US2503386A

US2503386A - Combined clothes drier and sunshade

Info

Publication number: US2503386A
Application number: US695997A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry L Griffin
Original assignee: DRY OR SHADE Inc
Current assignee: DRY OR SHADE Inc; DRY-OR-SHADE Inc
Priority date: 1946-09-10
Filing date: 1946-09-10
Publication date: 1950-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 1967-04-11

Description

April 11, 1950 H. L. GRIFFIN 7 2,503,386

COMBINED CLOTHES DRIER AND SUNSHADE Filed Sept. 10, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Hnnmr L. G RIFFIN. BY

A TTORNEYS April 11, 1950 H. L. GRIFFIN COMBINED CLOTHES DRIER AND SUNSHADE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 10, 1946 INVENTOR. HHRRY GRIFFIN ATTORNEYS April 11, 1950 H. L. GRIFFIN COMBINED CLOTHES DRIER AND SUNSHADE I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 10, 1946 INVENTOR- Hmuzv L. GmFFm F? TTORNEYS Patented Apr. 11, 1950 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE q COMBINED CLOTHES DRIER, AND 'SUNSHADE, Harry L. Griifin, Rockville Centre, N. Y.,, assignor;

to Dry-Or-Shade, Inc.,-:1New york N. Y.,, a. corporation of New York I H Application September 10, 1946, Serial No. 695,997 7 My invention relates to a new andimproved device, which can be used as a clothes drier, and also as a sunshade or sun umbrella.

It is well-known to provide a clothes drier which consists of arms which radiate from a vertical column. Cords or ropes are diagonally connected to said arms and the clothes are fastened to said cords or ropes.

Such known devices are unattractive and they 6Claims. (o1.211-17s) Fig. '7 is a detail top plan View, showing. the" the cap at the top of the pole, and parts of the upper ribs.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a detail top. plan view which shows" theleaf spring which releasably connects each upper rib to its respective lower rib-member. The use of such leaf springs is optional.

Fig. 10 is; a side elevation of Fig. 9'.

cannot be used for any other purpose. 1.0:" Fig. 11 is a detail view, partly in horizontal -According to my invention, I provide a col" section and partly in horizontal plan view, showlapsible device which can be shipped in closed ing the construction of the hollow pole, the position, and which can be easily opened to drier runner and the rib-members. position or to umbrella position so that it can Fig. 12 is an elevation of Fig. 11. be used as a drier Or sunshade. I provide a cover 15 Foundation I' is provided with socket 2. The which can be releasably connected to thedevice. pole or column 3 is held vertically in socket 2. For these purposes, I provide numerous im- Runner 4 is a ring which is slidable on pole 3. provements and special features of construction, Said runner 5 is releasably fixed to pole 3 by wing which are set forth in the annexed description screw' 5, whose. point enters; a selected recess 6 and drawings, which disclose preferred embodi- 20, of pole 3. ments of my invention. There are four such recesses 6, corresponding. Fig. '1 is'an elevation of certain parts of the respectively in upward succession to closed pofirst embodiment of the improved device. The sition' of the device, a nextv position in which the runner and lower rib-members and upp'gr ribcanopy or cover is applied or removed, drier members are shown in drier position in'full lines, position, and umbrella position. However, the and in closed or collapsed position in broken drier position may also be the umbrellaor sunlines. In this embodiment, the lower ribs, their shade position shown in full lines in Fig. 3. rib-extensions, and the upper ribs are straight. The device has spreaders or stretchersS. Each Fig. 2 is' a top plan view of the parts of Fig. i, spreader S has an inner spreader-section l which in drier position, also showing the cords in drier so is integral with an outer spreader-section 7a, or formation. which is. otherwise in fixed angular relation to Fig. 3 is an elevation of another embodiment, ini outer spreader-section.- 1a. There is an obtuse which the rib-extensions of the lower ribs are angle'between each inner spreader-section l and: convexo-concave, and the upper ribs are of the its outer spreader-section id. This'obtuse anglesame shape. Thezlower ribs are straight; In; is lessthan180 atitheunder side of eachspreader- Fig. 3,.the brokensline'positioni of runner 4 is the S. The. spreaders: S are: of identical. cross-secdrier position, and the upper full-line position of; tional shape and Width. Their longitudinal runner 4 is the umbrella position. The shapes or shapes may be the same or different. Thus, the the upper ribs and of the extensions of, the; lower spreaders S are of identical straight longitudinal ribs can be varied. :Preferably, when the frame 40 shape in Fig; 1. In Fig. 3,,the inner spr is in'the umbrella position, each'upper ribancl sections I are: longitudinally straight and the its associated lower rib-extension have the same? outer spreader secti-ons are. longitudinally arched. lon itudin l c n ur H wev r. h in en ion i Said'spreaders s; are made of metal or other suitnot limitedto this, because the upper ribs may able material. Said spreaders S are stifi and be straight, and their associated lower rib-extenthey arenot bent out. of normal shape in any SiOIlS maybe curved downwardly- Ibis sufiicient position of the runner 4 in the normal operation if there is no sharp change in contour at adjaof the device. Said spreaders S have channelcentends of. the. upper'ribs and their associated shaped cross-sections-in this example. lower rib=extensions Y In this emb'odimentthere. are. four spreaders S, iFig. 4 is a top plan view of eitherembodiment' whose horizontal projections make respective in umbrella position, the: cords being shown" in angles of? with each other, as shown in Fig. 2. broken 'lines 'i'n umbrella formation."- I can use any desired. number of spreaders S, Fig. 5 Ba detail top planview which shows the whose. horizontal. projections make equal angles constructiori'at a corner of the cover C. l with each other; v .iFIg.ffii-ififiinfiiflllfitifln0f5;; 55. If Luse fourlower spreaders S, one oi the;

