NL2018941B1 - Portable standing clothes horse - Google Patents

Abstract

A B S T R A C T Portable and collapsible standing clothes-horse comprising a span assembly and a stand. The span assembly comprises laterally extending clotheslines. The stand is adapted to 5 support the clothes-horse on the ground and the span assembly above the ground. It comprises two rigid frame parts, hinging about a laterally extending horizontal hinge axis at a frame hinge height, and guides, secured above the frame hinge height at each lateral side of each frame part. The span assembly further comprises at each lateral side a tensioning string, connected at each end to a span point of a different frame part beneath the frame 10 hinge height, and running between the span points via two of the guides, each tensioning string having hoisting sections in between span points and guides, and a support section in between the guides, to which each clothesline is slideably connected. The clothes-horse is collapsible from a folded-out into a folded-in condition by moving the top ends of the frame parts towards each other, the support sections shortening, and deployable from the folded-in 15 into the folded-out condition by moving these away from each other, the support sections lengthening.

Description

Netherlands Patent Office © 2018941 (21) Application number: 2018941 © Application filed: May 18, 2017 © BI PATENT © Int. Cl .:

D06F 57/08 (2018.01)

0 Application registered: © Patent holder (s): November 28, 2018 StudioKees in ROTTERDAM. © Request published: - © Inventor (s): Odin Egill Visser in ROTTERDAM. © Patent granted: Jaap Huijgen in ROTTERDAM. November 28, 2018 Teddy Damen in DELFT. © Patent issued: March 28, 2019 © Authorized representative: ir. J.C. Volmer et al. In Rijswijk.

© PORTABLE STANDING CLOTHES HORSE

Ξ) Portable and collapsible standing clothes-horse including a span assembly and a stand. The span assembly laterally extends clotheslines. The stand is adapted to support the clothes-horse on the ground and the span assembly above the ground. It comprises two rigid frame parts, hung over a laterally extending horizontal hinge axis at a frame hinge height, and guides, secured above the frame hinge height at each lateral side or each frame part. The span assembly further comprises at each lateral side a tensioning string, connected at each end to a span point of a different frame part beneath the frame hinge height, and running between the span points via two of the guides, each tensioning string having hoisting sections in between span points and guides, and a support section in between the guides, to which each clothesline is slideably connected. The clothes-horse is collapsible from a folded-in into a folded-in condition by moving the top ends of the frame parts towards each other, the support sections shortening, and deployable from the folded-in into the folded-out condition by moving these away from each other, the support sections lengthening.

NL Bl 2018941

This patent has been granted regardless of the attached result of the research into the state of the art and written opinion. The patent corresponds to the documents originally submitted.

P33177NL00 / MEL

PORTABLE STANDING CLOTHES HORSE

The present invention pertains to a portable standing clothes-horse, for example for hanging laundry to dry.

Standing clothes-horses are known in terms that can be set up on the ground indoors or outdoors, and then collapsed for transport or storage. In known, when set up on the ground, legs of the clothes-horse hold one or more rectangular rack portions above the ground, each rack portion has a variety or parallel, equidistant clotheslines extending in a lateral direction and contoured by a set or bars. These legs generally support the bars or the one or more rack portions on both lateral sides, to support the clotheslines.

To enable the collapsing of the clothes-horse, its components often hinge with respect to each other at multiple points. The legs therein often define an X-shape, hung in the longitudinal center and at their connection points with the bars. Therein the folded-out position is often determined by one or more end stops, typically longitudinal cross bars releasably connected to the legs beneath their common hinge. An example of a basic design according to the legs define an X-shape is shown in Cassel, U.S. Pat. Design Pat. No. 322,698.

Collapsing a clothes-horse or this child is accomplished by folding at least part of the one or more rack portions at the top in between the legs downwards into a practically vertical orientation, around one or more hinges at the connection points with the legs. As a consequence, by collapsing the clothes-horse each of the top clotheslines moves downwards with respect to the respective hinge, namely over the distance thereto. When laundry is hung off from these clotheslines, it moves towards the ground as well by the same amount, so that laundry pieces hung off from clotheslines far from the hinges may reach to the ground when, or just before the rack is collapsed into a folded -in position.

The lowering of laundry pieces during this collapse of the clothes-horse is reduced in a variant of the basic design of U.S.. Design Pat. No. 322,698, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,205, which comprises multiple X-shaped sets of legs on top of each other. However, this concept entails the height of the clothes-horse to be multiple times larger than the basic design, in order to facilitate the same total length of clotheslines.

The object of the current invention is to provide an improved portable and collapsible standing clothes-horse.

The present invention achieves the mentioned object by providing a clothes-horse according to the preamble of claim 1, which further comprises a left and right front and back guide, secured above the frame hinge height respectively to the left and right side of the rigid front and back frame part. Therein, the frame hinge height is defined as the vertical distance between the ground and the hinge axis when the clothes-horse is standing on the ground.

Furthermore, its span assembly consists of a flexible left and right tensioning string, respectively extending on the right side and the left side of the clothes-horse. These tensioning strings may be embodied as a strap, a cable, or a chain or mutually connected rigid or semi-rigid elements, and may or may not be at least partially elastic in the tensioning direction. The top clotheslines connected to the tensioning strings are preferably rigid, e.g. plastic or plastic coated steel members, however flexible with elastic elements making up the top clotheslines, e.g. wires, are envisaged as well.

Either each tensioning string, a front end is connected to a front span point or the back rigid frame part on the corresponding lateral side. A back end is connected to a back span point of the front rigid frame part at the corresponding lateral side thereof. Therein the span points are all located beneath the frame hinge height.

