EP1398406A2

EP1398406A2 - A rotary airer

Info

Publication number: EP1398406A2
Application number: EP03255734A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Darren Trowsdale; Duncan Spelman; Carl Stone
Original assignee: Vale Mill Rochdale Ltd
Current assignee: Vale Mill Rochdale Ltd
Priority date: 2002-09-12
Filing date: 2003-09-12
Publication date: 2004-03-17
Also published as: GB0221079D0; EP1398406A3

Abstract

A rotary airer has a support member (10) and a number of arms (18) coupled to the support member (10). At least one arm (18) comprises an engagement member (44). The engagement member (44) provides an anchorage point for a line (22) extending between adjacent arms (18).

Description

The present invention relates generally to a rotary airer (or dryer) for example, for laundry.
The term rotary airer as used in this patent application is to be understood to refer apparatus of the type frequently utilised in place of a traditional washing line and comprising a column (or support member) on which is mounted a number of arms pivotally coupled by articulation links so as to be collapsible to a folded (or collapsed) position lying alongside the column, and extended to a working position. In the working position the arms are typically at an angle approaching 90 degrees to the column, in a manner similar to that of an umbrella framework.
In known rotary airers of the type referred to above, the arms are pivotally coupled at one end to a sleeve slidable along the column. The arms are also usually each coupled at an intermediate point to a respective link, the other end of which is coupled to the column at or adjacent the top of the column.
Usually means are provided by which the sleeve can be fixed in its upper position, and one known arrangement comprises a bayonet-type coupling involving a radially projecting pin engagable in an L-shape slot in the interior surface of the sleeve such that by lifting the sleeve to engage the slot over the pin and then rotating the sleeve through an angle about the axis of the column the sleeve can be located against axial movement.
A line or a plurality of lines are strung between adjacent arms to provide a network of line sections on which clothing items can be hung in the usual way.
The present invention seeks to provide improvements in rotary airers, especially of the type referred to above.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotary airer comprising a support member and a number of arms coupled to the support member, at least one arm comprises an engagement member, the engagement member providing an anchorage point for a line extending between adjacent arms.
The arms and/or the links may be produced as rolled sections, e.g. of generally U-shape or channel shape.
The engagement members may fit on to the ends of the arms.
The engagement members may be plastics mouldings and may be in the form of end caps for the arms.
The engagement members may comprise channel means extending lengthwise of the arms and along which the lines may be routed to form a loop which may be drawn into engagement with a projection so as to anchor the lines to the arms without the need to knot or otherwise secure the lines to the arms. Typically, the engagement members are formed such that, in use, the loop extends in a direction transverse to the direction of the line between adjacent arms.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotary airer comprising a support member and a number of arms, the arms being coupled to a sleeve which is slidable along the support member between a first position, in which the arms are collapsed and a second position, in which the arms are in a working position, and a stop element adjustably connectable to the support member at two or more locations along its length, wherein the sleeve is rotabably coupled to the column and is configured so that in one angular position it can slide over the stop element and in a second angular position, it is blocked by the stop element against sliding movement along the column, the location of the stop element on the support member defining the second position.
The stop element may be a plastics moulding.
The stop element may be have an at least two point connection to the column, for example, via spaced formations which engage in correspondingly spaced apertures in the column.
In one embodiment of the invention, the stop element includes a hook formation which can be inserted or hooked into the interior of the column and a clip formation which clips to the column after the hook formation has been inserted.
The stop element may be designed to flex in the manner of a hinge to allow the clip formation to be disengaged from the column when required.
In addition to the hook and clip formations, the stop element may also include a peg located intermediate the hook and clip formations, the peg being arranged for reception in an aperture in the column so that the stop element has a three point connection to the column, thereby affording increased security against it becoming accidentally dislodged.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotary airer comprising a support member and a number of arms, at least one of the arms comprising engagement means adjacent the end of at least one arm remote from the support member such that in the collapsed position the engagement means engages with a retainer on the support member to retain the arms in the collapsed position.
The retainer may also serve to mount the links.
The engagement means may engage with the retainer by a deformation of the engagement means and/or retainer. Typically, the deformation may be an elastic deformation.
Preferably, the engagement means is provided on an end cap of each arm.
The end caps and the retainer may be produced as plastics mouldings.
Engagement between the engagement means and the retainer may be effected by co-operating male and female formations, one formation on the engagement means and the other on the retainer. The male formation may be provided on the engagement means or vice versa.
In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a rotary airer comprising a support member and a number of arms, the arms and/or the links are of channel section and are pivotally coupled to the column by pivot pins which extend between opposite walls of the channel and through apertures in the walls so as to project externally of the channel walls, the pins being deformed, e.g. by crimping to render them captive to the channel.
The pins may be deformed externally or internally of the channel, e.g. they may be crimped or otherwise deformed to produce lugs located externally of the channel.
A feature of the invention is that the arms may be single piece sections which are coupled directly at their inboard ends to a collar which is slidable along the column thereby avoiding the need for a separate component to couple the arm to the collar.
One or more aspects of the invention may be combined together in the rotary airer. Preferably, the rotary airer comprises all aspects of the invention.
An example of a rotary airer in accordance with the various aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a general view of a rotary airer in its operative position with its arms extending predominantly horizontally;
Figure 2 is similar view to that of Figure 1 but with the airer shown in its collapsed condition in which the arms extend substantially vertically;
Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of an adjustable stop for use holding the arms in a desired position of adjustment;
Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing the stop in a position in which it cooperates with a hand grip sleeve to hold the arms in a desired position of adjustment;
Figure 6 is a similar view to that of Figure 5 in which the arms are in the stowed position and the sleeve is lowered over the stop;
Figure 7 is a underside plan view illustrating the configuration of the sleeve;
Figure 8 is a perspective showing an end cap fitted to the outer extremity of each arm;
Figure 9 is a side view of the end cap/arm;