spreader-sections Ia is provided with hooks 9, and the other spreader-sections Ia are provided with closed eyes 911. The cords 20 are endless, because the ends of each cord 20 are tied or otherwise secured to each other.

In drier position, and as shown in Fig. 2, each cord 20 has the shape of a parallelogram. The closed eyes 9a support each cord 20 at three corners of said parallelogram. Each hook 9 supports a respective cord 20 at the remaining corner of the respective parallelogram.

By removing the cords 20 from hooks 9, said cords 20 may be positioned in substantially triangular formation in umbrella position, as shown' in Fig. 4. The part of each cord 20 which is then free from hooks 9, is then supported in hook H of runner 4.

If I use more than four lower spreaders S, I

can provide a plurality of spreader-sections Ia with said hooks 9, and I can provide runner 4 with a plurality of hooks H.

Each lower spreader S is associated with an upper rib I I which is made of metal or other material. These upper ribs II are not bent out of normal shape in any position of the frame, as they are stiff. The upper ribs II may have the same cross-sectional channel-shape as spreaders S, but upper ribs II are narrower than spreaders S. These parts of the frame may be made of wood and of any cross-sectional shape.

A cap I is releasably fixed to the top of pole 8 by a releasable holding member 24, which can be a wing-nut screw.

Each upper rib II is pivoted to cap IIlby a respective pivot pin I2, and to the associated spreader S by a pivot pin I4 which is located at the junction between the respective spreadersections 1 and la.

In the broken-line lower position of runner 4 in Fig. 1, which corresponds to the closed position of the frame, the inner spreader-sections I and ribs II are vertically alined and parallel to pole 3. The outer spreader-sections Ia are then inclined outwardly and make acute angles with the vertical axis of pole 3.

Fig. 1 also shows that when runner 4 is in its upper and drier position which is shown in full lines, each upper rib II makes an obtuse angle of less than 180 with the respective outer spreader-section Ia. as viewed from above. said drier position, each spreader-section la is inclined upwardly relative to the horizontal plane of pivot pin I4. In the drier position, spreader sections I and la and upper ribs II are straight and unfiexed. As previously noted, said parts I, Ia and II remain unflexed in all positions of the frame,

When runner 4 is pushed to its umbrella position, the outer spreader-sections Ia are downwardly inclined relative to the horizontal plane, thus reversing their drier positions shown in full lines in Fig. 1, relative to the horizontal plane. However, the device can be used as a drier, when runner 4 is in its umbrella position.

