GB2488414A

GB2488414A - Lockable hinge for clothes airer

Info

Publication number: GB2488414A
Application number: GB201202839A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martyn Lee-Smith
Original assignee: Addis Housewares Ltd
Current assignee: Addis Housewares Ltd
Priority date: 2011-02-18
Filing date: 2012-02-20
Publication date: 2012-08-29
Also published as: GB201202839D0; GB201102830D0

Abstract

The lockable hinge 8 is suitable for locking a hinge joint in a framed clothes airer (2, Figure 1). The hinge includes first 12 and second 14 hinge elements attached to each other via a common axle 24. Each hinge element 12, 14 is adapted to be attached to a separate element of the airer frame 4. A lock means 22 for reversibly causing the hinge elements to interlock with each other is provided. The interlocking of the hinge elements prevents their rotating relative to each other about the axle 24. The hinge also includes a lock actuation means 34, which may be a push/pull bar and a cam lever.

Description

Clothes Airers This invention relates to framed clothes airers for indoor use and which are reversibly collapsible between an erect configuration in which they may be used to air clothes, and a compact configuration for storage and in particular to a method of maintaining the airer in the erect configuration.

Various forms of reversibly collapsible framed clothes airers comprised of legs and hanging bars are known. The legs are hinged to each other to allow the collapse/erection of the airer. A common feature of such airers is that the airer is provided with at least one, and often at least two, means by which to maintain the airer in the erect configuration. Most frequently, the means for maintaining the airer in the erect configuration is a lock bar or the like that may be fixed between or connected to two parts of the airer so that when the lock bar is fixed between or connected to those parts they are not capable of moving relative to each other. This has the effect of fixing the configuration airer as a whole. When the lock bar is not fixed between or connected to those parts of the airer then the parts may move relative to each other and the airer as a whole may be reconfigured. It is generally the case that the lock bar and airer are so configured that the lock bar is fixable or connectable between the two parts of the airer only when the airer is in the erect configuration.

Other known forms of airer do not include a lock bar as a means to stop the parts of the airer to moving relative to each other about the hinges of the airer but use something external to the airer to achieve the same effect. For example, for airers that are intended to be deployed over a bathtub, it is known to adapt the airer to loosely engage with the upper edges of a bathtub. When the airer is placed over a bathtub and engaged with the upper edges of the bathtub a combination of the rigidity of the bathtub and gravity then holds the airer in a fixed erect configuration.

Such airers generally have an inverted "I" shape when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the bathtub when they are in the erect configuration which is suitable for use to dry or air clothes.

I

According to the present invention there is provided a lockable hinge suitable for locking a hinge joint in a framed clothes airer in which the hinge comprises first and second hinge elements attached to each other via a common axle, each hinge element being attached to a separate element of the airer frame and a lock means for reversibly causing the hinge elements to interlock with each other, said interlocking of the hinge elements preventing their rotating relative to each other about the axle.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention a portion of each of the first and second hinge elements is in the form of a casing, the casings of each hinge element engage with each other to form a closed casing, or void within the hinge, and the closed casing contains the lock means. In preferred embodiments of the present invention the casings are dome shaped or similar shapes with the mouths of each casing being substantially circular and adapted to abut the mouth of the other casing of the hinge.

The lockable hinge of the present invention may be configured so that it may be engaged whenever its user so desires thus leading to a substantially greater variety of overall configurations for the airer than current lock mechanisms allow. This advantage applies both to airers of the general configuration of the above discussed over the bathtub type airer and to other forms of reconfigurable framed airers.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clothes airer into which the lockable hinge of the present invention is incorporated is comprised of two pairs of support legs, each of which support legs when in use, have a first end in contact with a surface supporting the airer and a second end which is hinged to the other support leg of the pair via the lockable hinge of the present invention, and a plurality of airing bars, upon which clothes or the like may be hung to air, the airing bars extending substantially horizontally between the pairs of legs when the airer is in use. Such an airer may be deployed on any surface (such as a floor when the airer has, for example, an A shape when viewed from the side) or between a pair of surfaces (such as a floor and an adjacent wall when the airer has, for example, an r shape when viewed from the side).

