GB2547004A

GB2547004A - A portable airing or drying device

Info

Publication number: GB2547004A
Application number: GB1601982.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Moss Christopher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-02-04
Filing date: 2016-02-04
Publication date: 2017-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2036-02-04
Also published as: GB2547004B; GB201601982D0

Abstract

A portable airing or drying device suitable for garments, comprising two opposing end portions 1 and a plurality of intermediate connecting sections 2, said sections arranged to connect the end portions. The end portions may be arranged to connect to a subordinate structure such as a wall or window and may be attached by suction cups 12. The end portions may have slots 5 for receiving ends 4 of the sections. The sections may include intermediate divisors 3.

Description

A PORTABLE AIRING OR DRYING DEVICE Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable airing or drying device, in particular a device for airing or drying garments; more particularly but not exclusively a device for travellers.

Background

Increasing numbers of users enjoy travel. Many users wish to maintain the same standards of clothing and cleanliness whilst travelling. A good percentage of hotels provide no facilities for drying clothes or beachwear. Many will not allow garments to be hung on balcony fronts.

Known washing lines need anchor points, which are rarely found in modern hotels. Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following:

Chinese utility model CN 204 023 242 (LIU) discloses a foldable and portable clothes hanger. The main body of the clothes hanger is a sucker which comprises a rubber disc and a basal disc. The back portion of the rubber disc penetrates through the center of the basal disc through a cylinder, and a pressing spanner is arranged on the cylinder and located on the other side of the basal disc. Two lug pieces are arranged on the basal disc and located under the cylinder, a crank arm is connected between the two lug pieces through a rotary adjustment nut, a movable clothe hanger seat is arranged at the other end of the crank arm, the movable clothe hanger seat is provided with a fixing block and a clamping groove, the fixing block and the clamping groove are movably connected with clothes hanger supporting rods, and hooks are arranged at the two ends of each clothes hanger supporting rod. The foldable and portable clothes hanger can be adsorbed to or hung on an air conditioner indoor unit and can be adsorbed to smooth surfaces and glass in a room or a vehicle to air clothes, space can be saved, the foldable and portable clothes hanger is convenient to carry, and great convenience is brought to people who frequently go out, travel, self-drive and go for long strips.

Chinese utility model CN 203 113 108 (CHONGQING et al) discloses a portable clothes hanger support device, which comprises a support frame and is characterized in that the support frame is provided with a sucking disc; the support frame is provided with at least two support rods; one end of each support rod is connected with the support frame; free ends of the support rods are overlapped together; a hook extends from an overlapping part; and the hook is arranged on one of the support rods. The portable clothes hanger support device is simple in structure and convenient to carry, and is convenient for supporting a clothes hanger for hanging clothes at any time and anywhere.

Chinese utility model CN 202 107 913 (GUOZHEN) provides an indoor clothes airing line for travel, which can be temporarily fixed on the wall inside a room easily so as to enable users to air light clothes and solve the problem of airing of underwear when being out of home. The clothes airing line for travel comprises a rope and sucker assemblies and is characterized in that two ends of the rope are connected with tying ropes in the sucker assemblies, and the other ends of the tying ropes are connected with suckers in the sucker assemblies.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a portable airing or drying device suitable for garments, the device comprising two opposing end portions and a plurality of intermediate connecting sections, said sections arranged to connect the end portions.

The end portions may further comprise a structure attachment mechanism. This mechanism comprises a mechanism arranged to securely and temporarily attach the end portions to a structure with a planar section, such as a wall, so that the end portions are arranged to connect to the structure and extend the sections therefrom.

In some embodiments the end portions may comprise end frames and section termini, wherein the section termini may interact with the end frames to form the connections.

In some embodiments the structure attachment mechanism may comprise separate mechanisms for each end portion. In this way the end portions may be attached to a structure such as a wall independently and the end portions spaced apart in use on said wall.

The sections may be arranged to allow longitudinal flexibility or collapse. In this way the end portions may be advantageously approximated and the device minimised for transport or storage.

The sections may be arranged to allow horizontal flexibility or collapse, such that an axis drawn between the two end portions may be varied. In this way the end portions may be offset in use, so as to advantageously allow for structure variations.

The sections may be arranged to allow vertical flexibility or collapse, such that an axis drawn between the two end portions may be varied. In this way the end portions may be offset in use, so as to advantageously allow for structure variations.

In some embodiments the sections comprise foldable, reliable or an otherwise minimisable form or material. In this way advantageously the sections may be minimised for transport or storage purposes.

The end portions may comprise means for hanging items of clothing. For example in some embodiments the end portions may comprise lacunae, holes, apertures or openings. For example the end portions may be comprised by a frame, surrounding at least one opening.

Such lacunae, holes, apertures of openings may comprise openings for receipt of the hook of standard garment hangers. Some embodiments may comprise slots for receipt of hotel hangers.

The slots and/or openings may advantageously be spaced apart, such that hangers are not liable to interference.

In some embodiments the end portions additionally or alternatively may comprise projections or hooks. In this way hangers or items of clothing may be hung onto these projections or hooks.