Furthermore, each of these tensioning strings runs from the respective front span point to the respective back span point, consecutively via the front guide and the back guide at the corresponding lateral sides of the tensioning strings. Thereby each tensioning string has a front hoisting section in between the respective front span point and front guide, and a back hoisting section in between the respective back span point and the back guide, and furthermore a support section in between the respective front and back guide . Therein each of the connecting portions of each top clothesline slideably connects the respective top clothesline to the support section of the tensioning string at the corresponding lateral side.

Furthermore, the clothes-horse is collapsible from a folded-out condition, in which the top clotheslines together substantially define a horizontal plane, into a folded-in condition by moving the top ends of the rigid frame parts towards each other. In this collapsing of the clothes-horse, the support section of each tensioning string, shortens and hangs down in a loop, e.g. similar to a U-shape, between the front and back guide.

The clothes-horse can be unfolded or deployed from the folded-in condition into the folded-out condition by moving the top ends of the rigid frame parts away from each other. In this unfolding the support section of each tensioning string lengthens and becomes substantially horizontal.

As a consequence, in a folded-in condition of the clothes-horse, each hoisting section or each tensioning string is longer, and the support section is a corresponding amount shorter, than in a folded-out condition. This entails that, in a folded-in condition of the clothes-horse, the sum of the spacings in between the succeeding top clotheslines is narrower than in the folded-out condition of the clothes-horse.

By the tensioning strings shortening in between the guides during the collapse of the clothes-horse, the part of the support section is simultaneously hoisted over the front and back guides at that lateral side. This hoisting reduces the amount by which the center of the support section moves downward with respect to the guides during collapsing or the clothes-horse, e.g. when compared to an edition in the support section would maintain a constant length during said collapsing.

As a resulting effect, the lowering or any centrally located top clotheslines, and therefrom any laundry hanging in practical use of the clothes-horse, is reduced as well. In vary, the top clotheslines are even higher above the ground in the folded-in condition than in the folded-out condition. Thereby, laundry that does not reach the ground in the folded-out condition of the clothes-horse is prevented from undesirably coming in contact with the ground in intermediate conditions of the clothes-horse, that is, in conditions between the folded-out and the folded-in condition, and even in the folded-in condition. This effect may contribute to the ease with which the clothes-horse can be folded in and then stored, handled and / or transported with clothes remaining present on the clothes-horse.

Storage, the laundry not reaching the ground in an intermediate condition in which it is still able to completely support itself on the ground, allow the clothes-horse to be stored in this intermediate position while laundry is hung from its top clotheslines. This can for instance be advantageous in case it is desired to, possibly temporarily, reduce the space tasks in longitudinal direction, compared to the folded-out condition, during or after the drying process of the laundry.

In the first case it may have been stored in an intermediate position in which the longitudinal spacing in between the laundry pieces still allows for effective - albeit potentially slower - air drying while occupying a smaller volume. In a practical use of the clothes-horse, the user is advantageously enabled to adjust its volume by the clothes-horse during the drying process. In a practical use of the clothes-horse, concern, the user is less limited by its dimensions in arranging it in between walls, furniture and / or other objects in, possibly multiple different, rooms or other indoor and / or outdoor spaces, during the drying process.

In the second case it may be temporarily stored in an intermediate position with even less spacing in between the laundry pieces than in the first, taking up less space while still supporting itself on the ground, or even in the folded-in condition while supported against a wall or another object. This reduction of the volume of the clothes-horse occupies can be achieved in this case without requiring the laundry to be firstly removed therefrom by the user in order to prevent it from coming into contact with the ground in this position. In a practical use of the clothes-horse, the user is advantageously enabled to postpone the time of removing the laundry, while already being able to store the clothes-horse in a (partly) folded-in condition.

Considering handling, that is, for instance the maneuvering of the clothes-horse, or the adjustment of its condition, the laundry not reaching the ground in intermediate conditions, or just in the folded-in condition, allowing the clothes-horse to be collapsed to these conditions without requiring it to be lifted simultaneously from the ground in order to prevent laundry to come in contact with the ground. When still lifted from the ground during this collapsing to prevent the friction of the frame parts with the ground entailed by the contact there in between, the lifting height can remain limited to the very small amount necessary to prevent this friction, and is not determined by the height over which the laundry extends. In practical use of the clothes-horse, the user is enabled to handle the clothes-horse with greater ease in terms of the required work.

Considering transportation, that is, the laundry not reaching the ground in an intermediate condition or even in the folded-in condition, allows the user to adjust the condition of the clothes-horse such that the length fits the most ergonomic position of his / her arms, as depending mainly on the length of his / her arms and / or personally favorable carrying position.

Furthermore, by the reduced lowering of the laundry in collapsing the clothes-horse, and the - in a side view of the clothes-horse - looped shape of the tensioning strings when compared to state-of-the-art mutually hanging straight components in between the top ends of the frame parts, the laundry pieces hung from the top clotheslines are moved over a smaller vertical distance and angle while collapsing. This reduces the risk of laundry pieces shifting or falling off the top clotheslines during handling and / or transportation of the clotheshorse when compared to present alternatives.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the span assembly further comprises multiple connecting elements, and multiple suspending elements. By the connecting elements, both lateral ends or each of the top clotheslines are connected to both respective corresponding lateral ends of the preceding top clothesline, when present, and of the succeeding top clothesline, when present. By the suspending elements, the front most one of the top clotheslines is connected to the front rigid frame part above the frame hinge height, and the back most one of the top clotheslines is connected to the back rigid frame part above the frame hinge height.

Therein, in the folded-out condition, each of the multiple connecting elements and each of the multiple suspending elements defines the spacing in between the clotheslines it interconnects, and the top clothesline and the rigid frame part it interconnects, respectively.

These connecting and suspending elements may be embodied as strings, bands, chains, or the like, or, preferably, cables or ropes. Therein, in the folded-out condition of the clothes-rack, the elements are extended, so that their lengths determine the spacings in between the top clotheslines and / or rigid frame parts connected. Furthermore therein, in the folded-in condition, at least a part of the elements hangs down in a loop in between the top clotheslines, so to allow for the spacings in between the top clotheslines and / or the rigid frame parts connected to reduce during the collapsing of the clothes-horse.

