WO2017072474A1

WO2017072474A1 - Clothes airer

Info

Publication number: WO2017072474A1
Application number: PCT/GB2016/000193
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luke Moseley
Original assignee: Vale Mill (Rochdale) Limited
Priority date: 2015-10-27
Filing date: 2016-10-27
Publication date: 2017-05-04
Also published as: GB2543785A; GB201518995D0; GB2543785B

Abstract

A clothes airer comprises a vertical support member (11 ) for supporting a plurality of line sections (14) to which laundry items may be secured, the support member comprising two sections (12,13) and a connection device (27) to lock together the two sections when one section is rotated relative to the other, and to unlock the two sections for their separation when rotation is in a reversed direction, the connection device comprising a body section (28) which rotatably supports a radially expandably locking member (31 ) for frictional engagement with an inner surface of a tubular end section of the other (13) of the two support member sections and the locking member (31 ) being rotatable relative to one of the support sections and the body section of the connection device to expand the locking member for frictional engagement with the other support section (13).

Description

CLOTHES AIRER

This invention relates to a clothes airer and in particular, though not exclusively, to a clothes airer of the so-called rotary type intended for outdoor use and having a plurality of line sections which are rotatably supported above ground by a central support member.

In a clothes airer of the rotary type the support member typically provides support for support arms that are moveable between a first position in which they lie substantially alongside the support member to be convenient for storage and a second position in which they extend outwards from the support member whereby laundry items may be suspended from clothes line sections extending between the support arms.

In order that the clothes airer is able to support laundry items sufficiently above ground level the support member typically needs to have a length of between 1.5 metres and 2 metres.

In many cases a user has a preference or requirement for storing the clothes airer indoors when not in use. However the length of the support member in many cases undesirably restricts the options for convenient storage. That length also is not convenient for transport of the clothes airer to or from a retail outlet or display at a retail outlet.

To address the matter of providing a clothes airer which is more convenient in use it is known to provide a support member comprising two or more sections which may be selectively joined together or separated. However prior to the making of the present invention a convenient means has not been provided for enabling sections of a support member to be readily joined together or separated in day to day use, and which does not involve undue manufacturing costs and difficulties. The present invention seeks to provide an improved clothes airer which mitigates or overcomes disadvantages of hitherto known clothes airers.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention a clothes airer comprises:- a support member in use to extend vertically to provide support for a plurality of line sections to which laundry items may be secured, said support member comprising two sections which may be connected together end to end; one of said support member sections comprising a connection device secured thereto and operable to lock together the two sections when one section is rotated in a first direction relative to the other section and to unlock the sections to permit their separation when rotated relative to one another in a reverse direction; said connection device comprising a body section which rotatably supports a radially expandable locking member for frictional

engagement with an inner surface of a tubular end section of the other of the two support member sections, and said locking member being rotatable relative to the said one of said support member sections and the body section of the connection device to expand the locking member for further frictional engagement with said other of the two support member sections.

Preferably the connection device is located wholly within the support member sections when the two sections are assembled together whereby the connection device is not visible.

The locking member preferably is formed from a non-rigid material which enables it to change shape to bring it into increased, firmer frictional contact with the inner surface of the tubular end section of the other of the two support member sections. It may be a resilient material.

Alternatively the locking member may comprise a plurality of rigid sections and guide components whereby the rigid sections may be guided for movement relative to one another to result in the aforementioned change of shape and an increase in frictional contact.

The locking member may be of compressible material but preferably is formed from a substantially incompressible material. An example of a suitable material for the locking member is polypropylene.

The locking member may be of an annular shape in cross-section.

The material of the locking member may be elastic whereby the shape of a substantially annular locking member may be stretched or otherwise deformed by action of part of a connection device body positioned within the locking member thereby to expand the locking member and increase the strength of frictional engagement between an outer surface of the locking member and an inner surface of the end of the other of the two support member sections.

Alternatively the locking member may be of a substantially annular shape though not necessarily circumferentially continuous in cross-section. Thus it may define a slit which extends for example substantially longitudinally between longitudinally spaced ends of the locking member. Accordingly the locking member may be substantially in the form of a C shape in cross-section at least when in an expanded condition.

The locking member, as considered in plan view, may comprise two sections, such as substantially semi-circular shaped sections, interconnected by a web of a wall thickness less than that of the sections thereby to permit the sections to move relative to one another to vary the outer peripheral dimension of the locking member. The web may be flexible and or stretchable thereby to permit said relative movement.

The connection device may comprise a body section secured within the end of one support member section and a tapered section which extends therefrom, beyond the end of the support member section. Said tapered section may be profiled to engage with an inner surface of a substantially annular shaped locking member and cause the locking member to expand into firm contact with the other support member section when the two support member sections are rotated relative to one another. Thus in the case of a locking member which is circumferentially discontinuous that expansion may cause a slit or slot to increase in the circumferential direction as the locking member is expanded.

