GB2488415A

GB2488415A - Corner element with fold-out hanging arm

Info

Publication number: GB2488415A
Application number: GB201202840A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martyn Lee-Smith
Original assignee: Addis Housewares Ltd
Current assignee: Addis Housewares Ltd
Priority date: 2011-02-22
Filing date: 2012-02-20
Publication date: 2012-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-20
Also published as: GB2488415B; GB201202840D0; GB201102988D0

Abstract

A corner 20 suitable for an airer (2, figure 1) comprises a corner element 22 and a hanging arm 26, the hanging arm 26 being hinged to the corner element 22 in such a fashion that rotation of the hanging arm 26 about a hinge 24 moves the hanging arm 26 between a deployed position in which it projects from the corner 20 and a non-deployed position in which the arm does not project from the corner 20, characterised in that the corner 20, further includes a biasing means biasing the arm 26 into the deployed position. A latch mechanism may be included to hold the arm 26 in the non-deployed position.

Description

CORNER HOOKS

This application relates to corners hooks, and in particular, to hooks incorporated with clothes airers and which are suitable to have items of clothing or clothes s hangers hung from them.

In known clothes airers such as but not limited to concertina or collapsible airers, it is often the case that in addition to hanging items of clothing to dry or air on the drying bars that are part of such airers, it is desirable to be able to hang larger items on the airer. To achieve this it is known to adapt the uppermost (when in normal use) corners of the airer to allow clothes or clothes/coat hangers to be hung from them.

The corner can either be integral with the frame of the airer or attached onto the frame.

is According to the present invention there is provided a corner suitable for an airer comprising a corner element, and a hanging arm, the hanging arm is hinged to the corner element in such a fashion that rotation of the hanging arm about the hinge moves the hanging arm between a deployed position in which it projects from the corner and a non-deployed position in which the arm does not project from the corner, characterised in that the corner, further includes a biasing means biasing the arm into the deployed position. It is most preferred that the hanging arm projects in a direction that, when the airer is ready for use, results in the hanging arm not being above any other part of the airer.

In particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention the corner further includes a latch mechanism which is adapted to latch the hanging arm into the non-deployed position. Preferably the latch is positioned so that movement of the hanging arm into the non-deployed position causes the hanging arm to engage with the latch. When the latch is released the biasing means causes the hanging arm to move to the deployed position.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention the latch mechanism is so constructed that movement of the hanging arm into the non-deployed position engages the latch, the biasing means then pushes the hanging arm against the latch and slightly away from the non-deployed position, and a subsequent push of the of the hanging arm toward the non-deployed portion (against the biasing means) causes disengagement or unlatching of the hanging arm from the latch.

In alternative embodiments of the present invention which incorporate a latch, the s latch may be released by a button, pressure pad or other latch releasing means.

A particular advantage of the corner according to the present invention when it incorporates a latch mechanism is that the hanging arm can be retained in the non-deployed position by the latch when the airer is not in use or the hanging arm is not required. When the hanging arm is required, release of the latch, which can be adapted so that all that is required to release the latch is the application of a little pressure, causes the hanging arm to deploy without any degree of manipulation or dexterity on the part of the user of the airer. This is very beneficial to people whose hands are full or those who have limited strength, coordination and or dexterity.

is According to the present invention there is further provided a clothes airer incorporating at least one corner as previously described.

The present invention will be further described and explained by way of example with reference to the following drawings in which Figure 1 shows a schematic overview of an airer incorporating four corners according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a first schematic view of an example of a corner hook according to the present invention when the hanging arm is in the non-deployed position; and Figure 3 shows the corner hook of Figure 2 when the hanging arm is in a deployed position.

With reference to Figure 1, a concertina or collapsible clothes airer (2) is comprised of a support frame comprised of two frame elements (4), two frame elements (6), and a number of hanging bars (8). Each of frame elements (4) and (6) are substantially "U" shaped with each of the three parts of the "U" (those between the corners and extending from the corners and having a free end) being substantially straight. The two frame elements (4) are hinged together at hinge points (10). In a similar fashion, each of frame elements (6) are hinged together at hinge points (12).

The free ends of each of the frame elements (6) are hinged to frame elements (4) at hinge points (14).

Extending between the arms of each of the frame elements (4) and (6) are one or s more drying bars (8). Attached to or integral with each corner of each of frame elements (6) are corners (20).

Figures 2 and 3 show a schematic view of a corner (20). Each corner (20) is comprised of an angle (22) which is adapted to be attached to a corner of a frame element (6). Preferably each angle (22) is comprised of a single moulded piece of plastic of an appropriate type. Hinged to the angle (22) via a pivot (24) is a hanging arm (26). Mounted between the angle (22) and the hanging arm (26), or between the pivot (24) and the hanging arm (26), is a biasing means (not shown) which biases hanging arm (26) to move in, as per the angle of view in Figures 2 and 3, an anti-is clockwise direction from the non-deployed position shown in Figure 2 to the deployed position shown in Figure 3. Also included between the angle (22) and the hanging arm (26), or between the pivot (24) and the hanging arm (26), is a stop means (not shown) which prevents the hanging arm (26) from rotating in a clockwise direction from the non-deployed position it occupies in Figure 2 and in an anti-clockwise direction from the deployed position it occupies in Figure 3.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is also provided a latching means (not shown) for latching the hanging arm (26) in the non-deployed position shown in Figure 2. The latch is engaged when the hanging arm (26) is moved by a user in a clockwise direction into the position occupied in Figure 2. Once the user has engaged the latch they may stop pushing the hanging arm (26) and it will remain in the non-deployed position shown in Figure 2. To release the hanging arm (26) from the non-deployed position the latch is released. The method of releasing the latch is either by a push on hanging arm (26), pushing it in a clockwise direction so releasing the latch, or via a button or lever (again not shown) which will release the latch. Once the latch is released, the biasing means moves the hanging arm (26) into the deployed position as shown in Figure 3. Clothes or clothes hangers may then be hung on hanging arm (26) for drying or airing.

Claims

Claims I A corner suitable for an airer comprising a corner element, and a hanging arm, the hanging arm is hinged to the corner element in such a fashion that rotation s of the hanging arm about the hinge moves the hanging arm between a deployed position in which it projects from the corner and a non-deployed position in which the arm does not project from the corner, characterised in that the corner, further includes a biasing means biasing the arm into the deployed position.
2 A corner according to claim 1 in which the corner further includes a latch mechanism which is adapted to latch the hanging arm into the non-deployed position.
3 A clothes airer incorporating at least one corner according to the claim I or 2.
4 A clothes airer according to claim 4 in which the airer is a collapsible airer.