However, multiple other options are available to embody the connecting and suspending elements. Examples are flexible, elastic, or in another way collapsible, foldable, telescopic, sliding, elements, possibly multi-part or movable with respect to each other, which are extended in the folded-out condition - and which are at least a part bends , shortens, collapses, folds, telescopes, slides, shifts or deforms in another way so to enable a reduction of the respective spacings in between the top clotheslines and / or the rigid frame parts connected during the collapsing of the clothes-horse.

In a preferred embodiment, each rigid frame part comprises a left and a right leg, which are the left legs and the right legs mutually mutually hinging about the hinge axis. Therein the left and right front and back guides are each connected to the left and right legs - at the front and back side of the clothes-horse, respectively. Preferably, the guides are provided in proximity or the top ends of the legs. Preferably the legs are made out of a light material, in particular aluminum, although other materials are found suitable as well - for instance, wood and / or steel.

In an embodiment, the front frame part comprises a front upper cross bar and the back frame part a back upper cross bar, both extending laterally above the frame hinge height. Thereby each upper cross bar limits movement of the interconnected legs relative to each other at the height of this lower cross bar, so at least there correspondingly provide mechanical stability and rigidity to the respective frame part.

In an embodiment each rigid frame part may, as is preferred, include said left and right leg, the upper cross bar therefore rigidly interconnect the left and right leg. Furthermore, in this embodiment the left and right front and back guides may be mounted on the upper cross bars on their respective lateral and longitudinal sides.

The guides may be rotatable, preferably in particular be rotatable around the upper cross bars - for instance such bars form the horizontal axis of the guides. By the rotating ability of the guides, friction between these and the tensioning strings at the interfaces may be reduced, which may further facilitate the ease of collapse and / or unfolding the clothes-horse by the user.

In an embodiment, the guides laterally align the tensioning strings. In an embodiment the guides may be embodied as pulleys, for instance as alignment pulleys, with a horizontal rotational axis.

In an embodiment, the back frame part comprises a lower lower bar and the front frame part comprises a lower lower bar. Therein both cross bars extend laterally below the frame hinge height.

In an embodiment each rigid frame part may, as is preferred, include said left and right leg, the lower cross bar, rigidly interconnect the left and right leg. Thereby each lower cross bar limits movement of the interconnected legs relative to each other at the height of this lower cross bar, so at least there correspondingly provide mechanical stability and rigidity to the respective frame part.

In an embodiment the front and back span points may be formed by at least a part of the front and back lower cross bar, respectively. A closed loop or a front end and a back end of each tensioning string may have been formed around these front and back span points.

Preferably, the clothes-horse includes one or more end stops, for example in the form of one or more end stop members, which serve to compensate forces which tend to move the rigid frame parts outwardly. In particular, these are exerted thereon at their span points by the respective tensioning strings, by reaction to laundry pieces pulling the top clotheslines, and by the support sections of the tensioning strings, downwards by their weight. Preferably, the end stops apply counterforces to the rigid frame parts, preferably substantially in a longitudinal direction. Thereby, the end stops can determine the length of the support section in the folded-out position of the clothes-horse, and / or provide further mechanical stability to the clothes-horse, preferably substantially in a longitudinal direction.

In an embodiment, the front rigid frame part is connected to the back frame part by means of one or more end stop members, each longitudinally extending in between a front end stop point and a back end stop point, respectively, or the back and front rigid frame part, respectively.

In this embodiment, each frame part may include said upper and / or lower cross bar, preferably include said lower cross bar. Therein, the front and back end points are each formed by at least a part of the front and back lower cross bar, respectively. Furthermore, therein the end members may, as is preferred, be embodied as tensioning straps. A closed loop or a front end and a back end or each end stop member may have been formed around the end points.

In an embodiment, the hinging between the frame parts is established by horizontal hinges, these hinges may be included in an end stop, which state the position of the frame parts in the folded-out condition of the clothes-horse.

In an embodiment, the span assembly further comprises multiple parallel front and back lower clotheslines in addition to the top clotheslines. Therein, the front and back lower clotheslines extend horizontally in a lateral direction, and are left and right ends of each fixed to the front and back hoisting section of the left and right tensioning string, respectively. By means of these lower clotheslines, the clothes-horse provides additional opportunities for applying laundry pieces thereto, without extending the volume of the clothes-horse and without requiring additional parts besides the lower clotheslines itself.

Preferably, the frame hinge height of the clothes-horse is less than half, more preferably around a third of the height of the top clotheslines when the clothes-horse is standing on the ground in its folded-out condition. Decreasing the hinge height below half the height of the top clotheslines advantageously creates a longer support section of the tensioning strings, so that more top clotheslines can be connected thereto - and thus, more laundry can be applied to the clothes-horse.

However, decreasing the hinge height too far may cause the clothes-horse to become unstable in standing, which limits the range of possible hinge heights from below. In addition, a further limitation is imposed by the average human arm span. It is envisaged that the user of the clothes-horse collapses it by placing each of his hands a different frame part above the frame hinge height, for instance at the top end, for instance at the approximate height of the top clotheslines, and moving the frame parts towards each other in a generally longitudinal direction. To allow for this action in an ergonomic way, the length of the frame parts at the predetermined gripping height of the user, should preferably not exceed the average arm span. This maximum length provides a further lower limit to the range of possible hinge heights, which depends on the mentioned gripping height.

In a preferred embodiment, the hinge point height is between 25% and 55%, more preferably between 35% and 45%,%, for example approximately 40%, or the height of the top clotheslines in the folded-out condition of the clothes -horse.

