US3096884A - Reel-type clothes drier - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 20, 1960 INVENTOR.

ERV IN LESHNER A TTOR/VEYS.

July 9, 1963 E. LESHNER REEL-TYPE CLOTHES DRIER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, 1960 3 0 6 T. w a m 6% w m I 0m w 2% W n l A 4 4 (2i ERV m LESH NER' BY W M W ATTORNEYS.

July 9, 1963 E. LESHNER REEL-TYPE CLOTHES-DRIER '4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001;. 20. 1960 mm mm INVENTOR. ERV IN LESHNER ATTORNEYS.

July 9, 1963 E. LESHNER 3,096,884

' REEL-TYPE CLOTHES DRIER Filed 001:. 20, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ERVI N LESHNER ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent vania Filed Oct. 20, 1960, Ser. No. 63,879 6 Claims. (Cl. 211119.15)

This invention relates to a clothes drier and has for its primary objective the provision of a novel, inventive and useful device of this general class.

The drying of clothes is most commonly accomplished by hanging or suspending the wet clothes from a clothesline. Towards end it is the practice to secure each end of a clothesline to spaced points in order to hold the same taut. Such tautness is generally achieved and maintained by tying the clothesline ends in a tight knot to the spaced points. For this reason it is quite inconvenient for a housewife to untie these knots in order to gather the clothesline when no longer needed. Hence, there is the tendency to permit the clothesline to remain suspended and thereby exposed to extreme weather conditions as well as detracting from the neatness and appearance of the area. Moreover, a suspended clothesli-ne may constitute a harmful obstacle to persons in the area.

Thus, there has developed the need for a clothesline which can be held taut and which can be quickly removed therefrom for storage. The use of winding reels or storage drums is, of course, known. However, these devices have not proved to be satisfactory as the clothesline is bulky and heavy and so is rewound only with great difficulty. Spring loaded devices are also unsatisfactory since large springs are required in the winding of the heavy clothesline.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a clothes drier wherein the clothesline may be easily drawn taut.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a clothes drier assembly wherein the clothesline may be easily held in storage until needed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a clothes driver wherein the clothesline may be easily removed from the taut position and stored until needed.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a clothes drier wherein the :clothesline may be stored and concealed from sight thereby enhancing the appearance of the drying area and removing a harmful obstacle to persons in the area.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a clothes drier of the reel-type which easily handles the bulky and heavy clothesline and does not require the use of springs or other tension devices.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a reel-type clothes drier which is simple in construction and use and which can be inexpensively manufactured.

The foregoing and other objectives of the present invention are attained by providing a clothes drier comprising generally a central shaft having secured thereto at least one pair of axially aligned rope storage drums. One drum of the drum pair is of a relatively large diameter and the other drum is of a relatively small diameter. clothesline is provided having two ends, the clothesline adjacent one rope end being wound in one sense on the 3,096,884 Patented July 9, 1963 large diameter drum and the clothesline adjacent the other rope end being wound in a dilferent sense on the small diameter drum. The rope not wound on either drum constitutes the available clothesline which may be lengthened by pulling on the rope leading to the large diameter drum. This pull causes the small diameter drum as well as the large diameter drum to rotate in a given direction whereby clothesline is unwound from the large diameter drum and wound on the small diameter drum. Because the large diameter drum provides more rope upon unwinding than than can be rewound on the small diameter drum an excess of clothes line is provided to lengthen the available rope for drying purposes. The unwinding process is reversed by simply pulling on the rope leading to the small diameter drum.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reel-type clothes drier embodying the present invention attached to a wall and showing a guide bar with pulleys for the clothesline rope;

BIG. 2. is a plan view of the drier of FIG. 1 partially broken away to show the interior thereof;

REG. 3 is a front elevational view of the drier of FIG. 1 partially broken away to show the interior thereof;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3 with the tooth of a pawl engaged to prevent forward rotation;

LFIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of FIG. 4 with the tooth of a pawl in abutment with the tooth of a ratchet wheel to prevent further rotation thereof;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 66 of FIG. 4 and showing in phantom the central shaft disengaged from a pair of storage drums but still keyed to another pair of storage drums;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the lines 88 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view with certain parts omitted for simplicity to show the technique of unwinding additional rope for the purpose of lengthening the clothes line available for drying purposes;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a reel-type clothes drier constituting a second embodiment of the present in vention disposed to the device of FIG. 1;

'FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the lines 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the lines 1-2-1-2 of FIG. 11 with certain portions broken away for clarity;

FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 12 but shows the locking pawl moved into operative position and the restraining arm removed therefrom; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a detail of a restraining spring.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, a reel-type clothes drier embodying the present invention is generally shown at 10 in FIG. 1 which includes a housing 12, a central shaft 14 (FIG. 6), drum pairs 16, 18 and 20, 22 associated for rotation with central shaft 14, lengths of rope 24, 25, 26 and 27 respectively associated with drum pairs 16, 18 and 20, 22 and guide bar 28 which aids in the winding and unwinding of rope from the drum pairs.

Housing 12 includes rear wall 39 (FIG. 4) which includes upper and lower skirts 32, 34 to space the housing from wall 37 to which it is secured and suspended from via bolts 36 fastened to Wall 37 and projecting through slots 40 in rear wall 30. Housing 12 also includes (FIG. 4) an integral forward sector 42 including top and bottom walls 44 and 46 having respectively flanges 48 and 49 which abut against rear wall 30. Front wall 52 of forward sector 42 includes upper inclined wall '54, intermediate wall 56 and lower inclined wall 58. Upper inclined wall 54 has spaced slots 60 formed therein to permit the ingress and egress of ropes 24, 25, 26 and 27 as will be explained hereinafter. Housing 12 additionally includes end caps 59 and 62 (FIG. 6) which include flanges 61 and 63 which are respectively welded along one edge thereof to rear wall 30. An intermediate spacer member 64 (FIG. 6) is also welded at one edge thereof to rear wall 30 and includes integral upper spacing flange 66 and integral lower spacing channel member 68. An additional lower spacing channel member 70 is also provided and is fixedly secured to spacer member 64 via rivets 72.

It is thus seen that end caps 59 and 62 and spacer member 64 are welded to rear wall 30 to form an integral bracket unit. Shaft 14 and its pairs of drums are rotatively suspended from the integral bracket unit in a manner as will be hereinafter described. Moreover, integral forward sector 42 with top and bottom walls 44 and 46 and front wall 52 may be fri'ctionally fitted upon the aforesaid bracket unit and so can be easily removed for maintenance, etc. or in general to provide access to the interior of the present invention.

Rotatively and slidably suspended through opening 74 in end cap 62, opening 76 in spacer member 64 and opening 78 in end cap 59 (and also appropriate Openings in drum side walls 94, 100, 11 2 and 116) is central shaft 14. Suitable bearings may be provided if desired. Shaft 14 includes a stop member 79 at one end thereof to limit the sliding movement of shaft 14 to the right as viewed in FIG. 6 for reasons which will be explained hereinafter. Shaft 14 further includes an integral handle 80 at its other end which includes a U-shaped portion 82 formed by bending this end of the shaft 14 at right angles to its primary portion and then rebending said axis end to form a portion 84 parallel to the initially bent portion A resilient plug 86 may be secured to the free end of portion 84 to aid in grasping. It should be noted that U- shaped portions 82 of handle 80 functions also as a stop member to limit the sliding movement of shaft 14 to the left as viewed in FIG. 6. Resilient washers 88 and 90 may be respectively secured to end caps 59 and 62 to cushion the impact of either stop member 79 or handle 88 thereagainst.

Drums 16 and 18 are integrally welded to or formed from a tubular shaft 92 which is telescoped over a portion of central shaft 14. Drum 16 comprises circular side walls 94 and 96 and an interior cylindrical surface 98 upon which rope 24 may be wound. Drum 16 is fabricat'ed by welding side walls 94 and 96 to tubular shaft 92 and thereafter welding surface 98 to side walls 94 and 96. Drum 18 is constructed along the lines of drum 16 and includes circular side walls 100 and 102 and cylindrical surface 104 upon which rope 25 may be wound. Surface 104 is merely the outer surface of shaft 92 enclosed between side walls 100 and 102. It should be here noted that the rope storage diameter of drum .16 is considerably larger than the rope storage diameter of drum 18 by virtue of interior cylindrical surface 98 which provides the larger diameter of drum 16.

