Patent Publication Number: US-9402493-B2

Title: Heavy duty retractable mounted multi-purpose drying station

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In certain areas where water sports are enjoyed, such as swimming, boating, diving, water skiing, and the like, it is common to see various items drying nearby. In particular, towels, wetsuits, bathing suits, and other various items need to be laid out in a place where they can air out and dry, preferably away from areas of foot traffic. However, to lay towels, wet suits, and other various items out to dry, a large area is needed that can be better used for other purposes. Also, without a designated area for such purposes, towels and bathing suits tend to be set on anything nearby that will support them, leading to a cluttered area that can sometimes pose a safety concern if the wet clothing items are placed on objects that have electrical components. 
     In locations where there are supports, like docks, boat houses, patios, pool decks, cabanas, etc., it would be convenient to have a way to hang various items for drying in a way that allows the system to be stored out of the way when not in use. Such a system would require sufficient strength to support wet clothing such as towels, wet suits, and bathing suits, and be adjustable in both the position and the capacity for storage. 
     The present invention is directed to such a system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a retractable multi-purpose drying station that can mount to a vertical post. The station includes a mounting bracket that clamps onto a vertical post, allowing a main support beam to cantilever from a substantially vertical, stowed position to a deployed, horizontal position. The main support beam carries a plurality of towel racks, each rack having a transverse rod passing through or engagement with the main support beam, each transverse rod carrying a bar that can be used to hang a towel thereon. It is to be understood that while the description will focus on a towel drying system, the invention is no so limited and can be used to dry various items such as bathing suits, wet suits, life vests, etc. The mounting bracket releasably clamps onto a square or rectangular post, and slots in the bracket guide a pin connecting the bracket to the main support beam, the slots arranged to permit retraction of the main support beam from the horizontal to the vertical direction. In a first preferred embodiment, the main support beam has a square profile, although other profiles may be used. Further, in one embodiment, the bar is substantially parallel to the transverse rod, with a curved end or ends that form the junction with the transverse rod. In one embodiment, six racks are supported on the system, although more or less racks can be utilized depending upon the application and the available space. 
     These features, and additional aspects of the present invention, will best be understood when considered in view of the included drawings and the description of the invention below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevated, perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view, partially cut away, of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged, side view of a portion of the system of  FIG. 1  where the main support beam is partially retracted; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged, side view of a portion of the system of  FIG. 1  where the main support beam is fully retracted to a vertical position; 
         FIG. 5  is an elevated, perspective view of the system without the supporting post; 
         FIG. 6  is another elevated, perspective view of the system without the supporting post; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is directed to a multi-purpose drying station that can be used near pools, lakes, oceans, and other bodies of water where people enjoy water sports. The station is designed to be retractable and mount on an existing post or support structure using a unique mounting bracket. The station allows a multitude of wet or damp items to dry simultaneously and, when finished, the station retracts into a stowed position out of the way of pedestrian traffic, the view of the body of water, etc. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a station  10  used for drying towels  8 , although it is to be understood that the station can also be used to hang a wide variety of items, including safety vests, wet suits, bathing suits, floor mats, and virtually any other item that requires air drying. The station  10  is designed to mount quickly and efficiently to an ordinary square or rectangular post  12 , such as those typically found near docks, boat houses, beaches, backyard decks, and so on. It should be noted that the station  10  can mount to a wide variety of posts  12 , as explained in more detail below, thus providing versatility to the station when compared with alternative solutions. 
     The station  10  includes a mounting bracket  14  that secures the station  10  to the post  12 . The mounting bracket  14  comprises two spaced apart, parallel plates  16  that engage the post  12  from opposite sides. Four or more fasteners  18  pass through associated holes in the parallel plates  16  such that, once tightened, the bracket  14  clamps onto the post  12  in a rigid and reliable manner. The holes may be placed at lugs  32  formed in the plates  16  if stress concentrations dictate the need for additional material around the holes. Multiple sets of holes may be incorporated into the bracket  14  to allow the bracket to fit multiple sized posts. The bracket  14  allows the station  10  to be secured anywhere along the length of the post  12 , so that it may be placed at the most convenient height for the particular area and application. 
     Each plate  16  includes a slot  20 , and the plates are arranged so that the respective slots  20  are aligned with respect to the post  12 . In a preferred embodiment, the slots  20  are “L”-shaped as shown in  FIG. 1 , although the slots may have other shapes such as a stepped shape or “T”-shape as called for by the application. The slots  20  act as a guide for a mounting pin  22 , which travels in the slots  20  from a first, deployed position to a second, retracted position. A spacer member  24  is preferably located adjacent the post  12  between the two plates  16 , stabilizing the mounting bracket  14  while protecting the post  12  from damage by the rotation of the station  10  from the horizontal to the vertical position. 
     The mounting bracket  14  cantilevers an elongate, main support beam  26  that pivots in the mounting bracket  14  between a deployed, horizontal position (see  FIG. 2 ) to a retracted, vertical position (see  FIG. 4 ). The elongate support beam is preferably a thin walled, square, hollow aluminum beam that is both strong and lightweight. The elongate main support beam  26  is secured to the mounting bracket  14  via a mounting pin  22  passing through a proximal end of the support beam  26 . The mounting pin  22  also passes through the slots  20  on each of the mounting plates  16 , and the proximal end of the support beam  26  engages and is flush with the spacer  24  when the support beam  26  is in the deployed, horizontal position as shown in  FIG. 2 . As the support beam is rotated counterclockwise re the view in  FIG. 2  (see  FIG. 3 ), the mounting pin travels through the slots  20  as the corner  28  of the support beam travels down the spacer  24 . Once the support beam  26  is vertical, the mounting pin  22  is settled in the lowermost portion of the slot  20 , preventing the support beam  26  from inadvertently falling or becoming dislodged from its retracted position (see  FIG. 4 ). The final position of the support beam is spaced a distance “d” from the post  12  to prevent interference between the support beam  26  and spacer  24  during rotation of the support beam. 
     Spaced along the length of the support beam  26  is a series of parallel, spaced apart transverse rods  34  that are preferably fixed with respect to the main support beam  26 . The transverse rods  34 , which may by cylindrical, may pass through holes in the support beam, or be welded or otherwise mounted to the support beam along a lower surface. Mounted to at least one end, and preferably both ends of the transverse rod is a towel bar  36  that extends perpendicularly from the transverse rod to a generally horizontal orientation. Whether the main support beam is in the vertical or horizontal position, the towel bars  36  remain in a horizontal orientation. The towel bars  36  are sturdy enough to hang wet clothing, wet towels, life jackets, etc., without bowing or bending. In a preferred embodiment, the towel rods and the transverse rods are also made of aluminum. 
     The foregoing descriptions and characterizations of the present invention are intended to be illustrative, and not limiting. Various modifications and alternations would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, and the present invention is intended to incorporate all such modifications and alterations. Accordingly, the invention should not be limited by any figure or description of the foregoing examples, but rather the scope of the invention is construed based on the claims below, using their ordinary and customary meanings.