GB2563107A

GB2563107A - Clothes airer

Info

Publication number: GB2563107A
Application number: GB1800007.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Howard Michael
Original assignee: Vale Mill Rochdale Ltd
Current assignee: Vale Mill Rochdale Ltd
Priority date: 2017-05-31
Filing date: 2018-01-02
Publication date: 2018-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2038-01-02
Also published as: GB2563107B; GB201708658D0; GB201800007D0

Abstract

Disclosed is a drying and airing rack comprising a main frame having a pair of side frame assemblies, and an auxiliary frame. Each side frame assembly comprises a plurality of pivotable side frame members, and a plurality of hanging rails extending therebetween. At least one tier of the drying rack comprises edge rails. The side frame members and edge rails define a footprint of the drying rack in a collapsed position. The auxiliary frame is pivotally secured relative to the main frame, and is movable between a first position wherein the auxiliary frame lies within the footprint of the collapsed frame, and a second position wherein the auxiliary frame lies outside of the footprint of the collapsed frame. The auxiliary frame may be pivotable relative to the main frame, about an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of an edge rail. More preferably, the auxiliary frame is pivotable about an axis which is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of an edge rail. An edge rail may be interconnected with at least one side frame member by means of a hinge unit that pivotally supports the auxiliary frame.

Description

CLOTHES AIRER

This invention relates to a clothes airer, suitable for drying clothes, and which can adopt a closed, collapsed orientation for storage or be moved to adopt an erected, open orientation for supporting clothes and other laundry items.

The invention relates in particular, though not exclusively, to a clothes airer of the so-called tiered type. Airers of that type typically comprise a frame assembly formed of relatively pivotable side members arranged with rails extending between the side members at opposite sides of the airer and from which clothes and other such laundry items may be hung. The relatively pivotable side members allow the frame to adopt a collapsed, substantially flat configuration or an extended, erect configuration in which hanging rails extend horizontally one above the other in a tiered configuration.

Airers of the tiered type lack the stability to resist toppling in windy conditions and therefore commonly are known as indoor airers.

Although tiered type airers function satisfactorily indoors, especially for hanging a large number of small sized items, they are not well adapted for the drying of a plurality of long length items. Long length items can be hung from those upper rails which are positioned at edges of the airer such that the items hang downwards alongside the rails at the edges of lower sections, or tiers of the airer. However in that case those rails at the edges of the lower tiers cannot then be used efficiently for airing items because such items would then be in direct or close contact with the adjacent long length items. Air circulation for drying and airing of the items would then be adversely affected.

The present invention seeks to provide an airer of the tiered type and which has an improved facility for the efficient airing of both long and short length items.

In accordance with the present invention a tiered airer comprises a main frame comprising a pair of side frame assemblies each comprising a plurality of relatively pivotable side members, and a plurality of hanging rails which extend between and which space apart the two side frame assemblies, at least one tier comprising edge rails which in combination with the side frame members define the footprint of the airer as considered in a plan view of the airer when collapsed, and said main frame having pivotally secured relative thereto an auxiliary frame pivotable between a first position at which it lies within said footprint and a second position at which it lies outwards of said footprint when the airer is collapsed.

Preferably the auxiliary frame is pivotally secured relative to an edge rail, more preferably relative to an edge rail of an uppermost tier.

Preferably an uppermost tier of the airer comprises edge rails which in combination with the side frame members define the footprint of the airer when collapsed.

The auxiliary frame may be pivotable relative to the main frame about an axis which is parallel with and which more preferably is substantially co-incident with the longitudinal axis of an edge rail.

It will therefore be appreciated that when in the second, outward position the auxiliary frame is able to support long length items at a position where they hang downwards spaced from items on the edge rail(s) of a lower tier.

The edge rails of a tier typically may be part of the overall frame assembly structure such that they structurally interconnect with and extend between side frame members at opposite sides of the airer. An edge rail may be integral with one or each of a pair of side frame members and may, for example, comprise a bent metal tube. Other hanging rails, which may be of a less substantial form, typically are provided inwards of the edge rails.

The auxiliary frame may be pivotally secured to an edge rail or may be pivotally secured to a pair of side frame members.

Although the edge rail of an uppermost tier may be integral with one or each of the side frame members between which it extends, in an alternative construction an edge rail is interconnected with at least one side frame member by means of a hinge unit which pivotally supports an auxiliary frame.