Figure 10 is a sectional view along a medial plane containing the axis of the arm;
Figures 11 and 12 are perspective views showing the pivots provided at the inboard ends of the arms and the links;
Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective view showing connection of the link pivots to the retainer at the top of the column;
Figure 14 is a sectional view showing seating of the pivot pin in a pockete in the retainer;
Figures 15 and 16 are fragmentary overhead views showing the retainer and one of the arms immediately prior to, and after, engagement of the arm with the retainer; and
Figure 17 is a fragmentary side view showing the arms in the location illustrated in the view of Figure 15.
Figures 1 and 2 show a rotary airer comprising a central column generally indicated 10, the lower end of which is intended to be removably fitted into a socket (not shown) installed in the ground. The column may comprise a metal tubular post. Mounted on the upper end of the column 10 is a plastics retainer 12. A plastics sleeve 14 is slidably fitted to the column 10 and is designed to be gripped by the hand and moved towards and away from the retainer 12.
The sleeve 14 is associated with a collar 16 to which a number of arms 18 are pivotally connected at one end so that the arms can swing in a vertical plane between a generally vertical stowed condition as illustrated in Figure 2 and an operative radially projecting position as illustrated in Figure 1. The sleeve 14 is rotatable relative to the collar 16.
Lines (not shown) extend between the arms 18 to afford hanging capacity for clothes. The lines extend between apertures 19 in the arms 18.
The arms 18 are connected at locations intermediate their ends to the retainer 12 by links 20 which have pivotal connections with the arms 18 and the retainer 12. The arms and the links may be rolled steel sections which are generally U-shaped. It will be understood that, as the sleeve 14 is moved up or down, the arms 14 swing outwardly and inwardly between the stowed and radially extending positions. By providing means for fixing the sleeve 14 in a desired position, the arms 18 can be locked at a particular inclination relative to the column 10.
One feature of the present invention resides in the means for holding the sleeve 14 in a desired position of adjustment. This is shown in more detail in Figures 3 to 7. The column 10 is provided with a set of uniformly spaced retaining formations, e.g. apertures 26 (see Figure 5) punched into the wall of the tubular column, for co-operation with an adjustable stop 24 which projects radially from the column 10 to act as an abutment on which part of a lower edge 30 of the sleeve 14 seats when the sleeve is correctly oriented. To this end, the sleeve 14 is configured so that, when in a first angular position relative to the column 10, a radially enlarged portion 28 of the sleeve 14 registers with the location of the stop 24 to allow the sleeve to slide past the stop and, when in a second angular position, the lower edge 30 of the sleeve 14 is blocked by the stop 24. In this way, in the first angular position up and down movement of the sleeve 14 is not obstructed by the stop 24 but, when the sleeve has been adjusted to a desired vertical position, it can be turned (relative to the collar 16) to the appropriate angular position in which it is obstructed from moving downwardly by the stop.
The stop comprises an upper hook portion 34, a lower clip 36 and an intermediate peg 38, the spacing between these three elements corresponding to the spacing of the apertures 26 in such a way that the stop 24 can be securely retained on the column 10. To fit the stop 24 to the column at a desired location, the hook portion 34 is first registered with the upper one of three apertures 26 and the stop 24 is manipulated to locate the peg 38 in the next lower aperture so that, with the hook engaged in the upper aperture, the stop element can be pressed inwardly to cause the clip 36 to snap engage with the marginal edge of the lowest of the three apertures being used.
To release the stop from the column to allow it to be repositioned, the clip 36 is first caused to disengage by flexing the lower end of the stop. Such flexing is possible since the stop is made of a resiliently deformable plastics material and has cut-outs 40 in its side walls to enable the lower portion of the stop to hinge relative to the remaining part of the stop 24. Once the clip 36 is released, the stop can be manipulated to disengage the peg 38 and the hook portion 34 and the stop can be repositioned in alignment with a different set of three apertures. The upper portion 42 of the stop is contoured to fit an arcuate concave recess 43 formed in the lower edge of that portion of the sleeve which is intended to abut against the stop.
Referring to Figures 8 to 10, the outermost line 22 is coupled to the outer extremities of the arms 18 without the need for knotting or the like. The outer end of each arm 18 is fitted with a plastics end cap 44 which is provided with a pair of channels 46 separated by central formation 47. The channels 46 extend lengthwise of the respective arm 18 and the line 22 is routed along the top side of the end cap to form a loop 48 which can be extended around and beneath a downwardly directed projection 50.
It will be seen that line enters the arm through the hole 19 in one side wall, extends along the top of the end cap, loops around the underside of the projection 50, returns along the top side of the end cap and leaves via the hole 19 in the opposite side wall of the arm. Once the loop has been registered with the projection 50, the line may be pulled taut to securely lock the loop in position and thereby securely affix the line to outer extremity of the arm. In this manner, rigidity of assembly can be secured without the need for unsightly knots or crimping.
The pivots associated with the arms 18 and the links 20 are shown in Figures 11 to 14. Each pivot comprises a pin 54 which may be of metal and is received in holes formed in the opposed sidewalls 56 of the channel-section arm or link. To render the pivot pins 54 captive with the arms and links, they are deformed, e.g. by crimping or such like, externally of the channel to produce radial lugs 58 which limit movement of the pins relative to the arms or links. This simple method of making the pins captive facilitates the assembly of the airer since the pins 54 cannot become dislodged from the arms or links during the assembly process.
The arms 18 and links 20 are coupled to the collar 16 and the retainer 12 by snap engaging the pins 54 into pockets 60 (as shown for the links in Figures 13 and 14). The entrance to each pocket 60 is bordered by a projection 62 so arranged that it flexes to allow entry of the pin 54 into the pocket 60 but then resiles to a position in which removal of the pin is blocked. The sidewalls of the arms 18 and links 20 may be received in vertical grooves 64 provided in the retainer 12 and the collar 16.
When the arms 18 are moved to the stowed position as shown in Figure 2, they may be retained in that position by co-operation between the end caps 44 and the retainer 12. This may be achieved by interengaging male and female features on the components. As illustrated in Figures 15 to 17, each end cap 44 is provided with a male feature 66 which is designed to snap engage with a socket formation 68 provided in the retainer 12. The socket formation 68 is defined by the walls 70 which are designed so as to be sufficiently resiliently deformable to allow entry of the male feature 66 and to resile to trap the male feature once it has been properly received in the socket formation 68. However, it will be understood the resistance to release of the male feature 66 form the socket formation 68 will be limited so that the arms can be readily released when it is necessary to deploy them for operative use in the extended position shown in Figure 1.
Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance, it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed on such feature or features.