Because tubular shaft 92 is telescoped over a portion of 4 central shaft 14 and because shaft 92 is fixedly keyed to shaft .14 via key 186, rotation of either drum 16 or '18 or both will in turn cause rotation in the same sense of shaft 14. Key 186 is welded to shaft 14 and is at all times slidingly secured in a complementary opening 107 in side wall 180.

Drums 20 and 22 are formed in a manner similar to drums 16 and 18 and include a tubular shaft 108 which is telescoped over a portion of central shaft '14. Drum 26 comprises circular walls 110 and 112 and an interior cylindrical surface 114 upon which rope 26 may be wound. Drum 26 is fabricated by welding side walls 110 and 112 to tubular shaft .108. The outer surface of shaft 168 enclosed between side walls 110 and 11-2 constitutes interior cylindrical surface 114 of drum 20. Drum 22 is constructed along the lines of drum 20 and includes circular side walls 116 and 118 and cylindrical surface 120 upon which rope 27 may be wound. Drum 22 is fabricated by welding side walls 116 and 1118 to tubular shaft 108 and thereafter welding surface 120 to side walls 116 and 118. It should be here noted that the rope storage diameter of drum 22 is considerably larger than the rope storage diameter of drum Zii by virtue of interior cylindrical surface 121 which provides the larger diameter of drum 22. V

Tubular shaft 168 is telescoped over a portion of central shaft 14 and may be releasably keyed to shaft 14 by engagement of finger 122 with side wall 112 of drum 20 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Finger 122 is welded to to shaft 14 at the arcuate end 124 thereof (FIG. 7) and includes at its other end a tip 126 which lies in a plane perpendicular to the remainder of finger 122. Tip 126 may be inserted through any desired complementary opening 128 in side wall 112 of drum 26. Tip 126 is disengaged from side wall 112 by merely sliding central shaft 14 to the right as viewed in FIG. 6 by pulling handle 80 to the right. Tip 126 is so disengaged because it is integral with finger 122 which is welded to shaft 14 and so slidable therewith. The disengaged position of tip 126 as well as shaft 14 is shown in phantom in FIG. 6.

When tip 126 is engaged with side wall 112 of drum 20, all four drums 16, 18, 20 and 22 are rotatable together as a unit. Hence, a pull on any one of ropes 24, 25, 26 and 27 will cause all four drums to rotate as a unit. When tip 126 is disengaged drum pair- s 16, 18 and 20, 22 will operate individually. In other words a pull on nope 24 will cause the rotation only of drums 16 and 18. Shaft 14 will also be rotated since it is still keyed to shaft 92. However shaft 168 will not be rotated since shaft 14 through finger 122 with tip 126 is not engaged with side Wall 112 of drum 20. Similarly a pull on rope 27 will cause the rotation only of drums 20 and 22. The utility of being able to rotate all four drums as a unit or in individual pairs will be discussed hereinafter.

Drum pair 16, 18 is adapted to receive a length of rope having two ends 130 and 132. End 130' is secured to side wall 96 of drum 16 via an appropriate opening. Rope leading from end 130* is then wound for several turns on interior cylindrical surface 98 of drum 16 in a clockwise sense and then led from drum 16 (FIG. 1) to become rope length 24 which is led around the recessed circumference 134 of a pulley wheel 136. Pulley wheel 136 is rotatively mounted on guide bar 28 via rivet 138 which is also fastened at its upper end to a U-shaped bracket 140 secured to guide bar 28 in a conventional manner. Rope length 24 continues about pulley wheel 136 to become rope length 25 which is led to drum 18 by first passing about a pulley 142 rotatively secured to rear wall 30 of housing 12 via brackets 144 and 146. Rope 25 is then wound on drum 18 in the sense opposite to the sense of winding of rope 24 on drum 16 and end 132 thereof is secured to side wall 102 of drum 18 via an appropriate opening.

