotally coupled at one end to the lower sliding collar assembly 5 and pivotally coupled at their opposite ends to a respective leg 16.

The collar assembly 4 and the sliding collar assembly 5 lock together when in a fully open position (shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5) with latch ring 6 and hook collar 7 shown in Fig 8. The latch ring 6 is mounted on the sliding collar assembly 5 and the hook collar is mounted on the collar assembly 4. When the sliding collar assembly is moved up to adjacent the collar assembly 4, the latch ring 6 engages with the hook collar 7. Depressing the button 8 disengages the latch ring 6 from the hook collar 7, thereby disengaging the sliding collar assembly 5 from the collar assembly 4 and permitting the sliding collar assembly to be slid away from the collar assembly 4.

As shown in Figure 2, when the sliding collar assembly 5 is disengaged from the collar assembly 4, the sliding collar assembly may be slid along the pole 2 away from the collar assembly 4. This causes the arms 15 or legs 16 to be moved from their extended position (shown in Figure 1) towards their collapsed position, which is shown in Figure 3. As can be seen from Figure 3, the arms 15 and legs 16 collapse so that in the collapsed position the length of the laundry stand is the length of the pole 2. This means that the laundry is relatively compact when in the collapsed position. This has the advantage of making it easier for user to store and also reduces the volume for shipping and storage, thereby making it more economical to ship and store than conventional laundry stands while not requiring a complicated assembly of the stand by the user.

Both the upper assembly I and the lower assembly 3 are free to rotate around the central pole 2, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. This has the advantage of permitting a user to rotate the upper assembly 3 relative to the lower assembly 2, thereby making it possible for a user to select clothes to be removed from the stand or to is easily place clothes on the laundry stand without requiring a user to walk round the stand. The upper and lower collar assemblies are each retained in position on the central pole 2 by an end cap 9, as shown in Figure 4.

Each of the arms 15 has a number of notches 10 which are provided to locate coat hangers or clothes hangers on the arms 15 and prevent the coat hangers sliding down the arms 15 towards the central pole 2.

An arm extension 11 is also provided on the end of each arm remote from the collar assembly 4. Each arm extension 11 is pivotally connected to the remote end of each arm 15 and can pivot between a closed position in which the arm extension 11 is located within a recess 12 in the remote end of each arm 15 and an open position in which the arm extension extends upwardly from the end of its respective arm 15, as shown in Figure 7. Figure 6 is an enlarged view of only a part of an arm 15 showing its receptive arm extension 11 in a partially open position. The arm extensions 11 each have three holes 14 formed in them which permit coat or clothes hangers to be hung from the arm extensions 11 in higher hanging positions.

Also as shown in Figure 6, a user is able to open the arm extensions 11 by using a io finger to push out the arm extension 11 from below the arm 15.

In order for a user to operate the laundry stand to move the arms 15 and legs 16 to the erected positions shown in Figure 1, a user first turns the pole 2 upside down so that the upper assembly 3 points downwards. Gravity causes the arms 15 to move downwards to the erected position and the upper sliding collar assembly 5 to engage with the upper fixed collar assembly 4. The user then turns the pole 2 the correct way up and gravity then causes the legs 16 to move downwards to the erected position and the lower sliding collar assembly 5 to engage and latch to the lower collar assembly 4. The laundry stand is now ready for use. If the user wishes to use the extensions 11, these can pivoted out of their recesses in the arms 15.

Claims

Claims: 1. A laundry stand comprising: a base, a support, and a

structural member interconnecting the base and the support, the support being adapted to have clothes hung therefrom, and the support and the base being rotatable relative to each other. * *

S.....

2. A laundry stand according to claim 1, wherein the support and the structural member are rotatable relative to each other. * *S.. * S S * .

3. A laundry stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base and the structural member are rotatable relative to each other.

4. A laundry stand according to any one of claims I to 3, wherein the support comprises a number of arms and the base comprises a number of legs, the arms and the legs being movable between an erected position, in which the arms and the legs extend outwardly from the structural member, and a collapsed position, in which the arms and the legs lie adjacent the structural member.

5. A laundry stand comprising: a base, a support adapted to have clothes hung therefrom, and a structural member interconnecting the base and the support, wherein the support comprises a number of arms and the base comprises a number of legs, the arms and the legs being movable between an erected position, in which the arms and the legs extend outwardly from the structural member, and a collapsed position, in which the arms and the legs lie adjacent the structural member.

6. A laundry stand according to any one of claims 4 or 5, wherein when the arms and the legs are in the collapsed position, neither the arms nor the legs extend beyond the ends of the structural member.

S..... S. * S * * S.

7. A laundry stand according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein when the I...

legs and the arms are in the collapsed position, the arms and legs are directed towards each other.

is 8. A laundry stand according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the support further comprises a first latch mechanism that is operable to retain the arms in the erected position, and the first latch mechanism includes a first release mechanism to release the arms from the erected position so that they are permitted to move to the collapsed position.

9. A laundry stand according to claim 8, wherein the base further comprises a second latch mechanism that is operable to retain the legs in the erected position, and the second latch mechanism includes a second release mechanism to release the legs from the erected position so that they are permitted to move to the collapsed position.

10. A laundry stand according to claim 9, wherein the first and/or second latch mechanism comprise an inner and an outer collar, the inner and outer being releasably engageable with each other.

11. A laundry stand according to claim 10, wherein one of the inner and outer collars is non-slidingly mounted on the structural member and the other of the inner and outer collars is slidable along the structural member. * S

S.....

12. A laundry stand according to claim 10, wherein the inner collar is fixed to the structural member and the outer collar is slidable along the structural member.

S * *. I... * S S *

13. A laundry stand according to claim 10, wherein the inner and outer collars are both rotatable relative to the structural member.

14. A laundry stand according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the outer collar has a release member located thereon.

15. A laundry stand according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein both the first and the second latch mechanisms comprise inner and outer collars.

16. A laundry stand according to claim 15, wherein the collars are slidable towards each other on the structural member.

17. A laundry stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support comprises a support extension, the support extension being movable between a retracted position in which it is inoperative and an extended position in which the support extension is adapted to have clothes hung therefrom.

18. A laundry stand comprising: abase, a support adapted to have clothes hung therefrom, and a structural member interconnecting the base and the support, wherein the io support comprises a support extension, the support extension being movable between a retracted position in which it is inoperative and an extended position in e. * * * which the support extension is adapted to have clothes hung therefrom.

19. A laundry stand according to any one of claims 17 or 18, wherein when the support extension is in the retracted position, at least a portion of the support extension is located within a recess in the support, and when the support extension is in the extended position, the portion is not located within the recess.

20. A laundry stand according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the support extension is pivotable between the retracted and the extended positions.

21. A laundry stand according to any of claims 4 to 17, further comprising a support extension for each arm.

22. A laundry stand according to claim 21, wherein each support extension is mounted on its respective arm adjacent the end of the arm remote from the structural member when the arms in the erected position.

23. A laundry stand according to any one of claims 21 or 22, wherein when any one of the support extensions is in the retracted position, at least a portion of said support extension is located within a recess in the support, and when any one of the support extensions is in the extended position, the portion is not located within the recess, wherein the recess for each support extension is in a respective arm.

S 10.. Si S * S.

24. A laundry stand substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one embodiment as that embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.