Claims

A rotary airer comprising a support member and a number of arms coupled to the support member, at least one arm comprises an engagement member, the engagement member providing an anchorage point for a line extending between adjacent arms.
A rotary airer according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member fits onto the end of the least one arm.
A rotary airer according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the engagement member comprises channel means extending lengthwise of the arm and along which the line may be routed to form a loop which may be drawn into engagement with a projection so as to anchor the line to the arm.
A rotary airer according to claim 3, wherein the engagement member is formed such that, in use, the loop extends in a direction transverse to the direction of the line between adjacent arms.
A rotary airer comprising a support member and a number of arms, the arms being coupled to a sleeve which is slidable along the support member between a first position, in which the arms are collapsed and a second position, in which the arms are in a working position and a stop element adjustably connectable to the support member at two or more locations along its length, wherein the sleeve is rotabably coupled to the column and is configured so that in one angular position it can slide over the stop element and in a second angular position, it is blocked by the stop element against sliding movement along the column, the location of the stop element on the support member defining the second position.
A rotary airer according to claim 5, wherein the stop element has an at least two point connection to the column.
A rotary airer according to claim 6, wherein the at least two point connection is via spaced formations which engage in correspondingly spaced apertures in the column.
A rotary airer according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the stop element includes a hook formation which can be inserted or hooked into the interior of the column and a clip formation which clips to the column after the hook formation has been inserted.
A rotary airer according to claim 8, wherein the stop element is designed to flex in the manner of a hinge to allow the clip formation to be disengaged from the column when required.
A rotary airer according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the stop element further comprises a peg located intermediate the hook and clip formations, the peg being arranged for reception in an aperture in the column so that the stop element has a three point connection to the column.
A rotary airer comprising a support member and a number of arms, at least one of the arms comprising engagement means adjacent the end of the at least one remote from the support member such that in the collapsed position the engagement means engages with a retainer on the support member to retain the arms in the collapsed position.
A rotary airer according to claim 11, wherein the retainer couples the links to the support member.
A rotary airer according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the engagement means engages with the retainer by a deformation of the engagement means and/or retainer.
A rotary airer according to claim 13, wherein the deformation is an elastic deformation.
A rotary arier according to any of claim 11 to 14, wherein the engagement means is provided on an end cap of the at least one arm.
A rotary airer according to any of claims 11 to 15, wherein engagement is effected by co-operating male and female formations, one formation on the engagement means and the other on the retainer.
A rotary airer comprising a support member and a number of arms, the arms and/or the links are of channel section and are pivotally coupled to the column by pivot pins which extend between opposite walls of the channel and through apertures in the walls so as to project externally of the channel walls, the pins being deformed to render them captive to the channel.