In Fig. 3, the inner spreader sections I are straight as in Fig. 1, but outer spreader-sections Ia and upper ribs II are curved, so that their top faces are convex. In the umbrella position of Fig. 3 which may also be a drier position, the parts I, Ia and I I are unflexed and they have the same shape as in other positions of the frame. Fig. 3 shows that each upper rib I I and its associated spreader-section Ia are continuous in cur'vatur'e or longitudinal shape, so as to directly abut the bottom face of cover C- The invention is not 4 limited to this. As an example, the longitudinal curvature of upper ribs II may be less than the longitudinal curvature of the spreader-section la. The upper ribs I I may be longitudinally straight as'in Fig. 1, and the spreader-section Ia may curve longitudinally downwardly from pivots I4. It is preferred in each case to have each upper rib II and the respective spreader-section Ia, abutting the bottom face of the cover C.

Fig. 3 shows another important feature of my invention, which also applies to Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 3, the tips of spreader-sections Ia are substantially at the same height when the frame is in drier position and in umbrella position.

As an example, the height of the tips of spreader-sections Ia may be about 6.0 to 6.5 feet above the ground, when the frame is in drier position. This height of said tips is substantially maintained when the frame is in umbrella position, so that the device can be used as a drier when the frame is in umbrella position, by omitting the cover C, or by folding back a part of cover C. For this reason, each pivot I4 is located at the junction between an inner spreadersection 1 and its outer spreader-section Ia, and the parts have the proportions and longitudinal shapes shown substantially to scale in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3.

Also, Fig. 3 shows that when the runner 4 is in umbrella position, the height of said runner 4 is substantially the height of the tips of spreadersections Ia. By making the inner spreader-sections 1 shorter than in the proportion shown in Fig. 3, the runner 4 can be located at a higher level than the tips of spreader-sections Ia, when the runner 4 is in umbrella position. I prefer this, so that the level of the runner 4 is above th level of the bottom edge of the canopy C, to provide abundant head-room in umbrella position.

A resilient leaf spring I5 is optionally pivotally connected to each upper rib II by a pivot pin I6. Each spring I5 has a lateral notch or recess I8. A stud II, which has a shank and a head, is fixed to each spreader-section Ia. Each spring I5 can be turned from its non-operating position shown in broken lines in Fig. 9, to the operating position there shown in full lines. In such operating position, the' shank of each stud I1 is located in the respective notch I8, and the head of each stud I'I overlies the respective spring I5.

It is clear from the drier position of runner 4 in Fig. 1, that if runner 4 is moved downwardly from said drier position, the angle between the legs of spring I5 is decreased, as viewed from the side.

When .-the spring I5 is in its normal unstressed shape, it may have the angularity shown in the drier position of Fig. 1. In such case, the springs-I5 act as resilient connections for the upper ribs II and spreaders S, and said springs I5 also resiliently'resist the movement of runner 4 below drier position. If runner 4 is moved to bottom closed position and runner 4 is then released, springs I5 act as automatic opening devices to move runner4 to drier position.

In the umbrella position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the springs I 5 are substantially flat, and

they may follow the longitudinal contour of eachpivot I4.

If desired, the normal unstressed shape of each mensesmaybeite .shapein saldi e tlon, soxthatsaid springs; iii urge. runner I. up

wardlyrtoitsumbrellaposition, until. mnnerl has reached said. umbrella position.

Also, if desired; the normalunstressedshape of.

each spring. l5- maybe: moreconuex, as viewed.

from above; than in said umbrella positiom In order further to facilitate the opening of.

device: and. the movementof runner'lto umbrella position, which also may be drier posi tion, I optionally provide each upper 1 rib HQ and its associated; inner spreader-section. l; with. a.

spring 19... whose ends are fixed; respectiveiy to an upper rib H- and: an: inner spreader;- sectlon" 7|. Each spring. 19. may be under; initial: tension the. umbrella position. }I can use springs; 19- alonc;. or leaf springs Hr alone, or: both said types ofisprings, or! may omit-saidispringsl Cover or canopy C, made" oi'ianyzflexible material. which may be somewhat stretchable and.

elastic; If. I use four 1ower-spreaders$.,. cover 0- has a rectangular-shape, part of which inqFig. 5.

