AU670687B2 - Retractable cover for folding clothes lines - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

*r Name of Applicant: Hills Industries Limited 4 4 454S Actual Inventors: John Arthur Stacy Brown and Ronald Grierson Meade Address for Service: R K MADDERN ASSOCIATES, 345 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: "Retractable Cover For Folding Clothes Lines" Details of Associated Provisional Application No: PL 9315 dated llth June 1993.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

I This invention relates to a retractable cover for a foldable clothes line of the type wherein a series of arms radiate outwardly from a lower cross or boss located on a central standard, with the arms being guided by stays pivoted at their upper ends to an upper cross supported at the upper open end of the standard and at their lower ends to respective said arms intermediate the ends thereof, the arms being movable between a collapsed condition wherein they lie in proximity to the standard approximately parallel therewith and an extended in-use position where they extend approximately radially outwards from the standard. The cover is designed so that when in an extended condition, it encapsulates or covers the clothes line assembly in its collapsed condition, whilst when fully retracted, the cover is housed internally of the standard so that it is concealed from view.

Foldable clothes lines of the abovementioned type have been S known for many years and are in common use. Such clothes lines, when in their collapsed non-use position, from an aesthetic viewpoint can detract visually from their immediate surroundings. It is desirable therefore that a cover be designed so that the clothes line assembly, when collapsed, is essentially concealed from view. Not only would this be more visually attractive but would also serve as protection for the component parts of the clothes line against deterioration due to weather as well as UV degradation, and the ingress of dust and rain.

It is the main object of the present invention therefore to provide cover means for concealing and also for protecting a foldable clothes line of the aforementioned type, when in its collapsed position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide cover means for a foldable clothes line of the aforementioned type which can be readily and simply retracted to a position wherein it is housed internally of the standard of the clothes line and is concealed from view, and also readily and simply extended to a position wherein it forms a sleevelike cover which extends downwardly over the collapsed clothes line assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved foldable clothes line of the aforementioned type which incorporates a retractable cover means of sleevelike form which allows an operator to conceal the clothes line (or at least a major portion thereof) from view when in its collapsed condition, in a relatively simple manner.

According to this invention therefore cover means for a foldable clothes line of the aforementioned type, comprises a flexible sleevelike cover having one end closed and its other end open and being movable between a retracted position S wherein the cover is housed within the standard and an S extended in-use position wherein the cover extends downwardly over and around the clothes line assembly when fully collapsed said sleevelike cover being everted when pulled from its retracted to its extended in-use position, weight means attached to the closed end of the cover and housed within the standard for vertical up and down movement therewithin, manually operable pull-out means attached to the open end of the cover for pulling out the sleevelike cover from its retracted position within the tubular standard, and retention means for releasably retaining the cover in its extended in-use position, said cover, upon release of said retention means, freely returning to its retracted position by virtue of said weight means which moves gravitationally 3" downwardly through the interior of the standard and simultaneously pulls the cover into the standard through its open upper end.

Preferably the sleevelike cover is formed of flexible plastics material, which is longitudinally contractible by elastically extendible means, arranged such that when the cover is in its retracted position housed within the standard, its length is contracted, whilst when in its fully

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extended position, its length is increased due to the elongation of the elastically extensible means.

Preferably the elastically extendible means comprises a pair of elastic cords extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the cover.

In another preferred arrangement, the open end of the sleevelike cover has loosely attached thereto, an end closure cap which is arranged, when the cover is fully retracted within the standard, to close off the open upper end of the standard to thereby prevent ingress of dust, rain and the like. Preferably the end cap is flexibly attached by means of a tie or strap to a hem which extends around the open upper end of the cover. Preferably, an elastic cord is S threaded through the hem and extends around the open upper end of the cover. The cord assists in maintaining the upper periphery of the bag in an open circular condition which in turn assists the initial drawing-out of the cover from the standard over the upper cross.

Preferably the manually operable pull-out means comprise a pair of short length pull-out straps attached to the open upper end of the cover and which hang freely from opposite sides thereof.

Preferably, each of the outer or free ends of the pull-out straps is provided with a retaining ring or hook which is designed to cooperate with an anchorage member located on the 3 standard near its lower end, in order to retain the cover in its extended covering position. Alternatively, the pair of retaining hooks or rings may be loosely attached to the open upper end of the cover by short length straps which have their ends stitched to the hem so as to form loops through which the retaining hooks or rings pass. These hooks or rings locate opposite to one another in between the pull-out straps.

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Preferably, the closure cap is attached to one of the pullout straps intermediate the ends thereof.

With this invention, the sleevelike cover can be simply and readily moved from its extended to its retracted position by releasing the retaining rings or hooks from their anchorages on the standard, following which the cover will automatically retract inside of the standard by virtue of the counterweight means attached to the closed end of the cover, which gravitates downwardly through the interior of the standard.

In addition, the elasticised sides of the cover assist the return movement of the cover upwardly along the collapsed clothes line, and are effective to contract the length of the cover as it moves to its fully retracted concealed position.