The benefit of employing a lockable hinge according to the present invention in this sort of an airer is that because the hinge between pairs of legs may be locked at its apex, the hinge may be locked when the support legs are at a wide range of angles relative to each other. This renders the airer considerably more versatile and allows the airer to be used in a much wider range of circumstances than known airers where the angle between the support legs of each pair is dictated by the length of the lock bar.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention each hinge element is in the form of a casing, the inside face of each casing is provided with a plurality of elements upstanding from the inside surface of the casing, the lock means is comprised of a lock element that is engaged with the upstanding elements of one casing, and may be slid between an unlocked position where it is engaged only with the upstanding elements of one casing and a locked position where it is in sliding engagement with the upstanding elements on both casings. Most preferably the engagement between the lock element and the upstanding elements is a close fitting engagement which allows movement but is not loose.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invenUon the casing of each hinge element is substantially circular when viewed along the axle of the hinge and the upstanding elements on the inside face of each casing are radially inwardly facing splines. In this embodiment the lock element is a barrel or cylinder on the radially outer face of which is at least one radially outwardly extending spline, the lock element being so dimensioned and configured that the or each radially outwardly extending spline may engage with the inwardly extending splines of the casings.

In an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention the lock means comprises first and second lock elements each of which is associated with a hinge element. It is particularly preferred that the first and second lock elements are suitably shaped and dimensioned so that they may mate with each other when in a first locked position relative to each other which prevents relative rotation between the first and second hinge elements and a second unlocked position in which the first and second lock elements are not mated with each other and the first and second lock elements may rotate relative to each other. Particularly preferred embodiments of such a reversible mating system are a spline joint or a pair of face gears each of which has at least one tooth or cog that engages with at least one tooth or cog on the other gear when in the locked position.

It will be appreciated that for all the preferred embodiments of the present invention where there are splines, teeth or cogs interlocking with each other the number of splines, teeth or cogs engaging each other will determine the number of different orientations between the first hinge element relative to the second hinge element in which the hinge may be locked. The greater the number of splines, teeth or cogs the greater the number of different orientations. This dictates the number of different configurations a frame airer incorporating the lock mechanism of the present invention may be fixed in.

It is noted that a positive engagement within the lock means are preferred embodiments of the present invention r&ative to the less preferred embodiments of the present invention which rely upon some form of friction grip within the lock means. The reason for such a preference is that the likelihood of slippage of the lock means, and hence unintended reconfiguration or collapse of the airer as a whole, are substantially lower where there is a positive engagement than where there is a friction grip.

It is particularly preferred that a means for reconfiguring the lock means between locked and unlocked positions is provided. A preferred reconfiguration means is a push/pull bar which is engaged with the lock means and which can move in an axial direction and pull or push that lock means between the locked and unlocked positions. Most preferably that push/pull bar is engaged, at one end, with a user actuatable lever which when actuated causes the push/pull bar to move in an axial direction. Most preferably, the actuatable lever is a cam lever.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention the means for reconfiguring the lock means also includes a biasing means. That biasing means will most preferably bias the lock means into the unlocked position. The biasing means can comprise any known biasing means but is most preferably a helical spring.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention a portion of each hinge element is adapted to act as a socket into which an element of an airer frame may be inserted.

Most preferably the socket is adapted to have an end of an element of the airer frame inserted in an axial direction into the socket. In preferred embodiments of the present invention the portion of each hinge element which is adapted to act as a socket into which an element of an airer frame may be inserted is substantially tubular with the cross-section of the bore of the tube is substantially circular or of other cross-section to match the cross section of the element of the airer intended to be inserted therein.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention one or more hooks or arms are attached to one or each hinge elements, and each hook or arm is adapted to have one or more items of clothing or clothes hangers hung from it. Most preferably each arm is connected to the hinge element via a hinge and may move between a deployed position in which the hook or arm is projecting from the hinge element and a non-deployed position in which the majority of the hook or arm is adjacent the hinge element. in a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention the hook or arm is a cantilever with a substantially "U' shaped cross section and the arms of the "U" partially surrounds at least some of the hinge element with which it is associated when in the non-deployed position.