The amount by which the support section of the tensioning strings shortens by collapsing the clothes rack is determined by the height of the span points. Therein, the amount of shortening in collapsing the clothes-horse from the folded-out condition into the folded-in condition is for each tensioning string determined by the summed up length of its hoisting sections in the folded-in condition and that in folded- out condition of the clothes horse. As a consequence this amount increases upon providing the span points further away from the frame hinge axis, for instance lower in the same vertical plane.

Shortening by a larger amount reduced to a greater extent the lowering of the top clotheslines in collapsing the clothes-horse, which increases the advantageous effect of the invention. This amount is however limited by the minimum length the support section still requires in the folded-in condition, in order to accommodate the top clotheslines while laundry is applied thereto. Preferably, the support section therein still hangs down in a loop. The length of the hoisting sections should increase no further than half or the desired amount or shortening of the support section. Thereby, the distance from the span points to the hinge axis is limited from below.

It is highly preferred, in particular when the tensioning string is non-elastic, the height of the each span point is chosen such that the length of the hoisting section of the tensioning string connected thereto, in the folded-out condition of the clothes -horse, is narrower than the distance from the corresponding frame hinge axis to the guide about which the tensioning string runs on the corresponding longitudinal side. In this way, the tensioning string can be tensioned in all conditions of the clothes-horse, without requiring external tensioning forces - such as downwardly hanging on top clotheslines by laundry hanging therefrom. In this way, it can be established that the top clotheslines run in the same substantial horizontal plane in the folded-out condition of the clothes-horse.

In this preferred embodiment, the height of each span point is preferably between 45% and 75%, more preferably between 55% and 65%, for example approximately 60%, or the frame hinge height.

In an embodiment, the top clotheslines are each connected to each tensioning string by a closed loop portion or the connecting portion. Thereby, the sliding connections of the top clotheslines to the tensioning strings are realized in an uncomplicated manner.

Furthermore, therein, for each top clothesline the connecting elements and / or the suspending elements connected thereto may be fixed to the closed loop at the corresponding lateral ends thereof.

In an embodiment, each leg comprises a rotational plateau, extending around the hinge axis, and an upper segment, extending from the rotational plateau to the end bar connected thereto, and a lower segment, extending from the rotational plateau to the ground. Therein the upper and lower segments are interconnected by means of the rotational plateau, and run along spaced apart parallel lay axes on opposite sides of the hinge axis in a side view of the clothes-horse, such that the upper and lower segments run along the lay axis that is most outward from the hinge axis above and below the frame hinge height, respectively.

Therein the upper segments running along the leg axis that is most outward from the hinge axis above the frame hinge height can advantageously increase the longitudinal distance between the guides on the frame parts - when compared to an axis running parallel thereto through the frame hinge axis. The latter would be the case with the legs being completely straight. Thereby, the support section can be lengthened without increasing the height thereafter - which may enable more laundry to be applied thereto.

Furthermore, therein the lower segments running along the leg axis that is most outward from the hinge axis below the frame hinge height can advantageously increase the longitudinal distance between the foot portions of the frame parts - when compared to an axis running parallel thereto through the frame hinge axis. Thereby, the floor area on which the clothes-horse is supported can be lengthened without increasing the height which may contribute to its stability in standing.

Further stability in standing may be achieved by the construction of the frame parts, and the geometry, material properties of their parts.

In an embodiment in which the legs comprise the upper and lower segments interconnected by the rotational plateau, the upper and lower segments or each leg run along parallel, laterally spaced apart axes in a front view of the clothes-horse as well. In particular, or each lay the upper segment runs along an axis that is laterally more outward than the axis along which the lower segment runs. In this way, the lateral spacing in between the left and right leg of each frame part is increased when compared to the legs running along the same vertical axis -advantageously allowing for longer top clotheslines without increasing the height of the clothes-horse.

Optionally, further opportunities to apply laundry can be created in between the frame parts, preferably below the frame hinge height. For example, one or more breathing sheets may be provided there, alternatively, additional clotheslines - which may for instance be connected to, or integrated with, the end stop members, when present, or may be placed in between these.

In an embodiment, one breathing sheet is provided below the frame hinge height in between the frame parts, suitable for air drying small laundry (socks, underwear) or wool laundry, which need to be three horizontally. Preferably, the breathing sheet is made of a fabric mesh, which allows laundry applied thereon to dry from all sides. Preferably, the breathing sheet extends over an as large as possible, substantially horizontal area when the clotheshorse is in the folded-out position.

Optionally, the breathing sheet forms and an end stop member. In an embodiment of the frame parts include front and back lower cross bars, the breathing sheet is connected thereto at a front and a back end, respectively, this front and back end for, see forming a closed loop around the front and back lower cross bar.

In an embodiment of the frame parts comprises the legs, these legs preferably have a rectangular cross-section - mainly to facilitate a more convenient production and assembly of the rotational plateau and the in two directions in parallel running upper and lower segments, and a more convenient connection with upper cross bars, when present. Therein, the shorter sides preferably extend in the lateral direction and the longer sides in the longitudinal direction.

In an embodiment each leg is provided on the lower end with a cap with rounded-off edges, by means of which the respective support bar is supported on the ground.

As brought up before, the user is envisaged to collapse the clothes-horse by engaging the frame parts by his hands and longitudinally moving these towards each other. To allow for this action in an ergonomic way, the distance in between the frame parts at the predetermined gripping height of the user, should preferably not exceed the average arm span - this gripping height preferably being on the top ends of the frame parts.

In an embodiment, therefore the mutual spacing between the top ends of the frame parts in the folded-out condition of the clothes-horse comprises no more than the average human arm span.

In an embodiment, the height of the top clotheslines in the folded-out condition of the clothes-horse is between 80 cm and 120 cm above the ground when the clothes-horse is standing thereon.

