GB2511580A

GB2511580A - Clothes dryer

Info

Publication number: GB2511580A
Application number: GB1305506.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jon Otegui Van Leeuw
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-05
Filing date: 2013-03-05
Publication date: 2014-09-10
Also published as: GB201305506D0

Abstract

The dryer includes at least an element with an integrated flexible clamp 8.4 for clothes to be inserted. The dryer may be made by machining or cutting a sheet of material to the required profile or by plastic injection moulding. A polymer material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a polyolefin such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) may be used to make the drier. Pairs of clamps may be positioned opposite one another and supported by a member 8.5. A hanging member in the form of a hook 8.1 may be used to hang the dryer to e.g. a door handle, a rail or a furniture handle etc. Clothes may therefore be hung to dry without the need for extra clamps.

Description

Title: Clothes dryer

Technical field:

Product design

Patent description:

The invention concerns a clothes dryer with integrated clamps in order to hang the clothes without the need to use extra clamps. l'his system not only eases the life of the user when hanging the clothes onto the clothes dryer, but also has the advantage that no extra clamps should be further provided.

The clamps are integrated into the hanging rails (on which the clothes are being hanged) of the clothes dryers. The clothes dryer preferably comprises a plate which is cut to the required dimensions, hence offering a set of hanging rails which comprise the integrated clamps, which are sustained by two members, hence offering a single-piece design, which hence reduces mounting time and product costs, while it increases ease of use of the product.

So, the clamps should preferably be part of the resulting geometry after cutting the plastic plate, hence minimising the number of parts of the clothes dryer to only three. These three parts comprise the top horizontal machined plate which comprises hanging rails with integrated clamps, as well as two vertical machined plates also offering hanging rails with -integrated clamps, which are attached to the horizontal plate and hence sustain the horizontal plate over the ground surface.

As an alternative to the machined sheets of material, the elements concerned may also be produced by the means of injection moulding.

Therefore, the clothes dryer may comprise only three elements, one horizontal element and two vertical elements which sustain the horizontal element above the ground surface.

In other embodiments, further clothes dryers can be a single-piece element product, which consists of a machined plate in which all the clamps and members are also part of the cut profile of the machined plate.

The material to be used should preferably be plastic due to the suitable combination of strength and ductility (i.e. toughness) of such materials. The plastic material to be used should preferably be a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a polyolefin such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). PVC is the most cost-effective polymer material, while also being the strongest. Plastic materials are also generally much more cost-effective than metallic materials, particularly PVC. Wood-based materials may also be used.

Figure 1 shows a top view of the clothes dryer's integrated clamp system concept in both opened and closed positions.

Figure 2 shows a top view the horizontal element, featuring the integrated clamps.

Figure 3 shows a zoomed view of the top view of the horizontal elements edge, featuring the clamps and the connector for the vertical elements.

Figure 4 shows a front view of the vertical elements, featuring the connector cavity and the integrated clamps.

Figure 5 features a horizontal element design for the clothes dryer which offers the ability to hang clothes vertically without having to bend them to any angle.

Figure 6 shows a top view of the clothes dryer, featuring the top horizontal element and one of the two vertical elements being connected with the top horizontal element's connectors.

Figure 7 shows a zoomed view of the edge of the top horizontal element being connected to one of the two vertical elements.

Figure 8 shows a novel single-piece vertical clothes dryer which comprises an integrated clamps system, and is designed to be hanged in turn to a member, preferably another clothes -dryer, a door handle, or a clothes hanging rail.

Figure 9 shows a novel single-piece vertical clothes dryer similar to that shown on Figure 8.

but with two connector ends, so that it could also be connected to two members (one on each side).

Figure 10 shows a multiple-member clothes dryer which offers the ability the hang clothes vertically without having to bend them to any angle.

Figure 11 shows a double-member clothes dryer which offers the ability the hang clothes vertically without having to bend them to any angle.

* Figure 12 shows a V-shaped double-member clothes dryer which offers the ability the hang clothes vertically without having to bend them to any angle.

