RACK CONSTRUCTION TO BE USED ADVANTAGEOUSLY AS A DRYING RACK E.G. FOR LAUNDRY

Abstract: The present invention concerns a rack construction comprising lines (2) secured at one end with mutual spacing. As taught by the invention, the lines are at the other end (3) secured substantially at one point (4), and in the area spanned by the lines has been provided a separator piece (5) movable along them in such manner that the lines run substantially as one bundle on one side of the separator piece and separately, mutually spaced, on the other side.

Description: Rack construction to be used advantageously as a drying rack e.g. for laundry The present invention concerns a rack construction as defined in the preamble to claim 1. A type of drying rack commonly used in bathrooms is a carrier frame fitted with cords, or lines, and which is wedged between the walls of the bathroom with the aid of a bracing member provided on the stem of the rack. Such constructions are also known in the art in which from a reel fixed to one wall a bundle of lines joined at their ends by an elongated body are ulled out across the room and said body is attached to the- opposite wall, making a nu ber of lines run across the room in a parallel, mutually spaced alignment. Out of doors, or in vast interior spaces, hooks, most often fixed to a wall or carried on separate stands, are used to serve as similar racks, a sufficient number of lines being stringed out between them. The state of art is however encumbered by several draw¬ backs. If the lines are continuously in place, they consume an unreasonable amount of space. For instance, when they are installed over the tub in a bathroom, they either interfere with taking a bath or a shower, or they have to be nearly at ceiling level, in which case their use is inconvenient. On the other, hand, the lines are often insufficient in strength, and certainly too thin, in collapsible constructions, thus tending to leave marks on the laundry. It is also a fact that the reels and springs used in this type of construction are not always satisfactory in operation. The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks. In particular, the object of the invention is to introduce a novel rack construction which is easy to take into use, and after use to put away in a way such thai: it consumes a minimum of space, yet in the form of an entity which can be rapidly put into commission again. The aim of the invention is likewise to provide a rack construction with the aid of which -the thickness of the clothes lines or equiv¬ alent is easily adjustable to conform to the load in each instance. Reference is made to the claims section regarding the characteristic features of the invention. The rack construction of the invention has been de¬ signed to be used mainly in interior as well as exter— ior spaces as laundry drying and airing rack, without however restricting its use to said applications alone. The rack construction of the invention comprises lines, wires, ropes or equivalent secured at one end, spaced from each other. Advantageously, but not necessarily, the strings are secured to be uniformly spaced. As taught by the invention, the lines are at the other end secured substantially at one point, in a bundle, and between the ends of the lines is inserted a separator piece movable along their length and through which the lines run so that when the separator piece is moved from one end to the other, the lines will run on the length between their end either in one bundle or paral— _* lelly, separated and spaced from each other..- At both ends, the lines may be secured either to sepa¬ rate fixing rails, hooks, various types of rack, or in any other way. Advantageously, at both ends and on the separator piece are provided specific locking members and locking means, with the aid of which the separator piece can be locked in place alternatively at one or the other end at any given time. In an embodiment of the invention between the ends, advantageously on one side, is/are placed comparatively rigidly one or several support rails, to which the sep¬ arator piece is secured in a substantially rigid manner. The separator piece may then be slid along the supporting rail and it can be left stationary at any point between the ends, whereby the area between the? ends is pertly free of lines and the other part thereof can be used e.g. to hang laundry. In an embodiment of the invention, one r- ~ ~zk construc¬ tion comprises at least two separator pieces which c__π be locked side by ϋide to each other and/or at ooth ends. The lines can then be divided into bundles of different thicknesses in different areas of the rack, as may be required. It is an advantage of the invention over prior art that the rack is all the time firmly fixed at the place where it is used, while the lines or equivalent there¬ in provided can be moved to one side with ease when the rack is not in use and can be rapidly pulled to the front again when needed. Another advantage is the ease with which the lines in use at a given time can be changed to be lighter or heavier to accommodate lighter or heavier loads. In the following, the invention is described in detail, reference being made to the drawing attached, in which Fig. 1 presents a rack construction according to the invention, Fig. 2 presents a detail of the construction of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 presents a second embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 4 presents a third embodiment of the invention. A rack construction according to the invention, de¬ picted in Fig. 1, comprises fixing members 6,7 mount- able e.g. on the walls of a bathroom. To the fixing member 6, five lines 2 have been secured, uniformly spaced from one another, and the lines are at the other end 3 secured to the fixing member 7 substantially at one point 4, in a bundle. In the present embodiment both fixing members are U—shaped rails, the lines being