The auxiliary frame preferably comprises at least one hanging rail which extends between end regions of the auxiliary frame which are pivotally secured relative to the edge rail of the upper tier.

The auxiliary frame may be secured relative to the edge rail of an uppermost tier of an airer comprising three or more tiers or to the edge rail of an intermediate tier. However for convenience of use it is preferred that the auxiliary frame is secured to an uppermost tier.

Preferably each of the two edge rails of an upper or uppermost tier has an auxiliary frame pivotally secured relative thereto.

Preferably retention means is provided whereby an auxiliary frame assembly may be retained in the first position, to lie within the aforementioned footprint, and to remain in that position during handling of the airer when collapsed. Thus the auxiliary frame is advantageously restrained from any free pivotal movement which might inconvenience handling of the collapsed airer when moved to a storage location.

Preferably the retention means comprises a resilient clip. It may comprise a protrusion carried by one of the auxiliary frame and a side frame member and a retention recess formed in the other of the auxiliary frame and side frame member.

At least one of the auxiliary frame and a side frame member may comprise a protrusion or retention recess defined by a non-rigid material, such as a plastics material.

Alternatively, however, a strap or other form of retainer may be employed to inhibit unwanted free movement of an auxiliary frame.

Preferably at least one side frame assembly or an edge rail comprises an abutment formation to co-operate with a corresponding formation at an end region of an auxiliary frame whereby the auxiliary frame is retained in a substantially horizontal position when in the outward, extended position.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 is a perspective view of a three tier indoor airer 10 in an erected condition. It shows two auxiliary frames 30 extending outwards and from which long length towelling 40 is hung.

Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 1 without presence of any laundry items.

Figure 3 is a side view of the airer of Figures 1 and 2. Figure 3 shows a conventional locking arm 41 for holding the side frame members 13 in the position shown in Figure 3 but which may be released to allow collapsing of the airer to the configuration shown in Figure 5.

Figure 4 shows for clarity the relative positions of edge 14 and inner 15 hanging rails.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the airer in a collapsed condition.

Figure 6 shows the footprint of the airer in a collapsed condition and with the auxiliary frames 30 positioned inwards.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of part of the airer showing a hinge unit 19 by which an auxiliary frame 30 is pivotable relative to a side frame member. It shows also recesses and protrusions by means of which the auxiliary frame may be retained securely in the first position.

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a side view of part of the airer showing in abutment with one another the abutment surfaces 34, 35 which enable the auxiliary frame to be held horizontal in use.

Figure 10 is a side view showing the auxiliary frame 30 at an inwards position and retained parallel with a side frame member 13 by means of the co-operating recesses and protrusions.

A collapsible airer 10 (see Figures 1,2 and 4) of the so-called three-tiered type comprises a main frame 11 formed of a pair of substantially identical side frame assemblies 12 which each comprise relatively pivotable side frame members 13.

The two side frame assemblies are spaced apart by a plurality of hanging rails 14,15 which in use of the airer extend substantially horizontally between the side frame assemblies.

Each outermost hanging rail 14 of the lowermost and intermediate tier is integral with a pair of side frame members 13 (see Figure 2) and in this embodiment each said rail 14 and pair of side members 13 are formed from a single length of bent metal tube.

Other, inward, hanging rails 15 of a lighter construction extend between the side frame members.

For the uppermost tier the outermost edge rails 16 are not formed integrally with the side frame members 13. Instead they are secured to the side frame members by moulded plastic hinge units 19.

Each hinge unit 19 (see Figures 7 to 9) comprises a first sleeve 20 having a tubular section 21 which fits tightly over an end region 22 of a side frame member 13. Each hinge unit also defines a pair of apertured lugs 23 into which an end of a edge rail 16 of circular cross-section is firmly secured by means of a flanged retention pin 43 the flange 44 of which abuts an outer lug 23 and the stem 45 of which engages within the end of the tubular rail 16.

The space between the lugs 23 provides location for an end section 24 of a second sleeve section 25. The end section 24 is provided with a circular aperture 26 through which the rail 16 extends. The diameter of each aperture is slightly larger than that of the rail 16 whereby the two sleeve sections of each hinge unit 19 are freely pivotable relative to one another.

Each second sleeve section 25 comprises a tubular section 28 that fits tightly over a respective one of the two end sections 29 of an auxiliary frame 30.