On Figure 1, Figure la shows an integrated clamp system when being closed, and Figure lb shows an integrated clamp when being opened.

As can be seen on Figure 1, the clamps [1.3, 1.9] are part of the cut geometry of a sheet of material, which hence means that these are integrated in the cut profile of the sheet concerned.

As can be seen on Figure 1, when the clamps [1.3] are submitted to no stress, these are positioned against another member [1.2]. The clamps [1.3] arc each sustained by a member [1.5] which is in turn connected to the hanging rail [1.4]. The lateral member [1.2] is also sustained by a member [1.1] which is in turn connected to the hanging rail [1.4]. The member [1.5] connecting the clamps [1.3] to the hanging rail [1.4] can also be the same as the one [1.11 sustaining the other member [1.2], depending on the position of the clamps [1.3].

In order to open the clamp [1.8], the clamp [1.81 should be pushed towards the hanging rail [1.9]. Therefore, a piece of clothing can be inserted between the member [1.7] which is positioned beside the clamp [1.8], and the clamp [1.8] itself, hence offering the function of clothing clamps while being integrated in the single-piece cut profile plate concerned. The member which sustains the clamp [1.7] is not submitted to deformation when bending the clamp [1.8]. Only the clamp itself [1.8] is submitted to deformation when being pushed towards the hanging rail member [1.9] in order to open the clamp prior of inserting a piece of clothing. As mentioned before, the member [1.6] which sustains the lateral member [1.7] can also be the same as the one [1.10] which sustains the clamp [1.8] in its required position, depending on the design of the clothes dryer.

When being opened, the clamp [1.81 is deformed elastically, hence not exceeding the material's elastic limit. This means that the clamps [1.8] are submitted to elastic deformation.

The elastic deformation generates a force applied by the clamp [1.8] towards its original position due to the material's tendency to return to its original position, hence exerting a force towards the lateral member [1.7]. This means that after opening the clamp [1.8], any piece of clothing can be inserted between the clamp [1.8] and the other member [1.7]. The force exerted by the clamp [1.81 will maintain the piece of clothing concerned in the position at which it was inserted between the two members, hence hanging it as required.

Figure 1 c shows a closed integrated clamp which comprises all rounded corners, while Figure id shows an opened integrated clamp which comprises all rounded corners.

The clamp design can be altered such that all corners are round shaped, as shown on Figures ic & Id. This provides the advantage that the pieces of clothing being hanged cannot be damaged. Furthermore, the possibility of any injury arising when using the closed dryer is also minimised.

So, the inner corners of the lateral components [1.11, 1.17], the outer corners of the lateral components [1.13, 1.19], the upper corners of the clamps [1.12, 1.18], and the outer corners of the clamps [1.14, 1.20], can all be rounded in order to avoid damaging the pieces of clothing to be hanged. Furthermore, the inner corners of the clamps [1.15, 1.21] and the lower upper corners of the clamps [1.16, 1.22] can also be rounded in order to avoid any injury of arising when using the clothes dryer.

As can be seen on Figure 2, the top horizontally positioned element of the clothes dryer features a set of hanging rails [2.6] which are all sustained by two members [2.5], one at each end. Furthermore, it can be seen that the clamps [2.1] are each positioned between two clamps [2.2] which are positioned on the opposite direction compared the clamp concerned [2.1]. This architecture is aimed at being able to hang clothes with two oppositely directed clamps [2.1, 2.2] so that the clothing will not need to be bend by 90 degrees or more, hence avoiding any damage to the clothing being hanged. Therefore, each member [2.3, 2.4] sustains two similar elements. The design features members [2.3] which sustain two oppositely positioned clamps [2.1, 2.2], while also offering members [2.4] which sustain two oppositely positioned lateral members [2.4].