A rigid corner member 2l:,..=made-of. metal or" other rigid material, is fixed- :at each corner: of.

cover 0 by stitches orrivetnil! which. pass. through holes 23: of such comermembers 21-.

Each corner member. 2.! has outer faces; or: legsunflexed. The top ofeach cornerrmemberfl. has;

the. same shape as the abutting. part-of the ap*- plied coverrC and of the" upper'edgeof spreader-- section. Ia. This applies whether spreader-sec tion la is: curved or. straight.

Cover 0 has a central ring. 25, which fits on the vertical lug..25 of cap I0;

The metal pole 3- may be hollow and rolled.

intoshape so as to provide a; longitudinal? rolled seam. 3a.

The frame oithe: device isshipped in closed shape, with cover C: separate from said device. If the frame is self opening bythe action.- of" springs: 15 and I9. or either oi'themtov drier posi.- tion or: to umbrella position, runner: 4* is, held in closed. position by member 5 or; any suitablemeans. The pole 3 maybesolider, hollow and.

made of. any material. The endless cords 2il may" be assembled with the frame at. the factory, it

such endless cords are used.

Upon moving. the runner 4 into drier position; by hand or by the opening springs, the. endless cords 20 become tent or: substantially taut, so that if. said endless cords 211 are held in hooks 9 and closed eyes 9a, runner 4- cannot be moved. above drier position, if it is desired to have a. singlev drier position below. the -umbrella position, If. desired, the force of the; opening. springs may beins'ufficient to open the. frame. In. such. case.

such; springs are sufliciently strong. so that the frame can be opened to drier position or umbrella position by very-slight. force.

When it isdesired to use the device as. a sunshade, the endless cords 20 are released from 'brella orrsunshade position. The removal. oi the.

cordsafrom hooks; 9a,.is optional, if thedrier 1205i? tion is the umbrella. position. The runner 4 is moved to'theposition. indicated by-recess: 6- which. isnext above bottom recess 6, either by hand, or' by springs l5 and I9, or either of'said. sets of springs. The runner 4 is held in such coverapplying position. interfitted with the free ends of spreader-section 1a., while runner 4 is held in such position.

The runner i is then moved to: umbrella 1305i? tion, so that cover C isspread into smooth shape anclzsaid. cover C is held firmly in taut condi; tion on: the: frame When: runner 4 is: moved; to: umbrellaposition, the tips of outer-Spreader section la thrust laterally outwardly against the.

corner members 2|, thus tightening the cover 6;. which assumes the contour of the upper ribs 1| and outer spreader-sections 1a. Toremove cover C, the runner 4' is held in thesame position as: when. the cover Cis applied, and the cover Cis then detached from the frame.

The springs I5 may be interlocked with studs.

I at the factory, so that such springs iii are in;

operating position when the device. is closed; If. desired, the device may-be shipped. with: springs:

l5 free from studs H, and the user can then turn the springs l5 intooperating position,

For convenience, the device is, definedin the claims with reference to its upstanding position shown in Figs. 1 and.3.

While I prefer to locate the pivot pins 14. at

the junctions between inner spreader-sections I. and. outer. spreader-sections la, the invention v is.

not. limited. to, this feature;

The, invention also. includes the sub-combina tions. disclosed. herein. a

If. the endless cords 20 have separable ends,

is. not. necessary to provide holding. means 5 from which the endless cords 20. can be released- Hence. such releasable holding means 9 are notv essential, although their use is preferred. I

For convenience,. the ends of inner spreadersections .1 and of. upper ribs l l which: are respeo-- tively pivoted to runner 4 and cap H! are desig-- nated. as their. inner ends, and the outer spreadersections. Ta aredesignated as outer extensions of.-

i xmer spreaderssections 1. In effect, the inner ends, of upper ribs II are pivotally connected to pole 3,..since cap. I0 is. merely a. convenient way of securing such pivotal connection.