The present invention also relates to a portable and collapsible standing clothes-horse, for example for hanging laundry to dry, including:

- a stand including a foot portion to support the clothes-horse on the ground when standing thereon and including a front frame part and a back frame part, at least one of said front frame part and a back frame part hung about a laterally extending horizontal hinge axis, the stand further included a left front guide and a right front guide, and a left back guide and a right back guide, each secured above the frame hinge height respectively to a left and a right side of the front frame part, and to the left and right side of the back frame part,

- a span assembly including a flexible left tensioning string and a flexible right tensioning string, respectively extending at the right side and the left side of the stand, or each tensioning string, a front end is connected to a front span point of the stand at the corresponding lateral side, and a back end is connected to a back span point of the stand at the corresponding lateral side, each tensioning string runs from the respective front span point to the respective back span point, consecutively via the front guide and the back guide at the corresponding lateral side of the stand, so that each tensioning string has a front hoisting section in between the respective front span point and front guide, and a back hoisting section in between the respective back span point and the back guide , and a support section in between the respective front and back guide, following the span assembly further comprises multiple laterally extending and substantially parallel top clotheslines, that are each connected at lateral ends to the respective support section of the support section of the tensioning string, eg slidably connected, under the clothes-horse is collapsible from a folded-out condition, in which the top clotheslines are hero in a substantially horizontal plane by said tensioning strings, in a folded-in condition, in the support section of each tensioning string shortens and hangs down in a loop between the front and back guide.

The stand may be embodied with frame parts that are mutually hinged about a laterally extending horizontal hinge axis, e.g. with the frame parts each having left and right legs, and the left legs and right legs being pairwise mutually hinged.

The stand may also be of different structure, eg embodied with a front frame part and a rear frame part that are each hinged about a separate hinge relative to some base structure of the stand, eg about two parallel horizontal hinge axes, preferably at the same height above the ground. The base structure may then also be collapsible.

The present invention also relates to a method for hanging clothes, e.g. for hanging laundry to dry, use is made of a portable and collapsible standing clothes-horse as discussed. For example the method also includes the step of collapsing the clotheshorse while the clothes, eg laundry, remain hanging on the clotheslines, transporting the collapsed clothes-horse with said clothes to another location, and deploying the clotheshorse again, eg for continued drying or storage at said other location.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary clothes-horse according to the invention in its folded-out condition,

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a clothes-horse according to the invention in its folded-out condition, along with magnifications of two details,

FIG. 3 shows a top view of a clothes-horse according to the invention in its folded-out condition,

FIG. 4 shows a clothes-horse according to the invention in its folded-out condition in a perspective view,

FIG. 5 shows a clothes-horse according to the invention in an intermediate condition in the same perspective view,

FIG. 6 shows a clothes-horse according to the invention in its folded-in condition in the same perspective view,

FIG. 7 shows side views of a clothes-horse according to the invention, namely in its folded-out condition, an intermediate condition and its folded-in condition, in a

FIG. 8 shows a side view of a clothes-horse according to the invention in an intermediate condition, along with a magnification of a detail,

FIG. 9 shows a clothes-horse according to the invention in its folded-in condition in a side view and a sectional view, along with a magnification of a detail,

FIG. 10 shows a front view of a clothes-horse according to the invention in its folded-in condition,

FIG. 11 shows a left side view of a clothes-horse according to the invention in its folded-out condition, with multiple length indications.

The Figs. 1-11 relate to a preferred embodiment or a portable and collapsible standing clothes-horse 1 according to the invention. FIGs. 1-4 therein illustrate the construction and parts of this clothes-horse in a folded-out condition, its features indicated therein. Figs.46 and Fig./demonstrate the working of the clothes-horse, while Figs.8-10 provide some additional illustrations further clarifying its properties and pointing out some details. FIG. 11 indicates the most relevant dimensions of the construction.

Turning firstly to Figs. 1-4 to elaborate on the construction of the clothes-horse, Figs. 1 shows a perspective view, as seen from a point at some distance at the left, front, top side of the thereof. As indicated therein, the clothes-horse 1 comprises, firstly, a span assembly 2, including multiple substantially parallel top clotheslines 201, extending horizontally in a lateral direction from the left side of the clothes-horse to the right side thereof. The top clotheslines succeed one another from the front side of the clothes-horse to its back side, having spacings 201b in between them, and each including a connecting portion 201a at each lateral end thereof.

Fig.2 shows a cross-section of the clothes-horse, namely along the vertical plane F-F indicated in the top view or Fig.3. As shown, the clothes-horse 1 further comprises a stand 3, adapted to support the span assembly above the ground. As can best be verified from Fig.2, the stand here, as preferred, comprises a rigid front frame part 301 and a rigid back frame part 302. These frame parts mutually hinge over a laterally extending horizontal hinge axis A, most clearly visible in FIGs. 1.3 and 4, at the frame hinge height. Therein each frame part 301, 302 comprises a foot portion 301a, 302a to support the clothes-horse on the ground when standing thereon.

The stand 3 further comprises a left front guide 303 and a right front guide 304, a left back guide 305 and a right back guide 306, each secured above the frame hinge height respectively to the left and right side of the rigid front frame part 301, and to the left and right side of the rigid back frame part 302.

The span assembly 2 further comprises a flexible left tensioning string 202 and a flexible right tensioning string 203, respectively extending at the right side and the left side of the clothes-horse 1.

Therein, or each tensioning string, a front end 202a, 203a is connected to a front span point 204, 205 on the back rigid frame part 302 at the corresponding lateral side, and a back end 202b, 203b is connected to a back span point 206, 207 or the front rigid frame part at the corresponding lateral side thereof. Therein the front and back span points 204, 205, 206, 207 are located beneath the frame hinge height.