As can be seen on Figure 3, the horizontal element of the clothes dryer offers a bendable attachment connector [3.2] at each edge. This is designed to connect to the horizontal element to the two vertical element (one at each side). The clamps [3.4] are sustained by members [3.5], and the lateral components [3.3] are also sustained by members. These are in turn

S

sustained by the hanging rails [3.6] which are sustained all together by a member [3.11 at each end. At the edge, a bendable connector [3.2] is featured, which sustains the vertical element at the end concerned to the horizontal element.

Figure 4 shows a design of one of the vertical elements which sustain the horizontal element (Figures 2 & 3) of the clothes dryer above the grounds surface. As can be seen on Figure 4, the horizontal element is attached to the vertical element by inserting the horizontal element (Figures 2 & 3) into the cavity [4.1] featured on the top of the horizontal element. Similarly to the horizontal element shown on Figures 2 & 3, the hanging rails [4.3] which feature the clamps [4.8], are all sustained by two vertical members [4.2], which are sustained by the top [4.6] and bottom [4.7] horizontal end members. The cavity [4.11 is sustained in the top horizontal end member [4.6]. As can be seen on Figure 4. each member [4.4, 4.5] sustains two similar elements. The design features members [4.5] which sustain two oppositely positioned' clamps [4.8], while also offering members [4.4] which sustain two oppositely positioned lateral members [4.9]. These are in turn sustained by the horizontal hanging members [4.3].

Figure 5 shows another design of one of the vertical elements, As can be seen on Figure 5, the top horizontal member [5.10] and the bottom horizontal member [5.9] both sustain the two vertical members [5.5]. This design features two members [5.4] which are positioned and joined together at the bottom hence forming a V-shape. This design is aimed at being able to hang pieces of clothing without the need to bend them to any angle, hence avoiding damage to the clothing. This design is hence very suitable for vertical clothes dryer elements, as it allows to hang pieces of clothing vertically without bending them to any angle. As can be seen on FigureS, each of the two members [5.4] feature a set of clamps [5.8] and lateral members [5.6] on their outer side in order to offer maximum space for pieces of clothing to be hanged without touching any other member than the clamps [5.8] and the lateral members [5.6] to the clamps, The members [5.7] which sustain the clamps [5.8] and lateral members [5.61 are the same, as the clamps should [*1 preferably be all positioned evenly in order to allow for the clamps [5.8] to face downwards, and hence pieces of clothing to be hanged vertically. Furthermore, it can be seen that on the lower side of the top horizontal member [5.10], a set of vertical downward facing clamps [5.2] and lateral members [5.3] are also positioned in order to maxirnise clothes hanging space. These are positioned always facing the centre (inwards) in order to maximise clothes hanging space. As can be seen on Figure 5, the cavity [5.1] to which the horizontal hanging element (Figures 2 &3) should be connected, is situated in the top horizontal member [5.10) of the vertical element.

The ends of the clamps [5.2. 5.8] face directly downwards towards the ground (positioned at degrees to the horizontal), which hence make this concept suitable to hang clothes vertically. This hence means that the two vertical elements of the clothes dryer should preferably comprise a concept as shown on Figure 5.

As can be seen on Figure 6, the top horizontal hanging element [6.2] is connected to the two vertical elements [6.1], on vertical element [6.11 at each end of the horizontal hanging element [6.2].

Figure 7 shows a zoomed view of one of the edges of the horizontal hanging element [7.2].

As can be seen on Figure 7, the horizontal hanging element [7.2] is inserted into in the cavity of the vertical element [7.3] and is sustained in its required position by a bendable connector element [7.11, which is bent inwards (towards the centre of the horizontal hanging element) when the vertical element [7.3] is being inserted inside the horizontal hanging element's cavity. The flexible connector element [7.1] is part of the structure of the horizontal hanging element [7.2] and should preferably make part of the cut machined profile of it [7.2]. So, after inserting the vertical element [7.3], it is sustained in its required position by both the flexible bendable connector element [7.1] and a rigid element [7.4]. This is because the vertical element [7.3] is being inserted between the rigid element [7.4] and the flexible connector element [7.1]. Both the rigid element [7.4] and the flexible bendable connector element [7.1] make part of the horizontal hanging element [7.2].