For convenience, the drier position. of runner- 4 is. designated. as. a lower selected position if the,- d'rierpositionis different fromthe umbrella .posi,-

tion, and in. such. case. the umbrella position. of} runner, 41's; designated. as itsupper selected posii-I tion. since the. device. could be made and. sold,

particularly for export, without the endlesscords 20, which can. be applied by the user, the inventionis not limited to a device which includes suchv endless cords. Hence the user. can. apply the cords 20 when the. device is. in umbrella. position.

The same applies to hooks 9 and eyes to, since; they can be applied to spreader-sections la bya. user, instead. of being original parts.

I prefer to have the outer spreader-sections 'l-av downwardly inclined from. inner spreader-sections 1, when runner 4 is in umbrella position,

which may also bea drier. position. However, the

invention. is not limitezhto this feature, because, outer spreader-sections la could; behorizontal. or;

substantially horizontal in such umbrella or op.-

tional drier position;.-since upper. ribs. H. may be substantially horizontal in. such umbrella. or on tional drier position. The cover 6 cc u-.ldlthus.-

The corner members 2| are;

have a flat horizontal shape or substantially such shape, when the frame is in umbrella position.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but numerous changes and omissions and additions can be made without departing from its scope.

As shown in Fig. 3, when the frame is in umbrella position which may also be drier position, the tips of the outer spreader-sections la are below the upper ends of the inner spreader-sections 1. This results from the bent shape of the spreaders S. In such umbrella or optional drier position, the tips of the outer spreader-sections 1a should not be substantially higher than the upper ends of the inner spreader-sections T, and preferably not higher than the inner ends of the outer spreader-sections 1a.

I claim:

"11A combined clothes drier and sunshade device which comprises a longitudinal pole which has a top end and a bottom end, a runner slidable on said pole to a bottom position and an inter mediate drier position and a top sunshade position, means for fixing said runner to said pole in said intermediate position and in said top position, a plurality of rigid spreaders, the inner ends of said spreaders being pivotally connected to said runner, a plurality of ribs, each rib having a top end which is connected by a top pivotalconnection to said pole above said runner and said spreaders, each rib having a lower end which is pivotally connected to a respective spreader between the ends of the respective spreader, said ribs extending below said top pivotal connections and being close to and substantially alined with said pole when said runner is in said bottom position, said ribs being downwardly inclined relative to said pole from said top pivotal connections when said runner is in said intermediate position, each spreader having a face which is its top face when said runner is in said intermediate and top positions, each said face having an inner face portion and an outer face portion, said face portions of each spreader making an obtuse angle with each other, said inner face portions being close to and substantially alined with said pole when said runner is in its bottom position, said outer face portions diverging from said pole and making acute upward angles with said pole when said runner is in said bottom position, said inner face portions being inclined upwardly to said pole and making acute angles with said pole when said runner is in said intermediate and top positions, said outer face sections being inclined upwardly to said pole when said runner is in said intermediate position, each said outer face section being substantially a continuation of the top face of the respective rib when said runner is in said top position to provide supporting members which consist of said ribs and said outer face sections which are adapted to support a canopy which is connectable to said pole and to the said spreaders, the outer tips of said outer face sections being substantially not higher than the inner ends of said inner face sections where said runner is in said top position, said spreaders being adapted to support clothes-supporting lines between said spreaders.