Each of the tensioning strings runs from the respective front span point to the respective back span point, consecutively via the front guide and the back guide at the corresponding lateral sides of the tensioning strings. It is verifiable from Fig.2 that each tensioning string has a front hoisting section 202c, 203c in between the respective front span point and front guide, and a back hoisting section 202d, 203d in between the respective back span point and the back guide, and a support section 202e, 203e in between the respective front and back guide. It is most clearly shown in FIG. 1 that each or the connecting portions or each top clothesline slideably connects the respective top clothesline to the support section of the tensioning string at the corresponding lateral side.

Figs.4-7 clarify the working of the clothes-horse from two different views. Figs.4-6 show the clothes-horse in the same perspective view, in three possible conditions after - namely, the folded-out condition in Fig.4, an intermediate condition in Fig.5, and the folded-in condition in Fig .6. Fig.7 shows the clothes-horse in these same three conditions in a left side view.

Figs.4-6 reflect in their order, and Fig.7 from the left to the right, the advancement of the construction from the folded-out condition to the folded-in condition, demonstrating the clothes-horse being collapsible from a folded- out condition, in which the top clotheslines together substantially define a horizontal plane, into a folded-in condition, which can be established by moving the top ends of the rigid frame parts towards each other. In this collapsing of the clothes-horse, the support section of each tensioning string shortens and hangs down in a loop between the front and back guide - which follows most clearly from Fig.5 and the middle part of Fig.7.

When considering Figs. 4-6 in reverse order, and Fig.7 from the right to the left, these figures also demonstrate the clothes-horse can be unfolded from the folded-in condition into the folded-out condition by moving the top ends of the rigid frame parts away from each other. In this unfolding the support section of each tensioning string lengthens.

It can be verified by the geometry in these conditions, as a consequence of how the clothes-horse is constructed, in a folded-in condition of the clothes-horse, each hoisting section or each tensioning string is longer, and the support section accordingly a corresponding amount shorter, than in a folded-out condition. This entails that, in a folded-in condition of the clothes-horse, the sum of the spacings in between the succeeding top clotheslines is narrower than in the folded-out condition of the clothes-horse.

By the tensioning strings shortening in between the guides, the support section is simultaneously hoisted over the front and back guides at that lateral side. This hoisting reduces the amount by which the support section, moves downward with respect to the guides during collapsing or the clothes-horse, when compared to a state-of-the-art support section maintaining constant length during collapsing.

As the figures show and as determined by the geometry, with this embodiment of the invention, the lowering of the top clotheslines in collapsing the clothes-horse is advantageously completely prevented. In fact, the top clotheslines are even lifted during collapsing, the top clotheslines being progressively higher from the ground in the shown intermediate condition than in the folded-out condition, and even higher in the folded-in condition than in the shown intermediate condition. The working of this invention being as advantageous as shown, results from a combination of optional and preferred design features and properties.

Fig. 8 and the left part of Fig. 9 show a left side view of the embodiment in an intermediate and in its folded-in condition, respectively, the middle and right part of Fig. 9 show a cross-sectional view in its folded-in condition, along the vertical cross-section F-F indicated in Fig.3. There is the right part of Fig. 9 is a magnification of detail J. It is most clearly visible from these two figures that is as preferred, the span assembly of the illustrated embodiment of the invention further comprises multiple connecting elements 208 and multiple suspending elements 209.

By the multiple connecting elements, both lateral ends or each of the top clotheslines are connected to both respective corresponding lateral ends of the preceding top clothesline, when present, and of the succeeding top clothesline, when present.

By the multiple suspending elements, the front most one of the top clotheslines is connected to the front rigid frame part above the frame hinge height, and the back most one of the top clotheslines to the back rigid frame part above the frame hinge height.

In the folded-out condition, each of the multiple connecting elements and each of the multiple suspending elements defines the spacing in between the top clotheslines it interconnects, and the top clothesline and the rigid frame part it interconnects, respectively.

Referring back to Figs. 3-4, in this embodiment each rigid frame part comprises a left leg 307 and a right leg 308. The left legs and the right legs both mutually hinge over the hinge axis A, intermediate the lower and upper end of the legs, and the left and right guides are each connected to the left and right legs at the corresponding longitudinal side of the clotheshorse.

Furthermore, the front frame part comprises a front upper cross bar 309 and the back frame part a back upper cross bar 310, extending laterally above the frame hinge height.

Either both frame parts, the left and right are therein rigidly interconnected by means or the front and back upper cross bar, respectively.

The guides 303 304, 305 and 306 are mounted on the upper cross bars on the respective longitudinal and lateral sides thereof. In more detail these guides are rotatable around the respective upper cross bar. As illustrated, the guides are embodied as alignment pulleys with a horizontal rotational axis.

The back frame part of the figure comprises a front lower cross bar 311 and the front frame part a back lower cross bar 312, extending laterally below the frame hinge height.

Therein, or the front and back frame part, the left and right are rigidly interconnected by means of the front and back lower cross bar, respectively.

Furthermore there, the front and back span points are each formed by at least a part of the front and back lower cross bar, respectively, around which a closed loop or a front end 202a, 203a and a back end 202b, 203b or each tensioning string is respectively formed.

The front rigid frame part of the shown embodiment is connected with the back frame part by means of one or more end stop members 212. As indicated in Fig. 4, each of these end stop members longitudinally extending in between a front end stop point 314 and a back end stop point 315, respectively, on the front and back rigid frame parts, respectively.

In particular, the end stop members are embodied as tensioning straps, and the front and back end points are each formed by at least a part of the front and back lower cross bar, respectively, around which a closed loop or a front end 212a and of a back end 212b or each tensioning strap is respectively formed.

Optionally, the hinging between the frame parts is established by horizontal hinges including an end stop, which is the position of the frame parts in the folded-out condition of the clothes-horse. This is not shown in any figures.