As can be seen on Figure 8, the clothes hanger shown comprises a single-piece clothes dryer which results from a machined sheet of materials. So, the clamps [8.4], lateral components [8.3] do make part of the cut profile of the required geometry.

As can be seen on Figure 8, this clothes dryer is designed to be hanged to another member (e.g. door handle, clothes dryer hanging nil, thrniture handle, clothes hanger rails, etc) and its clamps [8.4] are positioned one under the other in the same position all facing downwards.

This clothes dryer can be hanged to another member by using the hook [8.11 featured on the top of the clothes dryer. Additionally, the clothes dryer can be hanged by a rope by inserting the rope inside the cavity [8.21 situated at the top of the clothes dryer.

The member [8.5] which sustains all the clamps [8.4] all the way down, hence sustaining all members [8.6] which sustains all lateral components [8.3] and clamps [8.4] inn turn.

As can be seen on Figure 8, each member [8.6] sustains a clamp [8.4] on its upper side and a lateral member [8.3] on its slower side. This is because the clamps [8.4] have to be all in followed downwards and all have to be in the same position in order to maximise the ease of hanging clothes and minimising the angle at which these are being bent when being hanged.

As can be seen on Figure 8, the claps [8.4] offer a smooth round outer surface in order to avoid any damage to the clothes.

As can be seen on Figure 9, the clothes hanger shown comprises a single-piece clothes dryer which results from a machined sheet of materials, similarly to Figure 8. So, the clamps [9.4], lateral components [9.3] do make part of the cut profile of the required geometry.

As can be seen on Figure 8, this clothes dryer is designed to be hanged to another member (e.g. door handle, clothes dryer hanging rail, furniture handle, clothes hanger rails, etc) and its clamps [9.4] are positioned one under the other in the same position all facing downwards.

This clothes dryer can be hanged to another member by using the hook [9.1] featured on the top of the clothes dryer. Additionally, the clothes dryer can be hanged by a rope by inserting the rope inside the cavity [9.2] situated at the top of the clothes dryer.

However, in the case of the design shown on Figure 9, both the hook [9.1] and the cavity [9.2] are comprised on both side of the clothes dryer. This allows the user not only to hang it vertically, but also, to hang it horizontally by hanging each side of the clothes dryer to another member, hence increasing clothes hanging space and hence allowing larger clothes to be hanged. The ends of the lateral components [9.3] are round-shaped in order to allow for the clothes to be bent without damaging them.

Furthermore, a design which features oppositely positioned clamps sustained by a single member (Figures 2, 3 & 4) can also be incorporated in this design in order to hang larger pieces of clothing horizontally without bending them by large angles.

Similarly to Figure 8, the member [9.5] which sustains all the clamps [9.4] all the way down, hence sustaining all members [9.6] which sustains all lateral components [9.3] and clamps [9.4] in turn.

As can be seen on Figure 9, each member [9.6] sustains a clamp [9.4] on its upper side and a lateral member [9.3] on its slower side. This is because the clamps [9.4] have to be all in followed downwards and all have to be in the same position in order to maximise the ease of hanging clothes and minimising the angle at which these are being bent when being hanged.

As can be seen on Figure 9, the claps [9.4] offer a smooth round outer surface in order to avoid any damage to the clothes.

As can be seen on Figure 10, the clothes dryer concerned is designed to hang pieces of clothing vertically without the need to bend them to any angle. This is because the clamps [10.3, 108] are all facing vertically downwards.

It can be seen that the ends of the clamps [10.3, 10.8] are all facing vertically downwards in order to hang pieces of clothing vertically.