The tapered section may comprise a substantially frusto-conical surface which defines a screw thread formation to engage with a screw thread formation of complementary shape on the inner surface of a locking member having a substantially annular shape in cross-section. In this construction the locking member may be of non-rigid material and may be circumferentially

discontinuous, and of annular shape in cross-section, whereby an outer surface of the locking member is radially expandable or contractible by rotation of the two support member sections relative to one another.

The outer surface of the locking member preferably is dimensioned to lightly frictionally engage with an inner surface of the tubular end of the support member section into which it is inserted during assembly of the two support sections. Accordingly that frictional engagement will serve in use to restrain the locking member from freely rotating in unison with a tapered section of the connection device. Thus that light frictional contact will enable the tapered section to rotate relative to the locking member to cause expansion of the latter as the two support sections are rotated relative to one another in a first direction. The locking member may have a cylindrical outer surface for engagement with a support member section. The outer surface may be grooved or provided with other texturing whereby it will lightly frictionally engage within the tubular end of a support member section without it being necessary to ensure that there is only a small tolerance range for the internal dimensioning of the tubular end of the support member section, or of the outer surface of the locking member. An example of a suitable form of texturing is the provision of a plurality of circumferentially extending grooves.

To facilitate a separation of the two support member sections the connection device may comprise a body section having an abutment which prevents the locking member separating from the body section in the direction of the length of the support member section as the tapered section of the connection device is withdrawn.

The two support member sections may be of equal external diameter thereby to provide a pleasing visual appearance. However, to facilitate provision of a firm connection which resists any misalignment of the two support member sections the present invention teaches that the support member section provided with the connection device is of a reduced diameter at an end region surrounding a main body of the connection device whereby that reduced diameter section is able to locate as a close fit within a tubular end section of the other connection member.

The clothes airer of the present invention may be provided with additional constructional features as already known, particularly in relation to the manner in which line sections are supported. Typically the clothes airer may be of a collapsible type in which the line sections may be supported at a position well spaced outwards from the support member to allow laundry items to be secured thereto, or with the line sections lying freely alongside the support member for storage. It is to be understood that individual features described herein may be provided in combination with one another in combinations additional to those combinations specifically described.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a side view of a clothes airer assembly in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but showing two parts of a support post slightly separated;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the separated ends of the two support post sections;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a locking member;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the locking member;

Figure 6 is a side view of the locking member in the direction of arrow X of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a section on the line B-B of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the end regions of the two support post sections when lightly assembled together, and

Figure 9 shows a view corresponding to part of the view of Figure 8 with the connection device in a condition to tightly secure together the two support post sections . A clothes airer 10 comprises a support post 11 comprising a lower section 12 for insertion in a ground socket (not shown) and an upper section 13 which is provided with components for supporting a plurality of clothes line sections 14.

The components for the support of line sections are of conventional construction and comprise three equi-spaced support arms 15 each pivotally supported by a sleeve 16 slidable on the support post. A spring-loaded latch 17 holds the sleeve in the illustrated position, to prevent it sliding downwards whilst the airer is in the configuration as illustrated.

Each arm 15 is supported also by a respective strut 18 pivotally secured at one end to a collar 19 secured to an upper end region 20 of the support post. The other end of each strut is secured pivotally to a respective arm, at a position 21 midway between the ends of the arm.

Each arm is provided with a series of through-bores 22 through which a long length line is threaded to form the plurality of line sections 14.

In this embodiment of the present invention the two post sections 12,13 are generally of the same external diameter and are each of a tubular form.

However an upper end region 25 of the lower post section is of a reduced diameter whereby it is a close but not interference fit within the lower tubular end 26 of the upper post section 13.

The upper end region 25 of the lower post section serves also to locate a two- part connection device 27. One part of the connection device is a main body 28 (see Figure 8) having a tubular section 29 which is a close fit within, and adhesively bonded, to within the upper end region 25 of the lower post section 12.

The main body 28 has a frusto-conical tubular section 30 which is formed integrally with the tubular section 29 and which extends outwards,

longitudinally beyond the end of the lower post section 12. The tubular section 29 is surrounded by the other of the two parts of the connection device, namely an expandable locking member 31.

The locking member 31 is of a substantially annular but circumferentially discontinuous shape. As best seen in Figures 4 to 7 it comprises a slit region 32 extending axially between the ends of the locking member. The inner surface of the locking member is integrally moulded with a screw thread formation 33 and the outer surface of the frusto-conical section of the main body 28 is similarly formed with a complimentary shaped and integrally moulded screw thread formation 34.

The outer surface 35 of the locking member is substantially cylindrical and is dimensioned to be of a diameter no less than the internal diameter of the post section 13. That outer surface is shaped to define four circumferentially extending grooves 36 whereby, despite any small tolerance variations, the locking member may be sufficiently flexible to ensure that it is not an unduly tight fit when assembling together the two post sections by insertion of the connection device into the end 26 of the other post section 13.

The locking member screw thread formation 33 and the grooves 36 are circumferentially discontinuous both at the slit region 32 and at a diametrically opposite position 40. At the diametrically opposite position 40 the two substantially semicircular sections 41 , 42 of the locking member 31 are interconnected by an integrally moulded web 43 which, in addition to the flexibility of the sections 41 , 42, assists the locking member to deform and vary the width of the slit region 32, thus also tending to varying the

circumferential length of the locking member and increase the strength of frictional engagement with the post end region 26.

