[0001] The present patent application for industrial invention relates to an improved vertical
clothes drying rack.
[0002] In order to better illustrate the innovative features and the advantages of the invention,
the structural configuration of a traditional vertical clothes drying rack is described,
as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
[0003] A clothes drying rack (S) comprises a frame provided with stabilization feet (P)
and composed of two identical uprights (M), which are connected by multiple crossbars
(T), of which at least one lower crossbar (T1) that extends astride the base of said
uprights (M), which act as support for at least one tilting grille (G) supported by
an opposite coaxial pair of pins that protrude from two uprights (M), in such a way
that said tilting grille (G) can move from a first idle position, wherein it is disposed
in a vertical position that is basically coplanar to the two uprights (M), to a second
operating position, wherein it is disposed in a horizontal projecting position relative
to said uprights (M).
[0004] Generally speaking, four feet (P) are provided, being suitable for revolving around
a vertical axis in such a way that also said feet (P) can be closed in a first idle
position, wherein they are basically disposed on the same vertical plane where the
pair of uprights (M) lies, or opened in a second operating position, wherein they
are perpendicular to the vertical plane where the pair of uprights (M) lies.
[0005] Such a type of clothes drying rack is very popular and much appreciated for its minimum
volume, which is basically two-dimensional while the clothes drying rack is not used,
saving space during storage and transportation for the manufacturer, and during storage
also for the final user.
[0006] According to such a standardized structural and functional configuration, from time
to time designers have chosen and used different construction solutions for fixing
the stabilization feet (P), which are in any case suitable for revolving by at least
90° around a vertical axis.
[0007] Otherwise said, two categories of clothes drying racks with feet that revolve at
least by 90° are already known on the market.
[0008] According to a first category, said clothes drying rack of the prior art comprise
a pair of revolving feet (P) at the base of each upright (M). In such a case, a bracket
(ST) is used, which is provided with a housing for receiving the lower end section
of each upright (M), whereas an opposite pair of housings for the pivoting pins (P2)
of the two feet (P) is provided at the sides of said central housing, as clearly shown
in the enlarged view of Fig. 2.
[0009] In these cases, the lower reinforcement crossbar (T1) is fixed directly at the base
of the uprights (M) and does not contribute to support the feet (P).
[0010] A clothes drying rack of this first category is disclosed in
KR20110000546U.
KR20110000546U discloses a vertical laundry rack comprising two uprights, each of them comprising
a base pivoted to two feet that revolve around pivoting pins with vertical axis. The
pivoting pins of the revolving feet are disposed on opposite sides of the upright,
in such a way that the upright is disposed between the two pivoting pins and the vertical
plane where the axes of said pivoting pins lie also contain the longitudinal axis
of the upright.
[0011] More precisely, the housings of said pivoting pins are obtained at the opposite sides
of a coupling that connects the upright with a crossbar. In particular, such a coupling
comprises a hole with vertical axis for inserting the upright, and a hole with a horizontal
axis for inserting the crossbar.
[0012] As already mentioned, a second category of clothes drying rack with feet that revolve
at least for 90° is known.
[0013] The clothes drying racks of this second category comprise two feet (P) fixed in the
center and astride the reinforcement crossbar (T1) that is inevitably subject to high
torsion stress generated on the opposite pair of feet when an unbalanced load occurs
between the tilting grilles (G) disposed on opposite sides relative to the vertical
plane where the pair of uprights (M) lies.
[0014] In this second category of vertical clothes drying racks, the fixing of the opposite
pair of revolving feet to the crossbar (T1) is made by means of a first coupling,
which allows for assembling and disassembling the pair of feet relative to the crossbar
(T1) rapidly and easily.
[0015] In order to easily assemble and disassemble the crossbar (T1) relative the uprights
(M), a second coupling is used, which is provided with fastening means for fastening
to the uprights on one side, and with fastening means for fastening to the crossbar
(T1) on the other side.
[0016] The purpose of the present invention is to improve this second type of clothes drying
rack, where the feet (P) are anchored to the crossbar (T1) and not to the base of
the uprights.
[0017] The first purpose is to reduce the stress of the reinforcement crossbar.
[0018] An additional purpose of the invention is to simplify the structure of the clothes
drying rack, using the lowest number of couplings to join the crossbar (T1) to the
uprights (M) on one hand, and to join two opposite pairs of revolving feet (P) to
the crossbar (T1) on the other hand.
[0019] These and other purposes are achieved by the present invention, the main features
of which are disclosed in the final claims.
[0020] The detailed description of the invention continues with reference to the appended
figures, which only have an illustrative, not limiting purpose wherein:
- Fig. 3 is a view of the improved clothes drying rack according to the invention;
- Fig. 4 is an exploded view of a construction detail, which refers to the innovative
coupling provided at the two ends of the crossbar (T1) used in the improved clothes
drying rack of the invention;
- Fig. 5 is a view of an enlarged detail of Fig. 3, which shows the connection between
the feet (P) and the crossbar (T1) and between the crossbar (T1) and the uprights
(M).
- Fig. 6 is the same as Fig. 3, except for it shows a different structure of the coupling
provided at the two ends of the crossbar (T1) used in the improved clothes drying
rack of the invention.
[0021] With reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a preferred embodiment of the clothes drying
rack according to the invention is described, which is generally indicated with reference
numeral (S2).
[0022] The clothes drying rack (S2) of the invention comprises a frame provided with two
uprights (M), each of them being provided with a base (B) suitable for facing the
ground, and a lower crossbar (T1) used to connect the two uprights (M) in lower position.
[0023] Two opposite pairs of revolving feet (P) are connected to the frame and preferably
support two ground wheels (23) of swiveling type.
[0024] A plurality of tilting grilles (G) is supported by the two uprights (M). In particular,
each tilting grille (G) is supported by an opposite coaxial pair of pins that protrude
from the two uprights (M), in such a way that the tilting grille (G) can be moved
between an idle position, wherein the tilting grille (G) is in vertical position,
and a working position, wherein the tilting grille (G) is in a horizontal projecting
position relative to the two uprights (M).
[0025] With reference to Figs. 4 and 5, the lower crossbar (T1) comprises two end sections
(TT) and two transverse end sections (ST).
[0026] In particular, the end sections (TT) of the lower crossbar (T1) comprise pivoting
means (M2) for pivoting the two opposite pairs of feet (P) that revolve around a vertical
axis.
[0027] Specifically, in correspondence of each side of the end section (TT), said pivoting
means (M2) provided in each end section (TT) of the lower crossbar (T1) comprise two
overlapped perforated shelves (211) and two plugs (213) disposed inside holes (212)
with vertical axis obtained in said shelves (211). Each revolving foot (P) comprises
a fastening portion (Z) for fastening to the lower crossbar (T1) provided with a hole
(P1) with vertical axis. In particular, the fastening portion (Z) of each revolving
foot (P) is dimensioned in such a way to be exactly disposed between the two shelves
(211) disposed in correspondence of one of the two sides of the end section (TT),
with the hole (P1) disposed in coaxial position relative to the holes (212) of the
two shelves (211), in such a way that each plug (213) of the pivoting means (M2) of
the lower crossbar (T1) is inserted in the holes (212) of the shelves (211) and in
the hole (P1) provided in the revolving foot (P). In view of the above, the revolving
feet (P) are exclusively pivoted to the lower crossbar (T1).
[0028] Advantageously, said lower crossbar (T1) is molded in one piece from plastic material
and reinforced with an internal metal core and a rib that runs along the upper edge
of the lower crossbar (T1).
[0029] With reference to Figs. 4 and 5, the transverse end sections (ST) of the lower crossbar
(T1) comprise connection means (M1) for connecting the lower crossbar (T1) to the
two uprights (M). In particular, said connection means (M1) provided in the transverse
end sections (ST) of the lower crossbar (T1) are configured in such a way to cooperate
with said connection means (M3) provided in the base (B) of each upright (M).
[0030] More precisely, the connection means (M1) of each transverse end section (ST) of
the lower crossbar (T1) advantageously comprise two binocular nozzles (210) with vertical
axis, whereas the connection means (M3) of each upright (M) comprise a sleeve (110)
with vertical axis, from where two spaced-out overlapped shelves (111) protrude laterally,
each of them being provided with two holes (112) with vertical axis suitable for being
crossed by two plugs (113).
[0031] In particular, the binocular nozzles (210) are dimensioned in such a way to be exactly
disposed between the shelves (111) that protrude from the sleeve (110), in such a
way that each plug (113) is inserted in one of the holes (112) of the shelves (111)
of the sleeve (110) of the upright and in one of the binocular nozzles (210), connecting
the upright (M) to the lower crossbar (T1).
[0032] Preferably, the sleeve (110) supports a small swiveling wheel (12) in lower position,
as illustrated in Fig. 5.
[0033] With reference to Fig. 6, the connection means (M1) provided in the transverse end
sections (ST) of the lower crossbar (T1) for connecting the lower crossbar (T1) to
the two uprights (M) can comprise a hook (300) provided with a vertical groove (301)
with a T-shape section, instead of said binocular nozzles (210).
[0034] In such a case, the connection means (M3) provided in the base (B) of each upright
(M) comprise a sleeve (110) with vertical axis, from where a rib with vertical axis
(114) protrudes laterally, having the same dimensions and profile as the vertical
groove (301) of the hook (300) of the connection means (M1) of each transverse end
section (ST) of the lower crossbar (T1), in such a way that said rib (114) of the
sleeve (110) of the upright (M) is inserted in the vertical groove (301) of the hook
(300) of the lower crossbar (T1), thus connecting the lower crossbar (T1) to the upright
(M).
1. Improved vertical clothes drying rack (S2) comprising:
- a frame comprising two uprights (M) and a lower crossbar (T1) that connects said
two uprights (M) in lower position; each upright (M) comprising a base (B) suitable
for facing the ground;
- two opposite pairs of revolving feet (P) that are connected to the frame;
- at least one tilting grille (G) supported by said uprights (M) and supported by
an opposite coaxial pair of pins that protrude from said two uprights (M), in such
a way that said at least one tilting grille (G) can be moved between an idle position,
wherein said at least one tilting grille (G) is in a vertical position, and an operating
position, wherein said at least one tilting grille (G) is in a horizontal projecting
position relative to said two uprights (M),
characterized in that:
said lower crossbar (T1) comprises two end sections (TT) and two transverse end sections
(ST),
wherein
the end sections (TT) of said lower crossbar (T1) comprise pivoting means (M2) for
pivoting said opposite pairs of revolving feet (P), around a vertical axis, and
said transverse end sections (ST) of said lower crossbar (T1) comprise connection
means (M1) for connecting the lower crossbar (T1) to the two uprights (M);
each upright (M) being provided, in correspondence of its base (B), with connection
means (M3) that are configured in such a way to cooperate with said connection means
(M1) provided in the transverse end section (ST) of said lower crossbar (T1).
2. The clothes drying rack (S2) of claim 1, wherein:
- said connection means (M1) of each transverse end section (ST) of said lower crossbar
(T1) comprise two binocular nozzles (210) with vertical axis;
- said pivoting means (M2) provided in each end section (TT) of said lower crossbar
(T1) comprise, in correspondence of each side of said end section (TT), two perforated
overlapped shelves (211) and two plugs (213) disposed inside holes (212) with vertical
axis obtained in said shelves (211);
each of said revolving feet (P) comprising a fastening portion (Z) for fastening to
the lower crossbar (T1) provided with a hole (P1) with a vertical axis and dimensioned
in such a way to be exactly disposed between said pair of overlapped shelves (211)
of the pivoting means (M2), with the hole (P1) disposed in coaxial position relative
to the holes (212) of said pair of overlapped shelves (211), in such a way that each
plug (213) of the pivoting means (M2) of said lower crossbar (T1) is inserted in the
holes (212) of the shelves (211) and in the hole (P1) provided in the revolving foot
(P).
3. The clothes drying rack (S2) of claim 2, wherein said connection means (M3) of each
upright (M) comprise:
- a sleeve (110) with vertical axis, from where two perforated shelves (111) protrude
laterally in spaced-out overlapped position; each shelf (111) being provided with
two holes (112) with vertical axis, in side-by-side position, and
- two plugs (113) with vertical axis, inserted in the holes (112) of the shelves (111)
of the sleeve;
said binocular nozzles (210) of the connection means (M1) of each transverse end section
(ST) of said lower crossbar (T1) being dimensioned in such a way to be exactly interposed
between said shelves (111) of the connection means (M3) of each upright (M), in such
a way that each plug (113) is inserted in one of the holes (112) of the shelves (111)
of the sleeve (110) of the upright and in one of the binocular nozzles (210).
4. The clothes drying rack (S2) of claim 1, wherein:
- said connection means (M1) of each transverse end section (ST) of said lower crossbar
(T1) comprise a hook (300) provided with a vertical groove (301) with a T-shaped profile,
- said pivoting means (M2) provided in each end section (TT) of said lower crossbar
(T1) comprise, in correspondence of each side of said end section (TT), two perforated
overlapped shelves (211) and two plugs (213) disposed inside holes (212) with vertical
axis obtained in said shelves (211);
- said connection means (M3) of each upright (M) comprise a sleeve (110) with vertical
axis, from where a rib with vertical axis (114) protrudes laterally, having the same
dimensions and profile as the vertical groove (301) of the hook (300) of the connection
means (M1) of each transverse end section (ST) of the lower crossbar (T1), in such
a way that the rib (114) of the sleeve (110) of the upright (M) can be inserted in
the vertical groove (301) of the hook (300) of said lower crossbar (T1).
5. The drying clothes rack (S2) of claim 3 or 4, wherein said sleeve (110) and said revolving
feet (P) support ground wheels (12, 23).