The auxiliary frame 30 comprises a hanging rail 31 that is formed integrally with the two end sections 29 from a single length of metal tube. Thus it will be appreciated that pivotal movement of the two sets of first and second sleeve sections results in the hanging rail 31 being pivotable to lie either substantially alongside the side frame members 13 (see Figures 5 and 10) or spaced therefrom such as in the position shown in Figures 1 and 7.

Each second sleeve section 25 is formed with a pair of shoulders 33 between the tubular portion 28 and the end section 24. A region 34 of each shoulder is positioned to abut an abutment 35 provided by the first sleeve section 20 when the airer has been pivoted from a first position at which it lies alongside a first frame member, and thus within the airer footprint, to a second position at which it lies outwards, in the position as shown for example in Figure 9.

Preferably, as in this embodiment, the abutments are positioned such that in use the auxiliary frame extends outwards with the end sections 29 thereof substantially horizontal. Thus for an auxiliary frame of given size the hanging rail of the auxiliary frame allows items hung therefrom to lie further from lower edge rails than if the auxiliary frame sections 29 were not substantially horizontal.

For each hinge unit the first sleeve section is provided with a pair of protrusions 37 and the second sleeve section is provided with a pair of recesses 38. The recesses 38 are each dimensioned to accommodate a protrusion 37 and to provide a light click type retention of the two sections relative to one another when in the position shown in Figure 10. Thus the auxiliary frame is lightly retained in position within the airer footprint during transportation and storage of the airer but is readily released to be flipped over to lie outwards in the position of Figure 7.

The present invention accordingly addresses the problem of efficient airing of both long and short length items by providing auxiliary frames which in effect optionally may be flipped over from a storage position to lie outwards of lower hanging rails when extra capacity is required for efficiently airing long length items.

Claims

1. A tiered airer comprising a main frame comprising a pair of side frame assemblies each comprising a plurality of relatively pivotable side members, and a plurality of hanging rails which extend between and which space apart the two side frame assemblies, at least one tier comprising edge rails which in combination with the side frame members define the footprint of the airer as considered in a plan view of the airer when collapsed, and said main frame having pivotally secured relative thereto an auxiliary frame pivotable between a first position at which it lies within said footprint and a second position at which it lies outwards of said footprint when the airer is collapsed.

2. An airer according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary frame is pivotally secured relative to an edge rail.

3. An airer according to claim 2 wherein the auxiliary frame is pivotally secured relative to an edge rail of an uppermost tier.

4. An airer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein an uppermost tier of an airer comprises edge rails which in combination with side frame members define the footprint of the airer when collapsed.

5. An airer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the auxiliary frame is pivotable relative to the main frame about an axis which is parallel with the longitudinal axis of an edge rail.

6. An airer according to claim 5 wherein the auxiliary frame is pivotable about an axis which is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of an edge rail.

7. An airer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the edge rails of a tier are structurally integral with and extend between side frame members at opposite sides of the airer.

8. An airer according to claim 7 wherein edge rails of a tier are integral with one or each of a pair of side frame members.

9. An airer according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein an edge rail is interconnected with at least one side frame member by means of a hinge unit which pivotally supports an auxiliary frame.

10. An airer according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the auxiliary frame is pivotally secured to an edge rail.

11. An airer according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the auxiliary frame is pivotally secured to a pair of side frame members.

12. An airer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the auxiliary frame comprises at least one hanging rail which extends between those end regions of the auxiliary frame which are pivotally secured relative to the edge rail of an upper tier of the airer.

13. An airer according to claim 12 wherein the airer comprises at least three tiers and wherein the auxiliary frame is secured to an uppermost tier of the airer.

14. An airer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein an upper or an uppermost tier comprises two edge rails each of the two edge rails has an auxiliary frame pivotally secured relative thereto.

15. An airer according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising retention means whereby an auxiliary frame may be retained in a first position and remain in that position during handling of the airer when collapsed.

16. An airer according to claim 15 wherein the retention means comprises a resilient clip.

17. An airer according to claim 16 wherein the retention means comprises a protrusion carried by one of the auxiliary frame and a side frame member and engageable with a recess formed in the other of the auxiliary frame and side frame member.

18. An airer according to claim 17 wherein at least one of the auxiliary frame and a side frame member comprises a protrusion or recess defined by non-rigid material.

19. An airer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one side frame assembly or an edge rail comprises an abutment formation to co-operate with a corresponding formation at an end region of an auxiliary frame whereby the auxiliary frame is retained in a substantially horizontal position when pivoted to lie in an extended position outwards of said footprint of the airer.