The span assembly of the illustrated embodiment further comprises multiple parallel front lower clotheslines 210 and back lower clotheslines 211 in addition to the top clotheslines, the front and back lower clotheslines 210, 211 extend horizontally in a lateral direction, and are at left and right ends thereof each fixed to the front and back hoisting section of the left and right tensioning string, respectively.

In the front and left side view of the clothes-horse in Figs. 10 and 11, respectively, a number or characteristic distances are indicated. Therein, from comparing length I from the frame hinge axis or each frame part with the length you from the frame hinge axis to the guide, it can be verified that as is preferred, in this edition the frame hinge height is between 30% and 40 % of the height of the top clotheslines in the folded-out condition of the clothes-horse.

It can furthermore be verified from comparing the height of the span points above the ground with the hinge point height that the height of the span points is between 60% and 70% of the frame hinge height.

The lengths I, and you, and heights a and p of the clothes-horse determine the amount by which collapsing the clothes-horse causes the lengths of the support section of each tensioning string to decrease, and the lengths h of the hoisting sections thereof to increase.

From Figs.8-9, it is visible that the top clotheslines or this version are each connected to each tensioning string by the connecting portion such that the clothesline can slide relative to the string in the direction of the string. For example the connecting portion comprises a closed loop around the string.

In an embodiment for each top clothesline the connecting elements and / or the suspending elements connected thereto are fixed to the closed loop at the corresponding lateral ends thereof.

As indicated, in the shown embodiment each leg includes a rotational plateau 317 extending around the hinge axis, and an upper segment 307a, 308a, extending from the rotational plateau to the end bar connected thereto, and a lower segment 307b, 308b, extending from the rotational plateau to the ground. Therein the upper and lower segments are interconnected by means of the rotational plateau and run along spaced apart parallel lay axes B, C on opposite sides of the hinge axis in a side view of the clothes-horse, such that the upper and lower segments run along the leg axis that is most outward from the hinge axis above and below the frame hinge height, respectively.

Referring back to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the upper and lower segments run along parallel, laterally spaced apart axes when viewed from the front or the clothes-horse as well. In particular, or each leg the upper segment runs along an axis that is laterally more outward than the axis along which the lower segment runs, so to result in the left and right legs or each frame part being laterally spaced apart further than with laterally aligned upper and lower segments. As can be verified, this can enable longer top clotheslines without increasing their distance to the ground.

Furthermore, in the shown embodiment, in between its frame parts and below its frame hinge height, a breathing sheet 213 is provided. This breathing sheet is suitable for air drying small laundry (socks, underwear) or wool laundry, which need to be three horizontally. As is preferred, it is made of a fabric mesh, which allows laundry laid thereon to dry from all sides.

As is preferred, the breathing sheet extends over a substantially horizontal area when the clothes-horse is in the folded-out position, and may be connected to the end stop members on both lateral sides. It is furthermore preferably connected to the front and back lower cross bars, respectively, this front and back end, respectively, forming a closed loop around the front and back lower cross bar.

The legs of the embodiment shown have a rectangular cross-section, or which extend the shorter sides in the lateral direction and the longer sides in the longitudinal direction.

Furthermore, as is preferred each leg is at the lower end provided with a cap 318 with rounded-off edges, by means of which the respective support bar is supported on the ground.

As not directly derivable from the figures, as preferred is the mutual spacing between the top ends of the frame parts in the folded-out condition of the clothes-horse shown comprises no more than the average human arm span.

Furthermore, the height of the top clotheslines in the folded-out condition of the clothes10 horse is between 80cm and 120cm above the ground when the clothes-horse is standing thereon.

Claims (26)