The clothes dryer concerned is a multiple member clothes dryer which is composed of two inverse V-shaped members [10.5], sustained by a top horizontal member [10.9]. in order to maximise clothes hanging capacity. A set of clamps [10.8] and lateral members [10.7] are situated all along the inner side of the members (10.5], hence providing clothes banging space. The two inverse V-shaped members [10.5] are not only connected together from their downward ends, but also, these are sustained together at their top ends by a top horizontal member [10.9]. A set of vertically downwards facing clamps [10.3] and lateral members [10.4] are comprised along the lower side of the horizontal top member [10.9] in order to maximise the clothes hanging space of the clothes dryer. The clothes dryer is designed to be hanged by both a rope which can be inserted inside a cavity [10.2] as well as to hang it to another member (e.g. clothes hanging rail clothes dryer, door handle, furniture handle) by the means of a hook [10.1] positioned on the top edge of the horizontal member [10.91. The clothes dryer can be hanged to various members, as there are three cavities [10.2], one at the centre and one at each end of the horizontal member [10.9]. Both the hook [10.1] and the cavities [10.2] are situated on the top horizontal member [10.9] which connects the four hanging members [10.5].

As can be seen on Figure 11, the clothes dryer concerned is designed to hang pieces of clothing vertically without the need to bend them to any angle. This is because the clamps [11.4] are all facing vertically downwards.

It can be seen that the ends of the clamps [11.4] are all facing vertically downwards in order to hang pieces of clothing vertically.

The clothes dryer concerned is a double-member clothes dryer which is composed of an inverse V-shaped members [11.5] in order to maximise clothes hanging capacity. A set of clamps [11.4] and lateral members [11.3) are situated all along the inner side of the members [11.5), hence providing clothes hanging space. The clothes dryer is designed to be hanged by both a rope which can be inserted inside a cavity [11.2] as well as to hang it to another member (e.g. clothes hanging rail clothes dryer, door handle, furniture handle) by the means of a hook [11.1] positioned on the top sustaining part [11.6] of the inverse V-shaped clothes dryer. Both thc hook [11.11 and the cavity [11.2] arc situated on the top sustaining part [11.6], which sustains the two hanging members [11.5].

As can be seen on Figure 12, the clothes dryer concerned is designed to hang pieces of clothing vertically without the need to bend them to any angle. This is because the clamps [12.3, 12.6] are all facing vertically downwards.

It can be seen that the ends of the clamps [12.3, 12.6] are all facing vertically downwards in order to hang pieces of clothing vertically.

The clothes dryer concerned is a multiple member clothes dryer which is composed of a shaped member [12.5], sustained by a top horizontal member [12.8], in order to maximise clothes hanging capacity. A set of clamps [12.6] and lateral members [12.7] are situated all along the outer side of the members [12.5], hence providing clothes hanging space. The two members [12.51 which form the V-shaped member [12.51 is sustained together at their top ends by a top horizontal member [128]. A set of vertically downwards facing clamps [12.3] and lateral members [12.4] are comprised along the lower side of the horizontal top member [12.8] in order to maximise the clothes hanging space of the clothes dryer. The clothes dryer is designed to be hanged by both a rope which can be inserted inside a cavity [12.2] as well as to hang it to another member (e.g. clothes hanging rail clothes dryer, door handle, fUrniture handle) by the means of a hook [12.1] positioned on the top edge of the horizontal member [12.8]. Both the hook [12.1] and the cavity [12.2] are situated on the top horizontal member [12.8] which connects the two hanging members [12.5].

In the case of Figures 10, 11 & 12, the ends of the clamps clamps [10,3, 10.8, 11.4, 12.3, 12.6] face directly downwards towards the ground (positioned at 90 degrees to the horizontal), which hence make this concept suitable to hang clothes vertically.

As canbe seen on Figures 2, 3,4, 8 & 9, the clamps [2.1, 3.4, 4.8, 8.4, 9.4] are being sustained at cach side of the hanging members [2.6, 3,6, 4.3, 8.5, 9.5] in ordcr to maximisc clothes hanging capacity. However, in the case of Figures 5, 10, 11 & 12, it is recommended to implement clamps [5.2, 5.8, 10.3, 10.8, 11.4, 12.3, 12.6] on only the lower sides of the hanging members [5.4, 5.10, 10.5, 10.9, 11.5, 11.6, 12.5, 12.8], as the members [5.4, 5.10, 10.5, 10.9, 11.5, 11.6, 12.5, 12.8] are tilted, and hence, there would not be space to hang clothes on both lateral sides of the hanging members [5.4, 5.10, 10.5, 10.9, 11.5, 11.6, 12.5, 12.8].