- 2. A combined clothes-drier and'sunshade device which comprises a longitudinal pole which has a top end and a bottom end, a runner slid ab le on said pole to a bottom positionand an inter mediate' drierposition and a top sunshade posi-- tion, means for fixing said runner to said pole in said intermediate position and in said top posi- 8. tion, a plurality of rigid-spreaders1the inner ends of'said spreaders-being pivotally connected to said runner, a plurality of ribs, each rib having a top end which is connected by a top pivotal connection to said pole' above said runner and said spreaders, each rib having a lower end which is pivotally connected to a respective spreader between the ends of the respective spreader, said ribs extending below said top pivotal connections and being close toand substantially alined with said pole when said runner is in said bottom position, said ribs being downwardly inclined relative to said pole from said top pivotal connections when said runner is in said intermediate position, each spreader having-a face which is its top face when said runner is in said intermediate and top positions, each said face having an inner face portion and an outer face portion, said face'portions of' each. spreader making an obtuse angle with each other, said inner face portions being close to and substantially alined with said pole when said runner is'in its bottom position, said outer face portions diverging from said pole'and making acute upward angles with said pole when said runner is in said bottom position, said inner face portions being inclined upwardly to said pole and making acute angles with said pole when said runner is in said intermediate and top positions, said outer face sections being inclined upwardly tosaid pole when said runner is in said intermediate position, each said outer face section being substantially a continuation of the top face of the respective rib when said runner is in said top position to provide supporting members which" consist of said ribs and said outer face sections which are adapted to support a canopy which is connectable to said pole and to the said spreaders, the outer tips of said outer face sections being substantially not higher than the inner ends of said inner face sections where said runner is in said top position, said spreaders being adapted to support clothes-supporting lines between said spreaders, said outer face sections and said ribs being inclined downwardly relative to said pole when said runner is in said top' position.

3. A combined clothes drier and sunshade device which comprises a longitudinal pole which has a top end and a bottom end, a runner slidable on said pole to a bottom position and an'intermediate drier position and a top sunshade position, means for fixing said runner to said pole in said intermediate position and in said top position, a plurality of rigid spreaders, the inner ends of said spreaders being pivotally connected to said runner, a plurality of ribs, each rib having a top end which is connected by a top pivotal connection to said pole above said runner and said spreaders, each rib having a lower end which: is pivotally connected to a respective spreader between the ends of the respective spreader, said ribs extending below said top pivotal connections and being close to and substantially alined with said pole when said runner is in said bottom position, said ribs being downwardly inclined relative to said pole from said top pivotal con nections when said runner is in said intermediateposition, each spreader having a face which is its top face when said runner is in said intermediate and top positions, each said face having an inner face portion and an outer face portion,

said faceportions of each spreader making an obtuseangle-with each other, said inner face portions being close to and substantially alined and safe and making acute upward angles with tions being inclined upwardly to said pole when said runner is in said interme'diateposition, each said-outer face section being substantially a continuation "of the -top :fa'ce fflf the respective rib ,tips of said outer face sections being substantially not higher than the inner ends of said inner face sections where said runner is in said top positlomsaidspreaders-beingadapted to support clothes-supporting lines between said spreaders, each rib being connected to the respective spreader at substantially the angular ,joint of said face-sections, each rib extending "substantiallyonly to said angular joint.

. 4. Acombined clothesdrier and sunshade device which comprises-a-longitudinal pole which has a top end and a bottom end, a runner slidable on 'said'pole to a bottom position and "an inter- "mediate drier position and a top sunshade position, means for fixing said "runner to :said'pole in said intermediate *position and in said top position, a plurality of rigid spreads, the inner ends of said spreaders being pivotally connected to said runner, a plurality of ribs, each rib having a top end which is connected by a top pivotal connection to said pole above said runner and said spreaders, each rib having a lower end which is pivotally connected to a respective spreader between the ends of the respective spreader, said ribs extending below said top pivotal connections and being close to and substantially alined with said pole when said runner is in said bottom position, said ribs being downwardly inclined relative to said pole from said top pivotal connections when said runner is in said intermediate position, each spreader having a face which is its top face when said runner is in said intermediate and top positions, each said face having an inner face portion and an outer face portion, said face portions of each spreader making an obtuse angle with each other, said inner face portions being close to and substantially alined with said pole When said runner is in its bottom position, said outer face portions diverging from said pole and making acute upward angles with said pole when said runner is in said bottom position, said inner face portions being inclined upwardly to said pole and making acute angles with said pole when said runner is in said intermediate and top positions, said outer face sections being inclined upwardly to said pole when said runner is in said intermediate position, each said outer face section being substantially a continuation of the top face of the respective rib when said runner is in said top position to provide supporting members which consist of said ribs and said outer face sections which are adapted to support a canopy which is connectable to said pole and to the said spreaders, the outer tips of said outer face sections being substantially not higher than the inner ends of said inner face sections where said runner is in said top position, said spreaders being adapted to support clothes-supporting lines between said spreaders, at least one leaf spring being provided at the "junction being arib and the spreader to which said rib is connected, said leaf spring being connected to said rib and said spreader and being under stress to urge said runner "upwardly;