According to an alternative aspect of the present invention, the present invention is comprised of a clothes airer including at least one lockable hinge as set out above.

The present invention will be further described and explained with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an airer incorporating an embodiment of a lockable hinge according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the embodiment of the lockable hinge of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a schematic exploded view of the lockable hinge of Figure 2.

With reference to Figure 1, a clothes airer (2) is comprised of two pairs of legs (4), a plurality of drying bars (6) and a pair of lockable hinges (8). Each pair of legs (4) is S hinged together at a first end by a lockable hinge (8). Each end of leg (4) remote from the hinge (8) is provided with a foot (10). Foot (10) is, in this embodiment, a "Y" shape suitably dimensioned to engage with an upper edge of a bathtub or any other surface. Each foot (10) may have an alternative configuration if that is deemed appropriate.

The pairs of legs (4) are separated by airer bars (6) which are of a suitable length to allow a user to hang clothes upon the airer (2) should they so wish.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, each lockable hinge (8) is comprised of first and second hinge elements (12, 14). Each of the hinge elements (12) and (14) are comprised of a shell (16) and a socket (18). Each of the sockets (18) is adapted to engage with an end of a leg (4).

Each of the shells (16) is adapted to rotate about an axle which, in the present embodiment of the present invention is formed of a push/pull bar (24). The shells (16) are substantially circular in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the push/pull bar (24) and the outer edges (26) of shells (16) are adapted abut each other and to slid relative to each other in a circumferential direction.

The circumferential inner face of each of the shells (16) is provided with a plurality of radially inwardly facing splines (25). A barrel (22) of substantially cylindrical shape provided. The barrel (22) is provided on its circumferentially outer face with a plurality of radially outwardly extending splines (23). The barrel (22) is suitably dimensioned so that the outwardly extending splines (23) may mesh or slid ingly engage with the inwardly extending splines (25) and the splines may slide axially relative to each other. The barrel (22) and shells (16) are suitably dimensioned so as to allow the barrel (22) to slide between an unlocked position wherein the outwardly extending splines (23) are meshed with the inwardly extending splines (25) of one shell (16) only, and a locked position where outwardly extending splines (23) are meshed with the inwardly extending splines (25) of both shells (16) of a hinge (8).

Radially inwardly extending splines (25) and radially outwardly extending splines (23) are equal in number in the illustrated embodiment. In alternative embodiments the numbers may be unequal, and in particular, one of the sets of splines (23) or (25) may be considerably less in number than the other set of splines.

The push/pull bar (24)is comprised of a central bar on one end of which is mounted a cap (28) and through the opposite end of which is a pivot hole (26). The bar (24) is adapted to rigidly engage with the barrel (22) so that axial movement of the push/pull bar (24) will result in movement of the barrel (22) in the same direction. The pivot hole (26) is adapted to allow a pivot bar (30) to be passed through it and the pivot bar (30) to rotate about its principal axis whilst in the pivot hole (26). Pivot bar (30) is further adapted to pass through apertures (32) in a cam lever (34). Rotation of cam lever (34) about pivot bar (30) causes axial movement of push/pull bar (24).

Cam lever (34)is so configured that the cam face (36) of the cam lever (34) is comprised of a first and second flat face (38) and (40) separated by a curved face (42). The geometry of cam lever (34) and the relative positioning of apertures (32) and cam faces (38) and (40) are such that when flat face (40) bears upon the outer face of a casing (14), the push/pull bar (24) is pulling the barrel (22) into engagement with splines (25) of the casing (14) on which cam face (40) is bearing. When cam lever (34) is actuated by a user so that the lever is rotated about pivot bar (30) causing flat face (38) to bear upon the casing (14) the helical spring (44) pushes barrel (22) and the push/pull bar (24) away from the casing (14) upon which cam face (38) bears and hence out of engagement with the splines (25) of that casing (14). This will allow a user to rotate legs (4) of the airer about the lockable hinge (8) so as to reconfigure the airer from a collapsed state to an erect state, collapse it from an erect state to the collapsed state or simply change the configuration of the airer.

Once the airer has been reconfigured to a users requirements the cam lever (34) may be rotated about pivot (30) by the user so as to re-engage barrel (22) with the splines (25).

It will be appreciated that a lockable hinge according to the present invention, an example of which is described herein, can be incorporated in any collapsible frame airer. This has the effect that there is no longer any requirement for locking bars and will allow a variety of erect configurations to be employed by a user to suit the user's requirements.

Claims

Claims 1 A lockable hinge suitable for locking a hinge joint in a framed clothes airer in which the hinge comprises first and second hinge elements attached to each other via a Common axle4 each hinge element being adapted to be attached to a separate element of the airer frame, a lock means for reversibly causing the hinge elements to interlock with each other, said interlocking of the hinge elements preventing their rotating relative to each other about the axle, and a lock actuation means.
2 A hinge according to claim 1 in which a portion each of the first and second hinge elements is in the form of a casing.
3 A hinge according to claim 2 in which the casings of each hinge element are adapted to engage with each other to form a closed casing and the closed casing contains the lock means.
4 A hinge according to claim 2 or 3 in which the casings are substantially dome shaped, the mouths of each casing are substantially circular and adapted to abut the mouth of the other casing of the hinge.
A hinge according to any of claims 2 to 4 in which the inside face of each casing is provided with a plurality of elements upstanding from the inside face, the lock means is comprised of a lock element that is engaged with the upstanding elements of one casing, and the lock element may be moved between an unlocked position where it is engaged only with the upstanding elements of one casing and a locked position where it is in engagement with the upstanding elements on both casings.
6 A hinge according to any of claims I to 4 in which the lock means comprises first and second lock elements each of which is associated with a hinge element and one or both of the first and second lock elements may be moved between an unlocked position in which the hinge elements may rotate relative to each other and a locked position in which the hinge elements may not rotate relative to each other.
7 A hinge according to claim 6 in which the first and second lock elements make up a spline joint or a pair of face gears.
8 A hinge according to any of claims I to 7 in which the lock actuation means is comprised of a push/pull bar and a lever, and in which actuation of the lever causes axial movement of the push/pull bar.
9 A hinge according to claim 8 in which the lever is a cam lever.
10 A hinge according to any of claims I to 9 in which the lock means is biased into a position in which the hinge elements are not interlocked.
11 A hinge according to claim 10 in which the biasing means is a helical spring.
12 A hinge according to any of claims 1 to 11 in which one or more hooks or arms are attached to one or each hinge elements, and each hook or arm is adapted to have one or more items of clothing or clothes hangers hung from it.
13 A hinge according to claim 12 in which each hook or arm is connected to the hinge element via a hinge and may move between a deployed position in which the hook or arm is projecting from the hinge element and a non-deployed position in which the majority of the hook or arm is adjacent the hinge element.
14 A hinge according to claim 13 in which the hook or arm is a cantilever with a substantially "U" shaped cross section and the arms of the "U" partially surrounds at least some of the hinge element with which it is associated when in the non-deployed position.
A clothes airer comprised of at least two support legs and at least one drying bar in which at least two support legs are hinged together via a hinge according to any of claims Ito 14.
16 A clothes airer comprised of at least two pairs of support legs and a plurality of drying bars extending between the pairs of legs in which at least one pair of legs is hinged together at one end via a hinge according to any of claims I to 14.II