CONCLUSIONS A portable and collapsible standing laundry rack (1), for example for hanging laundry to be dried, comprising: a clamping assembly (2) comprising a plurality of substantially parallel upper clothing lines (201) extending horizontally in a lateral direction from a left-hand side of the clothes-rack to a right-hand side thereof, and following one another from a front of the clothes-rack to a rear of the clothes-rack having spacings (201b) between them and including connecting portions (201a) at each lateral end thereof, and an upright (3) adapted to support the drying rack on the ground when it is standing thereon, and for the clamping assembly above the ground to support, wherein the upright comprises a rigid front frame member (301) and a rigid rear frame member (302) which pivots about a laterally extending horizontal hinge axis (A) at a frame hinge height (a), characterized in that the upright further comprises a left front guide (303) and a right front guide (304), and a left rear guide (305) and a right rear guide (306), each fixed above the frame hinge height, respectively, on the left and right sides of the rigid front frame member (301), and on the left and right sides of the rigid rear frame member (302), the clamping assembly further comprising a flexible left tensioning string (202) and a flexible right tensioning string (203) extending on the right and left side of the laundry rack respectively, with a front end (202a, 203a) of each tensioning string being connected to a front tensioning point (204, 205) of the rigid rear frame member (302) on the corresponding lateral side, and a rear end (202b, 203b) is connected to a rear clamping point (206, 207) of the rigid front frame member on the corresponding lateral side thereof, the front and rear clamping points ( 204, 205, 206, 207) are lower than the frame hinge height, -22 and each of which tensioning strands runs from the respective front tensioning point to the respective rear tensioning point, successively via the front guide and rear guide on the corresponding lateral sides of the tensioning strands, so that each tensioning string has a front hoisting section (202c, 203c) between the respective anterior opspanpunt and the front guide, and a rearward lifting section (202d, 203d) between the respective rear opspanpunt and the rear guide, and a support section (202e, 203 ^e) between the respective front and rear conductor, wherein each of the connecting portions of slidingly connect each upper clothing line to the support section of the tensioning strand on the corresponding lateral side, the laundry rack being collapsible from an unfolded state, wherein the upper clothing lines collectively define substantially a horizontal plane, to a collapsed state through the upper ends of the rigid frame members to each other moving, with the support section of each tensioning string shortened and hanging down in a loop between the front and rear guides, and unfoldable from the collapsed state to the unfolded state by moving the upper ends of the rigid frame members apart, the support section of each tensioning cord. The laundry rack of claim 1, wherein the fixture assembly further comprises: a plurality of connecting elements (208) through which both lateral ends of each of the upper clothing lines are connected to both respective corresponding lateral ends of the preceding upper clothing line, if present, and of the subsequent upper clothing line, if present, a plurality of hanging elements (209) by which the front of the upper clothing lines is connected to the front rigid frame section above the frame hinge height, wherein in the unfolded state, each of the plurality of connecting elements and each of the plurality of hanging elements defines the distance between the upper clothing lines it connects, and the upper clothing line and the rigid frame member it connects, respectively. The laundry rack according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein each rigid frame member comprises a left leg (307) and a right leg (308), the left legs and right legs both hinging mutually about the hinge axis (A), the left and right conductors each are connected to the left and right legs on the corresponding longitudinal side of the laundry rack. The laundry rack according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the front frame member comprises a front upper cross member (309) and the front frame member a rear upper cross member (310), both upper cross members (309, 310) extending laterally and above the frame hinge height. Washing rack as claimed in claims 3 and 4, wherein of the front and rear frame part, the left and the right leg are rigidly connected to each other by means of the front and rear upper crossbar respectively. The laundry rack of claim 4, wherein the conductors are connected to the upper cross bars on their respective longitudinal and lateral sides. Washing rack according to claim 6, wherein the guides are rotatable about the upper cross bars. A laundry rack according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the guides are embodied as alignment pulleys with a horizontal axis of rotation. Washing rack according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the rear frame part, respectively, comprises a front lower cross bar (311) and the front frame part comprises a rear lower cross bar (312), which laterally extend below the frame hinge height. 10. Laundry rack as claimed in claims 3 and 9, wherein of the front and rear frame part, the left and right leg are rigidly connected to each other by means of the rear and front lower cross bars respectively. Laundry rack according to claim 9, wherein the front and rear clamping points are each formed by at least a part of the front and rear lower crossbar respectively, around which a closed loop is formed of a front end (202a, 203a) and a rear end respectively (202b, 203b) of each tensioning string. A laundry rack according to any of claims 1-11, wherein the front rigid frame member is connected to the rear frame member by means of one or more end stop members (212), each extending longitudinally between a front end stop point (314) and a rear end, respectively end stop (315), of the rear and front frame parts, respectively. 13. Laundry rack as claimed in claims 9 and 12, wherein the end-stop parts are embodied as tensioning belts, and the front and rear end-stop points are each formed at least by a part of the front and rear lower crossbar respectively, around which a closed loop of a front end (212a, respectively) ) and from a rear end (212b) of each tensioning band. Washing rack as claimed in any of the claims 1-13, wherein the hinging between the frame parts is effected by horizontal hinges comprising an end stop, which determines the position of the frame parts in the unfolded state of the washing rack. The laundry rack according to any of claims 1-14, wherein the tensioning assembly further comprises a plurality of parallel front lower clothing lines (210) and rear lower clothing lines (211) in addition to the upper clothing lines, wherein the front and rear lower clothing lines (210, 211 extend horizontally in a lateral direction, and are fixed at the left and right ends thereof to the front and rear hoisting section of the left and right tensioning strands respectively. Laundry rack according to any of claims 1-15, wherein the frame hinge height is between 35% and 45% of the height of the upper clothing lines in the unfolded state of the laundry rack. Laundry rack according to claim 16, wherein the height of the clamping points is between 55% and 65% of the frame hinge height in the unfolded state of the laundry rack. A laundry rack according to any one of claims 1-17, wherein the upper clothing lines are each connected to each tensioning string by a closed loop portion of the connecting portion. Laundry rack according to any one of claims 1-18, wherein for each upper clothing line the connecting elements and / or hanging elements connected thereto are fixed to the connecting part thereof, e.g., the closed-loop part thereof, to the corresponding lateral ends thereof. A laundry rack according to any one of claims 1-19, wherein each leg comprises a turntable (317) extending around the hinge axis, and an upper segment (307a, 308a) extending from the turntable to the upper crossbar connected thereto, and a lower segment (307b, 308b) extending from the turntable to the ground, the upper and lower segment being connected to each other by means of the turntable in a side view of the washing rack and parallel leg shafts (B, C) ) run on opposite sides of the hinge axis such that the upper and lower segments run along the leg axis that is most outwardly of the hinge axis above and below the frame hinge height, respectively. Washing rack according to one of claims 1 to 20, wherein a breathable cloth (213) is provided, respectively, between the frame parts and below the frame hinge height, which extends substantially horizontally in the unfolded state of the washing rack, wherein a front and rear end of the breathable cloth is respectively connected to the rear and front frame member, thereby forming a closed loop around the front and rear cross bar, respectively, when present. Laundry rack according to claim 3, wherein the legs have a rectangular cross-section, the shorter sides of which extend in the lateral direction and the longer sides in the longitudinal direction. Laundry rack according to one of claims 1 to 22, wherein each leg has a cap (318) with rounded edges at its lower end, by means of which the respective leg is supported on the ground. Washing rack according to one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the mutual distance between ends of the frame parts in the unfolded state of the washing rack is no more than the average human arm width. A laundry rack according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the height of the upper clothing lines in the unfolded state of the laundry rack is between 80 cm and 120 cm above the ground when the clothes rack stands on it. A method for hanging clothes, e.g. for hanging clothes to be dried, wherein use is made of a portable and collapsible standing laundry rack according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises, for example, the step of collapsing the laundry rack while the clothing, e.g., laundry, lingers on clothing lines, transporting the collapsed laundry rack with the clothes to another location, and unfolding the laundry rack again, e.g., for continued drying or storage at the other location. 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