passed through holes provided in the rails and secured behind them. In the field between the fixing members belongs a sepa¬ rator piece 5, this being a hollow rod having on its side 12 facing the fixing member 7, a hole 13 through which the line bundle enters the separator piece and on its side 10 facing the fixing member 6, five uniformly spaced holes 11, through which the lines come out from the separator piece, the line/hole spacing being the same as that at which they are secured to the fixing member 6. Furthermore, the fixing members carry locking members 8, i.e., locking pins, and the separator piece 5 presents holes 14 matching said pins, and sleeve-like locking means 9, in such manner that the separator piece may alternatively be locked to one or the other fixing member 6,7. The rack construction just described constitutes either a drying rack, e.g. for laundry, comprising five equally spaced, separate lines or, with the separator piece locked to the other end, a line bundle consuming minimal space and on which, for in— stance, heavier articles can be hung. The holes 11, and the hole 13, in the separator piece are advantageously rounded at the edges to avoid abrasion of the lines against these edges and to ensure light movement of the separator piece in the area between the ends. Advan- tageously, the holes in the separator piece (e.g. con¬ sisting of aluminium) are provided with liners made of a suitable material, such as plastic, through which the lines slide with ease. In Fig. 3 is schematically presented an additional em¬ bodiment of the invention, in which between the ends of the rack construction are placed two substantially rigid supporting rails 15, which pass through the sep¬ arator piece 5. It is not absolutely necessary in this case to secure the separator piece to the fixing mem¬ bers: the separator piece may be left in any intermedi- ate position between the ends of the rack construction, depending on space requirements and required number of lines. In Fig. 4 is presented an additional embodiment of the invention, in which the rack constr ction comprises twc separator pieces 16,17. The separator pieces can now be secured either to each other and/or to one of the ends of the rack construction. In this construction, the bundle 19 of lines secured to one end 18 is divided into two smaller partial bundles 20 at the first sepa¬ rator piece 16, and these are at the second separator piece 17 divided into single lines 21, which are secured to the other end 22 of the construction. In this way, by placing the separator pieces in various ways and securing them at different points, or leaving them suitably free in the intermediate areas, the rack construction can be disposed to present the desired numbers of suspension racks with desired individual thickness, depending on the need in each instance. The examples described above are intended to illus¬ trate the invention, without in any way restricting the invention, and its various embodiments may vary within the scope of the inventive idea defined by the claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A rack construction to be used advantageously as a drying rack e.g. for laundry, said construction com- prising lines (2), filaments, ropes or equivalent sup¬ ported at one end CD so as to be spaced at a distance from each other, characterized in that the lines (2) or equivalent are at their other ends supported substan¬ tially at one point (4), and between the ends of the lines or equivalent is provided a separator piece (5) movable along them and through which the lines or equivalent pass so that they are disposed substantially in a bundle on one side of the separator piece and are separate and spaced from each other on the other side thereof. 2. Rack construction according to claim 1, character— ized in that the construction comprises fixing members (6,7), to which the lines (2) or equivalent are secured by their ends. 3. Rack construction according to claim 2, character— ized in that the fixing member (6,7) comprises locking members (8) and the separator piece (5) comprises a locking means (9), for locking the separator means to the fixing member. 4. Rack construction according to any one of claims 1—3, characterized in that the separator piece (5) con- sists of a tubular structure having on one side mutual¬ ly spaced holes (11) in a number consistent with that of lines (2) and on the other side (12) one hole (13), the lines being conductable through the hole (13) into the tubular structure and out through the holes (11), one line per hole. 5. Rack construction according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that the fixing members (6,7) consist of rails which are mountable e.g. on opposite walls of a bathroom. 6. Rack construction according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that the locking means (9) con¬ sists of a locking sleeve provided on the separator piece. 7. Rack construction according to any one of claims 3—6, characterized in that the locking members (8) con¬ sist of locking pins which can be inserted and with locking sleeves (9) locked in holes (14) provided in the separator piece. 8. Rack construction according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the construction comprises a supporting rail (15), on which the separator piece (5) is horizontally movable, being vertically substantially rigidly supported thereby, from one end of the lines (2) or equivalent to the other and back. 9. Rack construction according to any one of claims 1—8, characterized in that the construction comprises at least two separator pieces (16,17), the first sepa¬ rator piece separating the line bundle (19) coming from one end (18) into partial bundles (20), and the other separator piece separating the partial bundles into single lines (21).

Inventors: FROM TAUNO, FROM, TAUNO
Applicants: FROM TAUNO, FROM, TAUNO
Application year: 1988
Main classification: D06F57
IPC codes: D06F53, D06F57