Preferably, the length of the cover is selected so that when fully extended, the winding mechanism of the clothes hoist is also covered and concealed from view.

o In order to further illustrate the present invention, a preferred embodiment thereof is described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: r eee Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the protective cover shown in 25 its extended position wherein it fits snugly over the clothes line when collapsed; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the protective cover in a partly retracted position; oeee Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clothes line (showing the e3T clothes line support arms and the suspension stays) with the protective cover fully retracted within the standard; Fig. 4 is exploded perspective view showing the upper end of the standard and the protective sleevelike cover; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the protective bag showing one of the pull-out straps and the closure cap attached thereto, whilst Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the protective cover showing manner in which one of the pull-out straps

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is connected to the open end of the cover and to one of the elastic cords, which extends along one side of the cover.

According to this embodiment, a collapsible or foldable clothes hoist 10 comprises a standard 11, an elevating mechanism having a winding handle 12, a plurality of clothes line support arms 13, each of which has its inner end pivotally attached to a lower cross or boss 14, and a plurality of suspension stays 15 each of which has its outer end pivotally connected to a respective support arm 13 intermediate the ends thereof and its inner upper end pivotally connected to an upper cross 16.

The standard 11, in this embodiment, comprises a fixed tubular lower standard 17 and an upper tubular secondary standard 18 which is an elevating standard and is telescopically movable within the upper open end of the lower standard 17.

0oo• In accordance with a feature of this invention, there is provided a flexible sleevelike bag or cover 20 which in this embodiment, is made from suitable waterproof plastics material, and which, when in its fully retracted position, is S contained within the interior of the standard 11 and concealed from view, whilst when fully extended, (refer Fig.

fits over a major portion of the collapsed clothes line oeoe assembly. When being pulled out from the interior of the standard 11, the bag or cover 20 is everted.

o The flexible cover or bag 20 has an open leading end to which is attached a pair of pull-out straps 21 located on opposite sides of the bag 20, and a closed trailing or bottom end to which is attached a counterweight member 22 (refer Fig. 4) which is arranged to freely slide vertically along the interior of the standard 11. The straps 21 hang freely from the open end of the cover 20 and can be conveniently grasped by an operator when it is desired to pull out the cover from within the standard 11.

The open end of the cover 20 is also provided with a pair of retention rings 23 which are arranged, when the bag or cover is in its fully extended position, to hookingly engage with a hook on a retaining collar 24 located on the lower standard 17. With the rings 23 thus engaged, the cover 20 is retained under tension in its fully extended protective position. In this embodiment, the rings 23 are loosely retained to the cover by straps 25 which are stitched to the open end of the bag 20 so as to form loops at diametrically opposed locations.

The counterweight 22 can be attached to the gathered closed trailing end of the bag 20 by means of a cable tie which passes through a hem formed at the closed end. The cable tie locates within an annular groove (not shown) formed at the upper end of the counterweight 22 in order to retain the weight to the cover As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the bag or cover 20 is provided with a pair of elastic shock cords 26 passing through hems 27 extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the cover, the elastic cords 26 being effective to shorten the length of the cover 20 when contained within the interior of the standard 11 in its retracted position and to assist the return movement of the cover 20. In this manner, the overall length of the bag 20 when retracted, is shorter 9*99 than its length when in its extended position. In the extended position, the bag can be stretched so that it covers the winding handle 12 of the elevating mechanism. It will, eeoee S36 of course, be appreciated that the distance through which the counterweight 22 is able to gravitate through the standard 11 is restricted by virtue of the elevating mechanism contained within the interior of the standard 11. As a result, the closed trailing end of the bag 20, when retracted within the standard 11, is unable to travel past the upper end of the elevating mechanism, whereas when in the fully extended position, it is desirable that the protective bag or cover be long enough so that it can extend downwardly over th2 winding handle 12 of the elevating mechanism.

-7- I In order to assist the initial feeding out of the open end of the bag 20 from within the interior of the upper standard 18, the leading end of the bag 20 is provided with an elastic cord member 28 which freely locates in a hem 29 which extends around the periphery of the open bag end. With the bag 20 in its retracted position, its circular open end is contracted within the upper end of the standard 18 but upon the leading end of the bag 20 being pulled out of the open upper end of the standard 18, the cord 28 functions to spread apart the upper periphery of the bag. The leading open end of the bag, thus widened, is able to slide downwardly across the upper surface of the upper cross 16 which is fixed to the upper end of the standard 18. Such an arrangement ensures a smooth feeding out of the bag 20 as it is being pulled downwardly by 5 the straps 21 to its extended operative position.

e* As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the leading end of the bag or cover 20 is provided w-ith a circular end closure cap 30 which in this instance is attached to one of the pull-out cords 21 by means of a flexible cable tie 31. Alternatively, the cap may be attached tc the hem 29 by a separate flexible line or cord. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the cover or bag co in an extended position, the end cap 30 is loosely supported on the outer wall of the bag 20 below its leading end, whilst b when the bag is fully retracted, the end cap 30 snugly engages (automatically) within the open upper end of the cross 16 so as to seal or close off the open upper end of the o*oS standard 18. The end cap 30 is held securely in position by 0*90: virtue of the downward pull exerted by the counterweight 22 attached to the closed end of the bag 20. The end cap is effective to prevent the ingress of dust, rain, as well as UV light, into the interior of the standard, when the cover is in its retracted position.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the pull-out straps 21 are attached to the inside of the bag 20 adjacent its upper end by stitching 32 located to one side of the cord 28, and attached also to respective cords 26 by means of clips 34, -8each clip 34 being crimped to clamp together overlapping ends of strap 21 and cord 26, the cord end being folded.