In some embodiments the end portions may comprise displaceable hanging parts. Such parts may extend or retract according to necessity, and so as to enable easier transportation or storage.

The sections comprise means to allow a plurality of items to be hung thereover or thereon. For example the sections may comprise string, rope or wire; wherein such sections may be easily condensed in a number of manners.

In some embodiments at least one of the end portions may comprise means for minimising the sections. For example in some embodiments the minimisation means may comprise a spool and/or winder.

In some embodiments the sections may be spring biased, for example having a sprung or resiliently deformable mechanism arranged to retract the sections in use. Such bias mechanism may comprise a lock and release mechanism, so as to allow the sections to extend when required, and limit retraction bias as necessary.

In this way the device may advantageously allow for tightening of the sections before or during usage, so as to ensure that the sections remain tight and maximally effective during repeated usages.

In some embodiments the sections may comprise elastomer or elastomeric parts, such that the sections remain tight in use.

In some embodiments the sections may comprise intermediate divisors.

In some embodiments the sections may be telescopic or arranged to concertina.

In some embodiments intermediate divisors may comprise points on or of the sections where items of clothing may be hung and/or maintained or prevented from movement.

Said divisors may be usable to lengthen or shorten the sections, for example wherein the divisors may be used as termini.

In some embodiments the end portions may comprise bracing, for example in order to limit movement towards each other in use. In this way the sections may be better enabled to remain taut. The bracing may comprise an enlarged base, which base may extend in particular towards the sections, and opposing end portion. The bracing may comprise a fold-out part or parts, folding out in use towards the opposing end portion. In other embodiments in addition or the alternative the bracing may comprise extendable anchors. Such anchors may be flexible and extendable away from the end portions. Such anchors may comprise hooks, hoops or loops, or suction cups.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device;

Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figures 3 show a view from below and a side view respectively of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

And

Figure 6 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of the device comprises two opposing end portions 1 with matching substantially triangular form frames 15 having slots 5 therein for receipt of the section termini 4. The slots have orthogonal return lock parts 14.

The sections 2 may be displaced from the end portions, wherein the sections are emplaced onto the end portions in use, and wherein the end portions comprise plural slots into which the sections may be inserted.

The sections comprise strings, strung between the end portions by the user. The number of slots allows the sections to be increase or limited according to preference.

The sections are spaced both vertically and horizontally by the slots, which are situated in use inclining downwards from the structure, advantageously so as to limit effects of gravity on the structure attachment mechanism.

The sections comprise spherical termini, which termini prevent the strings exiting the slots. The sections further comprise spherical intermediate divisors 3 spaced along their length, which are identical to the termini and may be used in the slot as such in order to shorten the section length.

The sections may comprise elasticity, so as to ensure that the sections are tight after insertion into the end portions.

The end portions comprise an attachment mechanism 12 to a structure such as a planar wall, which mechanism is temporary. The attachment mechanism in the pictured embodiment comprises two suction cups, arranged vertically on the side facing the structure.

The suction cups comprise a lever fastening means 13, which means allows the suction cup to be fastened in place, and a securement pin.

The suction cups allow some movement in the angle of fastening of the end portions to the structure. In this way any elasticity in the sections acts thereagainst to ensure the end portions are substantially orthogonal to the structure in use.

Two vertically spaced suction cups are envisaged to limit swinging or tipping of the frame, so as to advantageously maintain the sections and garments in a preferred orientation.

The frames are substantially triangular, or more particularly largely taking the form of a right-angled triangle in side view, wherein the right-angle is a corner of the lowermost part 9, extending out from the structure and joined by the uppermost side 8 inclined from the side having the attachment mechanism.

The frames comprise continuous plastic, alloy or metal frames defining a central opening 11. The opening comprises a plurality of raised and lowered parts 6, said raised and lowered parts being incorporated in the lowermost side of the end portion. In this way advantageously a plurality of hangers may be hooked thereover and spaced apart.

The lowest side of the frames further comprises a plurality of hotel hanger openings 7, which openings allow receipt of hotel hanger ends.

The frames further comprise braces 10, which braces extend laterally to either side of the frames and rearwards to contact or approximate the structure when the attachment mechanism is in use. In this way the brace limits swinging of the frame about the suction cups, and ideally maintains the frame substantially orthogonal to the structure.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. Firstly it will be understood that any features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be featured in combinations with other embodiments.

With respect to the specification therefore, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, with variation and implementation obvious and clear on the basis of either common general knowledge or of expert knowledge in the field concerned. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A portable airing or drying device suitable for garments, the device comprising two opposing end portions and a plurality of intermediate connecting sections, said sections arranged to connect the end portions.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the end portions are arranged to connect to a subordinate structure and extend the sections therefrom.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the end portions comprise section termini and frames.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the frames comprise slots for receipt of the sections.

5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the sections comprise one or more of string, wire or line.

6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the sections comprise intermediate divisors.

7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the end portions comprise one or more suction cup.

8. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the end portions comprise hanging means.

9. A device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the end portions comprise braces to limit displacement movement with respect to a subordinate structure.

10. A device substantially as described herein with reference to the figures.