Preferred embodiments: A clothes dryer comprising at least an element, which comprises at least a clamp.

A clothes dryer in which the element comprises at least a member comprising at least an integrated flexible clamp.

A clothes dryer which is manufactured by machining or cutting sheets of material to the required profile, or by plastic injection moulding.

A clothes dryer which is made from a polymer material, preferably of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a polyolefin such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP).

A clothes dryer in which the clamps are betided towards the structure which supports them, when inserting pieces of clothing between the clamps and the lateral members.

A clothes dryer in which every pair of clamps are positioned opposite one to the other supported by a member (which is in turn sustained by the hanging member) for each two oppositely positioned clamps.

A clothes dryer which comprises flexible connectors at its ends to connect the element concerned to another element.

A clothes dryer which comprises a hollow cavity at the upper area of the element to connect the element concerned to another element.

A clothes dryer which comprises at least one member to sustain the clamps, and which comprises at least one vertically positioned element which comprises vertically downward facing clamps in which the ends of the clamps face downwards towards the ground directly @ositioned at 90 degrees to the horizontal).

A clothes dryer which comprises an attachment means, preferably a hook, and at least one attachment hollow cavity, preferably at the two ends of the clothes dryer element concerned, which is preferably aimed at being hanged vertically.

A clothes dryer which comprises the clamps being positioned preferably laterally to the hanging rail members which sustains them, and which preferably comprises clamps being situated at both sides of the hanging members.

A clothes dryer which comprises clamps which are vicinal to the other, preferably followed one by the other, and preferably all positioned with the same orientation, and preferably parallel to the hanging member (which supports said clamps).

Claims

Claims: 1) A clothes dryer comprising at least an element, which comprises at least a clamp.
2) A clothes dryer according to claim 1 in which the element comprises at least a member comprising at least an integrated flexible clamp.
3) A clothes dryer according to claims 1 or 2 which is manufactured by machining or cutting sheets of material to the required profile, or by plastic injection moulding.
4) A clothes dryer according to claims 1 to 3 which is made from a polymer material, preferably of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a polyolefin such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP).
5) A clothes dryer according to claims 1 to 4 in which the clamps are bended towards the structure which supports them, when inserting pieces of clothing between the clamps and the lateral members.
6) A clothes dryer according to claims 1 to 5 in which every pair of clamps are positioned opposite one to the other supported by a member (which is in turn sustained by the hanging member) for each two oppositely positioned clamps.
7) A clothes dryer according to claims 1 to 6 which comprises flexible connectors at its ends to connect the element concerned to another element.
8) A clothes dryer according to claims I to 7 which comprises a hollow cavity at the upper area of the element to connect the element concerned to another element.
9) A clothes dryer according to claims 1 to 8 which comprises at least one member to sustain the clamps, and which comprises at least one vertically positioned element which comprises vertically downward facing clamps in which the ends of the clamps face downwards towards the ground directly (positioned at 90 degrees to the horizontal).
10) A clothes dryer according to claims 1 to 9 which comprises an attachment means, preferably a hook, and at least one attachment hollow cavity, preferably at the two ends of the clothes dryer element concerned, which is preferably aimed at being hanged vertically.
11) A clothes dryer according to claims I to 10 which comprises the clamps being positioned preferably laterally to the hanging rail members which sustains them, and which preferably comprises clamps being situated at both sides of the hanging members.
12) A clothes dryer according to claims 1 to 11 which comprises clamps which are vicinal to the other, preferably followed one by the other, and preferably all positioned with the same orientation, and preferably parallel to the hanging member (which supports said clamps).