It is thus seen that rope lengths 24 and 25 constitute two clotheslines which may be held taut and from which clothes may be suspended in order to dry.

Drum pair 20, 22 is adapted (similarly to drum pair 16, 18) to receive a length of rope having two ends 148 and 150. End 148 is secured to side wall 118 of drum 22 via an appropriate opening. Rope leading from end 148 is then wound for several turns on interior cylindrical surface 120 of drum 22 in a clockwise sense and then led from drum 22 (FIG. 1) to become rope length 27 which is led around the recessed circumference 152 of a pulley wheel 154. Pulley wheel 154 is rotatively mounted on guide 'bar 28 via rivet 156 which is also fastened at its upper end to a 'U-shaped bracket 158 secured to guide bar 28 in a conventional manner. Rope length 27 continues about pulley wheel 154 to become rope length 26 which is led to drum by first passing about a pulley 160 rotatively secured to a rear wall 30 of housing 12 via brackets 162 and 164. Rope 26 is then wound on drum 20 in the sense opposite to the sense of winding of rope 27 on drum 22 and end 150 thereof is secured to side wall 110 of drum 20 via an appropriate opening.

It is thus seen that rope lengths 26 and 27 constitute two 'clotheslines which may be held taut and from which clothes may be suspended in order to dry. Because rope lengths 24, 25, 26 and 27 are associated with guide bar 28, said four rope lengths may be simultaneously held taut by securing bar 28 to a wall or other surface.

It should be further noted that the circumference of side Wall 94 of drum 16 has ratchet teeth 166 formed therein (FIG. 4). A pawl 168 including an arm 170 (FIG. 5) is pivoted to the outer surface of end cap 62 at 172. Pawl 168 includes a tooth 173 which lies in a plane perpendicular to the remainder of pawl 168. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 pawl 168 may be pivoted so that tooth 173 enters slot 176 in end cap 62 and abuts against a ratchet tooth 166 to restrain clockwise rotation thereof. This in turn restrains clockwise rotation of drums 16 and 18 since side wall 94 of drum 16 is restrained from rotation and drums 16 and 18 can rotate only as a unit. Moreover, if finger 122 is engaged in opening 128 in side wall 112 of drum 20 by appropriate sliding of shaft 14, drums 20 and 22 will also be restrained from rotation since all four drums can now rotate only as a unit. Thus all four ropes may be simultaneously pulled taut by pulling on guide bar 28. Pawl 168 may be pivoted away from slot 176 to rest on top wall 44 as shown in FIG. 4 to permit free rotation of the drums.

In operation guide bar 28 is pulled outwardly in the direction of arrow 178 of FIG. 1. The pull on guide bar 28 causes ropes 24 and 27 wound respectively on large diameter drums 16 and 22 to travel outwardly in the direction of arrows 188 and 182 (FIGS. 1 and 9) which in turn causes shafts 92 and 188 and shaft 14 (shaft 14 being keyed to shaft 108 via finger 122 appropriately engaged in opening 128 in side wall 112 of drum 20) to rotate in a clockwise direction as shown by arrows 184 in FIG. 9. It should be pointed out that although ropes 25 and 26 may also tend to be pulled outwardly when bar 28 is pulled outwardly and therefore tend to rotate shafts 92 and 108 and shaft 14 in a counterclockwise direction, this does not happen. This is so because the clockwise torque produced by ropes 24 and 27 in combination with the larger diameter drums 16 and 22 is much greater and so overcomes the counterclockwise torque produced by ropes 25 and 26 in combination with the smaller diameter drums 18 and 20.

As the four drums are rotated in the clockwise direction of arrow 184 when bar 28 is pulled in the direction of arrow 178 rope lengths 24 and 27 are respectively unwound from drums 16 and 22. Because ropes 25 and 26 are respectively wound on drums 18 and 20 in -a sense opposite to the sense of winding of ropes 24 and 27 on drums 16 and 22, the clockwise rotation of all four drums which causes the unwinding of rope lengths 24 and 27 causes the winding of rope lengths 25 and 26 respectively on drums 18 and 20 as indicated by arrows 186 and 188 in FIGS. 1 and 9. Because unwinding drums 16 and 22 are of a larger diameter than winding drums 18 and 20, much more rope 24 and 27 will be unwound from large drums 16 and 22 than can be wound on small drums 18 and 20. Hence additional lengths of rope are added to ropes 24 and 27 and these ropes as well as ropes 25 and 26 accordingly grow in length to provide additional clothesline. When ropes 24, 25, 26 and 27 have grown to almost the satisfactory length, pawl 168 is pivoted so that tooth 173 enters slot 176 to abut against a ratchet tooth 166. Forward motion of all 'four drums is now restrained and additional pulling on guide bar 28 serves to pull the four ropes taut. Bar 28 is then secured to a wall (not shown) opposite to wall 37 to complete the assembly of the clothesline.

When guide bar 28 is pulled outwardly to bring about unwinding of ropes 26 and 27, it has been found that one of the ropes maybe unwound more rapidly than the other rope thereby giving rise to the situation where one rope pair, for example, ropes 24 and 25 will be longer than the other rope pair 26 and 27. Such a situation is undesirable since further unwinding may be retarded as bar 28 is forced to rotate from its proper position in parallelism with shaft .14 to a position substantially perpendicular thereto because of the growing difference in length between the rope pairs.

This situation is simply remedied by grasping handle 88 to slide central shaft 14 to the right as viewed in FIG. 6 thereby disengaging tip 126 of finger 122 from side wall 112 of drum 20. Drum pair 16, 18 may now be rotated independently of drum pair 28, 22. Thus, the shorter pair of ropes, for example, ropes 26, 27 may be lengthened by merely pulling rope 27 outwardly. Such a pull will initiate the rotation only of drum pair 20, 22 while drum pair 16, 18 remain stationary until the four ropes are of equal length. Handle is then pushed to move shaft 14 to the left to engage finger 122 with sidewall 112. All four drums are again keyed together for simultaneous rotation and further unwinding may proceed.

The extended clothesline is returned to drums 24 and 27 by reversing the unwinding process. This is done by removing bar 28 from the wall to which it is secured and pulling on either of ropes 25 or 26. It should be here noted that when rope-s 24- and 27 have been unwound as much as possible from drums 16 and 22, certain portions of these ropes will have been rewound on drums 18 and 20 "as the unwinding process proceeded. See arrows 186 and 188. Thus drums 18 and 28 will contain certain lengths of rope 25 and 26.

Hence :a pull on either rope 25 or 26 will cause all four drums to rotate in a direction opposite to arrow 184 and ropes 25 and 26 will be unwound from said drums 18 and 28 whereas ropes 24 and 27 will now be wound on drums 16 and 22. Because the latter drums are of a larger diameter than drums 18 and 2t considerably more rope 24, 27 will be rewound on these drums than is unwound from drums 18 and 20. Hence the unwinding process of FIG. 9 proceeds in reverse until substantially all rope is wound on drums '16 :and 22.

It is thus seen that the present invention constitutes a reel-type clothes drier which is simple in construction and operation and economical in manufacture. It should be further noted that in the present device the ropes 24 and 25 constitute a single length of rope and likewise the ropes 26 and 27 constitute a second single length of rope. Each single length of rope in operation may be subdivided into three portions. A first portion is wound in one sense on a large diameter drum and a second portion is wound in a different sense on a small diameter drumcomplementary with the large diameter drum. There is also an intermediate rope portion not wound on either drum but adapted to provide clothesl-ine pairs 24, 25 or 26, 27.

A second embodiment 200 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. :10 to 14 which is generally similar to the device of FIGS. 1 to 9. In device 206, however, a single s,ose,sss

central shaft 262 is employed which is disposed throughout the unit; Each drum pair is similar to drum pairs 16, 18 and 20, 22. Thus in drum pair 204, 2%, the former is of a relatively large diameter. These drums are positioned on tubular central shaft 268 in which is telescoped shaft 202. Similarly drum pair 210, 212 consists of drums of a differing diameter and are positioned on a tubular shaft 214 in which is telescoped shaft 262. It follows that drum pair 204, 206 is mechanically independent of drum pair 210, 212 land that rotation of one drum pair as by withdrawal of rope therefrom will not initiate rotation of the other drum pair. Rope lengths 216, 217 and 218, 219 are respectfully wound on the drum pairs in a manner similar to rope lengths 24, 25 and 26, 27. However, as shown in FIG. 10, a guide bar may be dispensed with and pulleys 220 and 222 similar to that shown in US. Patent No. 2,147,183 used instead for individual control.

Embodiment 2th) is used in a manner similar to the device of FIGS. 1 to =10. As previously stated, unit 2% differs from the previous device in that the drum pairs are mechanically distinct. Another significant difference lies in pawls 222 and 224 which are constructed generally along the lines of pawl 163 but are positioned inside the casing as shown in FIG. 11. Pal/V1222 is pivotally secured to end wall 226 of the casing and includes a pawl finger 228 which is adapted to cooperate with teeth 23% of a ratchet member 232 which forms one side wall of drum 204. Thus when pawl finger 22% is engaged with a tooth 230 :as shown in FIG. 13 clockwise rotation of drum 204 is restrained inasmuch as attempted rotation in that direction merely increases the degree of contact between finger 228 and tooth 230. Counterclockwise rotation or rewinding of drum 204 is, however, permitted.

The foregoing mode of operation adds a great measure of convenience to device 2% which is generally used as shown in FIG. 9. Pulley 220 is pulled away from the casing and in so doing as previously explained in connection with the device of FIG. 9, rope 216 is withdrawn from drum 2'04 and rope 217 is wound on drum 206 to provide a net increase in unwound rope length. When substantially, the desired unwound rope length has been provided, the user need only tug :at rope 217 in the direction of arrow 234 as would be done to rewind rope 216 on drum 26 4. Tugging on rope 217, causes drum 294 and its ratchet side 23% to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as discussed in connection with FIG. 9 and as shown in FIG. 13. The lever arm 236 which has held pawl 222 in inactive position is caused to drop (for reasons to be explained in the next paragraph), thereby permitting pawl 222 to fall into the engaging position of FIG. 13. Hence, it is not necessary to manually bring the pawl in operative position as was done in connection with the device of FIGS. 1-9. As drum 204 is now restrained from clockwise rotation, further unwinding thereof cannot occur and attempts to pull rope 216 outwardly will result in a desirable tightening of the same. Drum 204 can be rotated in a counterclockwise direction for purposes of rewinding rope 216 thereon. Pawl 224 functions .in a manner similar to pawl 222, is pivotally secured to spacer 238 and is withheld from engagement with ratchet side 240 of drum 212 by a releasable lever arm (not shown).

Releasable lever arm 236 as shown in FIG. 12 comprises an elongated lower finger 242 pivotally secured as shown in FIG. 14 to end wall 226 via rivet 244, the central stem 246 of which has a coil spring stub 248 telescoped thereover which is held in compressed condition to frictionally resist pivoting of lower finger 242 and its associated upper finger 250 which is fixedly secured thereto. Finger 250 includes an offset tab 254 stamped therefrom and also includes a nose 256, with inclined edge 258. Pawl finger 228 rests against inclined edge 258 and glides thereover when the lever arm 236 is caused to fall to the position of FIG. 13 and pawl 222 is thereby permitted to engage ratchet 230 Normally lever arm 236 will remain in any position to which it is rotated because of spring 248. Hence it will tend to remain in the position of FIG. 12. This position is also sustained by the interaction of a projection 260 from ratchet wheel 230 with the offset tab 254. Because projection 260 is an integral part of ratchet wheel 230, it will rotate with it as indicated in FIGS. 12 and 13. Because tab 254 opens upwardly and away from lever finger 250 as viewed in FIGS. 12 and 13, clockwise rotation of drum 204 (FIG. 12) with ratchet wheel 230 causes projection 260 to ride against and over tab 254 and tend to force it upwardly thereby sustaining its position. When drum 204 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 13, projection 26% abuts against the uppermost edge of tab 254. Continued rotation of ratchet wheel 230 causes projection 260 to force lever 250 downward (counterclockwise) as viewed in FIG. 13 and thereby permit pawl 222 to descend downwardly as aforesaid. Lever 236 projects through opening 262 in the casing and may be returned to the position of FIG. 12 by merely pushing it downwardly as indicated by arrow 264.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A reel-type clothes drier comprising in combination a first pair of rope storage drums secured to a first tubular shaft and a second pair of rope storage drums secured to a second tubular shaft, said tubular shafts being axially aligned, said first and second drum pairs each comprising a drum of a relatively large diameter and a drum of a relatively small diameter, a central shaft rotatably and slidably mounted in the drier, and telescoped within said tubular shafts and being keyed to said first tubular shaft, and means for releasably connecting said central shaft to said second tubular shaft whereby said drum pairs may be simultaneously rotated and whereby said second tubular shaft may be disconnected from said central shaft so that said drum pairs may be independently rotated.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein a length of rope is associated with each of said drum pairs, said length of rope including a first portion, a second portion and a portion intermediate said first and second portions and adapted to be secured to a remote point to provide a pair of clothesline ropes, said first portion of rope being wound in one sense on said large diameter drum and said second portion of rope being wound in a different sense on said small diameter drum whereby when said first portions of rope are unwound from said large diameter drum, certain portions thereof not rewound on said small diameter drum will provide additional rope for said intermediate rope portion and whereby when said second portion of rope is unwound from said small diameter drum, said second portion as well as said intermediate portion will be wound on said large diameter drum.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein a guide bar is provided having a pair of pulley wheels rotatively mounted thereon and wherein the intermediate portion of each of said ropes is associated with a pulley wheel and whereby said guide bar is adapted to be suspended at substantially the same level as said central shaft.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein one of the drums of one of said drum pairs is comprised of a ratchet wheel and wherein a pivotally mounted pawl is provided which may be associated with said ratchet wheel to restrain rotation of said central shaft.

5. The invention of claim 4 including a casing covering said drum pairs and wherein the pawl is held in disengaging position by a lever within said casing which is adapted to be released when said drums are rotated in a given direction thereby permitting said pawl to engage said ratchet wheel.

6. The clothes drier of claim 1 wherein said central shaft has a finger secured thereto and is slidable within said tubular shafts, and said second drum pair contains a side Wall adjacent said finger, said side wall having at least one opening formed therein, whereby said finger may be inserted in said opening by sliding said central shaft in said second tubular shaft thereby providing the releasable securement.

Woitynek Jan. 5, 1909 Kneisiey Aug. 10, 1909 10 Van Riper Nov. 30, 1909 Watkins Oct. 31, 1922 Benczalski June 5, 1923 Cohrs Oct. 28, 1924 White Feb. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Denmark Apr. 4, 1949

Claims (1)

1. A REEL-TYPE CLOTHES DRIER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A FIRST PAIR OF ROPE STORAGE DRUMS SECURED TO A FIRST TUBULAR SHAFT AND A SECOND PAIR OF ROPE STORAGE DRUMS SECURED TO A SECOND TUBULAR SHAFT, SAID TUBULAR SHAFTS BEING AXIALLY ALIGNED, SAID FIRST AND SECOND DRUM PAIRS EACH COMPRISING A DRUM OF A RELATIVELY LARGE DIAMETER AND A DRUM OF A RELATIVELY SMALL DIAMETER, A CENTRAL SHAFT ROTATABLY AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE DRIER, AND TELESCOPED WITHIN SAID TUBULAR SHAFTS AND BEING KEYED TO SAID FIRST TUBULAR SHAFT, AND MEANS FOR RELEASABLY CONNECTING SAID CENTRAL SHAFT TO SAID TUBULAR SHAFT WHEREBY SAID DRUM PAIRS MAY BE SIMULTANEOUSLY ROTATED AND WHEREBY SAID SECOND TUBULAR SHAFT MAY BE DISCONNECTED FROM SAID CENTRAL SHAFT SO THAT SAID DRUM PAIRS MAY BE INDEPENDENTLY ROTATED.

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