The main body part 28 of the connection device has an annular abutment flange 37 that extends outwards over the end 38 of the locking device to inhibit axial separation of the two parts of the connection device. In use of the connection device to secure together the two post sections'! 2, 13 the outer surface 35 of the locking device lightly engages with and slides axially over the internal surface of the upper section as the connection device is inserted into the upper post section. The connection device then has the configuration as shown in Figure 4 and in which the locking member has not been caused to expand outwards.

Subsequent to insertion such that the post section 13 fully surrounds the reduced diameter section 25 of the lower post section the two posts are rotated relative to one another. That relative rotation results in the inter- engaging screw thread formations 33,34 drawing the locking device 31 downwards away from the abutment 37 to lie around a part of the frusto- conical tapered section 30 which is of greater diameter (see Figure 9). Said movement is facilitated by the slot 32 that permits the locking device to tend to increase in internal diameter and to deform the outer surface regions between the grooves 36. In consequence the outer surface of the locking device is brought to bear in firm frictional contact with the inner surface of the upper post section 13 to firmly secure together the post sections.

In this embodiment of the invention said deformation of the locking device is facilitated by forming that component from an elastomeric material, in this example polypropylene.

In contrast to the material of the locking device, the material of the main body part of the connection device does not need to be deformable and preferably is substantially rigid. In this embodiment it is formed from polypropylene. To separate the two sections of the support member it is necessary merely to rotate the two sections in an opposite direction relative to one another. The required direction of relative rotation will, of course, be evident to the user insofar as one direction will be found readily to give the desired locking or unlocking effect. Having regard to the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a simple and cost effective means by which a clothes airer may be provided with a support post having two sections that can be readily connected for use or be separated for convenience of storage and transport.

V 7PCDTDE1

Claims

Claims.

1. A clothes airer comprising:- a support member in use to extend vertically to provide support for a plurality of line sections to which laundry items may be secured, said support member comprising two sections which may be connected together end to end; one of said support member sections comprising a connection device secured thereto and operable to lock together the two sections when one section is rotated in a first direction relative to the other section and to unlock the sections to permit their separation when rotated relative to one another in a reverse direction; said connection device comprising a body section which rotatably supports a radially expandable locking member for frictional

2. A clothes airer according to claim 1 wherein the connection device is located wholly within the support member sections when said sections are secured together whereby the connection device is not visible in the assembled clothes airer.

3. A clothes airer according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the locking member is formed from a non-rigid material which enables it to change shape to bring it into increased, firmer frictional contact with the inner surface of the tubular end section of the upper of the two support member sections.

4. A clothes airer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the end region and a substantial part of the remainder of the length of one support member section is of a substantially uniform external diameter and wherein the other support member section has an end region of a reduced diameter for insertion within the end region of said one support member section, and wherein a substantial part of the remainder of length of said other support member section is of a substantially uniform diameter corresponding to that of said one support member section.

5. A clothes airer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the locking member is formed from a substantially incompressible material.

6. A clothes airer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the locking member is of an annular shape as considered in transverse cross- section whereby the locking member may be stretched or otherwise deformed to provide an increase in frictional engagement between an outer surface of the locking member and an inner surface of a support member section.

7. A clothes airer according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the locking member is of a substantially annular shape which is circumferentially discontinuous in cross-section.

8. A clothes airer according to claim 7 wherein the locking member comprises a slit which extends substantially longitudinally between

longitudinally spaced ends of the locking member.

9. A clothes airer according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the locking member is substantially in the form of at least a part of a C shape in cross- section.

10. A clothes airer according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the locking member comprises two sections inter-connected by a web of wall thickness less than that of the inter-connected sections thereby to permit the two sections to move relative to one another to vary the peripheral dimension of the locking member.

1 1. A clothes airer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connection device comprises a body section secured within the end of one support member and a tapered section which extends therefrom, beyond the end of the support member section.

12. A clothes airer according to claim 11 wherein said tapered section is profiled to engage with an inner surface of a substantially annular shaped locking member and cause the locking member to expand into firm contact with the other support member section when the two support member sections are rotated relative to one another.

13. A clothes airer according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the tapered section comprises a substantially frusto-conical surface which defines a screw thread formation to engage with a screw thread formation of a complementary shape on the inner surface of a locking member having a substantially annular shape cross-section.

14. A clothes airer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the outer surface of the locking member is dimensioned to frictionally engage with an inner surface of the tubular end of the support member section into which it is inserted.

15. A clothes airer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the locking member comprises a cylindrical outer surface for engagement with a support member section, said outer surface comprising at least one groove or texturing whereby it is adapted for frictional engagement with the tubular end of a support member section prior to operation of the locking member to firmly secure together the two support member sections.

16. A clothes airer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connection device comprises a body section provided with an abutment to prevent separation of the locking member from the body section of the connection device when the two support member sections are separated.

VMPCTCL1