In a variation to the above-described embodiment, the retaining rings 23 may be attached to the ends of the straps 21 (rather than to straps 25), whilst the cords 26 m;iay be replaced by elasticised seams sewn into the bag along opposite sides thereof.

A brief consideration of the above-described embodiment will indicate that the invention provides a very simple and effective pull-out sleevelike cover for a collapsible clothes line for the purpose of concealing as well as protecting the component parts of the clothes line when it is not in use.

The cover can be very readily and simply pulled out to its fully extended operative position, whilst retraction thereof occurs essentially automatically requiring very little operator assistance.

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Claims (13)

1. A retractable cover for a foldable clothes line of the type wherein a series of support arms radiate outwardly from a lower cross located on a central standard, with said arms being guided by stays pivoted at their upper ends to an upper cross supported at the upper open end of the standard and at their lower ends to respective said arms intermediate the ends thereof, the arms being movable between a collapsed condition wherein they lie in proximity to the standard approximately parallel therewith and an extended in-use position where they extend approximately radially outwards from the standard, said retractable cover comprising a flexible sleevelike member having one end closed and its other end open and being movable between a retracted S position wherein said member is housed within the standard and an extended in-use position wherein the member is everted and extends downwardly over and around the clothes line assembly when fully collapsed, .".weight means attached to the closed end of the member and hou'ed within the standard for vertical up and down movement therewithin, manually operable pull-out means attached to the open end of said member for pulling-out the member from its retracted position within the tubular standard, and go retention means for releasably retaining the said member e in its extended in-use position, said sleevelike member, upon release of said retention e means freely returning to its retracted position by virtue of said weight means which moves gravitationally downwardly through the interior of the standard and simultaneously pulls the member into the standard through its open upper end.

2. A retractable cover according to claim 1 wherein said sleevelike member is longitudinally contractable by elastically extendible means, arranged so that when said member is in its extended in-use position, said elastically extendible means is in an elongated tensioned state.

3. A retractable cover according to claim 2 wherein said elastically extendible means comprises a pair of elastic cords fitted to said sleevelike member and extending longitudinally along opposite sides thereof.

4. A retractable cover according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising an end closure cap, attachment means for attaching said end closure cap to the open end of said sleeve like member, said end closure cap being arranged, when the sleevelike member is fully retracted, to close off the open upper end of the standard.

A retractable cover according to claim 4 wherein said attachment means comprises a Ve c

6. A retractable cover according to any one of the S preceding claims wherein said pull-ut means comprise a pair ~of short length pull-out straps attached to the open upper end of said sleevelike member and which hang freely from O opposite sides thereof.

7. A retractable cover according to claim 6 when appended to claim 3 wherein each said pull-out strap has its inner end connected to a respective said elastic cord.

8. A retractable cover according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said retention means comprises a pair of retaining rings or hooks which co-operate with respective abutment members on the standard near its lower S end in crder to releasably retain the open end of the cover to the standard.

9. A retractable cover according to claim 8 when appended to claim 6 wherein said retaining rings or hooks are attached to the free ends of said pull-out straps.

A retractable cover according to claim 6 when appended to claim 4 wherein said end closure cap is attached by tie -11- means to one of said pull-out straps intermediate the ends thereof.

11. A retractable cover according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper open end of the sleevelike member is formed with a peripheral hem in which is slidably inserted a length of elastic cord which serves to stiffen said upper open end and facilitate the initial drawing out of the sleevelike member from within the standard.

12. A retractable cover according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said sleevelike member is formed of waterproof plastics material.

13. A retractable cover for a foldable clothes line substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. HILLS INDUSTRIES LIMITED o By its Patents Attorneys R K MADDERN ASSOCIATES *se* s o S -12- ABSTRACT The invention discloses a retractable cover for a foldable clothes line of the type wherein a series of arms (13) extend outwardly from a standard with the arms (13) being movable to a collapsed condition wherein they lie in proximity to the standard (11) approximately parallel therewith, the cover comprising a flexible sleevelike bag movable between a retracted position housed within the standard (11) and an extended in-use position wherein it extends downwardly over and around the clothes line when fully collapsed. The bag (20) has weight means (22) attached to its lower end which moves downwardly through the standard (11) so as to pull the bag (20) into the standard (11) through its open upper end. The bag (20) is also provided with pull-out straps (21) attached to the open end of the bag (20) for pulling-out the bag from its retracted position, and retention means (23) for releasably retaining the cover to an anchorage point on the standard when in its extended in-use position. 0* o o *oo e oo *o o *oo