'5. combined clothes drier and sunshade device which comprises a longitudinal pole which has atop end and a bottom end, a runner slidable on said pole to a bottom position and an intermediate drier position and a top sunshade position, means for fixing said runner to said pole in said intermediate position and in said top position, a plurality of rigid spreaders, the inner ends of said spreaders being pivotally connected to said runner, a plurality of ribs, each rib having a top end which iscon-nected by a top pivotal connection to 'said pole above said runner and said spreaders, each rib having a lower end which is pivotallyconnected to a respective spreader between the ends of the respective spreader, said ribs extending below said top pivotal connections and being close 'to and substantially alined with said pole when said runner is in said bottom position, said ribs being downwardly inclined relative to said pole from said top pivotal connections when said runner is in said intermediate position, each spreader-having a face which is its portions of each spreader making an obtuse angle with each other, said inner face portions being close to and substantially alined with said pole when said runner is in its bottom position, said outer face portions diverging from said pole and making acute upward angles with said pole when said runner is in said bottom position, said inner face portions being inclined upwardly to said pole and making acute angles with said pole when said runner is in said intermediate and top positions, said outer face sections being inclined upwardly to said pole when said runner is in said intermediate position, each said outer face section being substantially a continuation of the top face of the respective rib when said runner is in said top position to provide supporting members which consist of said ribs and said outer face sections which are adapted to support a canopy which is connectable to said pole and to the said spreaders, the outer tips of said outer face sections being substantially not higher than the inner ends of said inner face sections where said runner is in said top position, a series of endless clothes-supporting lines, one selected spreader having hooks for releasably supporting said endless lines at said selected spreader, the other spreaders having eyes in which said endless lines are slidably supported, each said endless line being in polygonal formation when it is supported on a respective hook, said runner having hook-means for supporting the parts of said endless lines which are released from said hooks of said spreaders.

6. A combined clothes drier and sunshade device which comprises a longitudinal pole which has a top end and a bottom end, a runner slidable on said pole to a bottom position and an intermediate drier position and a top sunshade position, means for fixing said runner to said pole in said intermediate position and in said top position, a plurality of rigid spreaders, the inner ends of said spreaders being pivotally connected to said runner, a plurality of ribs, each rib having a top end which is connected by a top pivotal connection to said pole above said runner and 11 said spreaders, each rib having a lower end which is pivotally connected to a respective spreader between the ends of the respective spreader, said ribs extending below said top pivotal connections and being close to and substantially alined with said pole when said runner is in said bottom position, said ribs being downwardly inclined relative to said pole from said top pivotal connections when said runner is in said intermediate position, each spreader having a face which is its top face when said runner is in said intermediate and top positions, each said face having an inner face portion and an outer face portion, said face portions of each spreader making an obtuse angle with each other, said inner face portions being close to and substantially alined with said pole when said runner is in its bottom position, said outer face portions diverging from said pole and making acute upward angles with said pole when said runner is in said bottom position, said inner face portions being inclined upwardly to said pole and making acute angles with said pole when said runner is in said intermediate and top positions, said outer face sections being inclined upwardly to said pole when said runner is in said intermediate position, each said outer face section being substantially a continuation of the top face of the respective rib when said runner is in said top position to provide supporting members which consist of said ribs and said outer face sections which are adapted to support a canopy which is connectable to said pole and to the said spreaders, the outer tips of said outer face sections being substantially not higher than the inner ends of said inner face sections where said runner is in said top position, said spreaders being adapted to support clothes-supporting lines between said spreaders, the outer tips of said spreaders being at substantially the same distance from said top pivotal connections when said runner is in said intermediate position and in said top position.

HARRY L. GRIFFIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS