WO2016184789A1

WO2016184789A1 - Foldable drying rack

Info

Publication number: WO2016184789A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/060773
Authority: WO
Inventors: Liv Spaangner Christiansen
Original assignee: Novozymes A/S
Priority date: 2015-05-15
Filing date: 2016-05-12
Publication date: 2016-11-24

Abstract

The present invention relates to a foldable drying rack having a base wall and a first and a second end wall and at least one clothes line.

Description

FOLDABLE DRYING RACK

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a foldable drying rack.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Foldable drying racks are known in the art. US2151510 concerns a foldable drying rack adapted for support on a heat radiator. CN 103622456 disclose a foldable clothes rack, which comprises a hook so that the clothes rack can be hung and the clothes can dry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a foldable drying rack comprising:

a. a base wall,

b. a first end wall and a second end wall, where each end wall is connected to the base wall at opposing sides thereof, and

c. at least one clothesline having a first and a second end, wherein the first and the second end of the clothes line is connected to a respective one of the first and second end wall,

where the drying rack is positionable in folded configuration and in an erected configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 shows all the parts for making the drying rack.

Figure 2 shows the drying rack in almost folded configuration, front view.

Figure 3 shows the drying rack partly in folded and partly in erected configuration.

Figure 4 shows the drying rack in the erected configuration with the base wall lying horizontally.

Figure 5 shows the drying rack in an upright erected position, side view.

Figure 6 shows the drying rack in an upright erected position, rear view.

Figure 7 shows the drying rack in an upright erected position, top view.

Figure 8 shows the drying rack in an upright erected position, front view.

Figure 9 shows the drying rack in almost folded configuration, rear view.

Figure 10 shows the drying rack in an upright erected position with t-shirts hanging on the clothes lines, front view.

Figure 1 1 shows the drying rack in an upright erected position with laundry items hanging on the clothes lines, front view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a foldable drying rack that is easy to use and to transport. The present invention concerns a foldable drying rack comprising:

a. a base wall,

where the drying rack is positionable in folded configuration and in an erected configuration characterized by the base wall and the first and the second end walls are made of sheet material .

The sheet material can be paper, cardboard or plastic.

The drying rack can be used for drying or airing laundry items or textiles.

The drying rack can be positioned in the folded configuration so that the end walls are positioned parallel to the base wall. In this configuration the drying rack is folded so it is flat and the drying rack can easily be stored or transported eg. by being carried in a bag or a suitcase.

When the drying rack is to be used, it should be positioned in an erected configuration so that the end walls are positioned at an angle to the basewall so that the clothesline is stretched between the first and the second end wall.

When positioned in the erected position, the angle (a) between the base wall (2) and the end walls (3a, 3b) are in the range of 70°-120° (see figure 8). In one embodiment the angle is 90° -100 °. Preferably the angle is 90°.

In the erected configuration it is possible to hang laundry items, linen or textile on the clothes line eg. for drying or for airing. In one embodiment the basewall, the first and the second end wall is positioned in an upright position when the drying rack is positioned in the erected position.

In one embodiment the drying rack is positioned in the first configuration so that the end walls are positioned parallel to the base wall while laundry items are present on the clothes line. The drying rack can then be transported or stored in the folded configuration.

In one embodiment the base wall and the first and the second end walls are made of sheet material. The base wall and the first and the second end walls can be made of one sheet. The base wall and the first and the second end walls can be made of a single contigous sheet. In one embodiment the base wall and the first and the second end walls are made of a single contiguous sheet on which crease lines divides the drying rack in a base wall and a first and a second end wall.

For example the base wall and the first and the second end walls is made of cardboard on which crease lines divides the drying rack in a base wall and a first and a second end wall. The first and the second end walls can have a tendency to position towards the erected configuration. So when the drying rack is putted up, the end walls easily erects.

In one embodiment of the invention the drying rack is made of more than one sheet. The base wall and the first and the second end walls can be made of more than one sheet. For example the base wall and the first end wall can be made from one sheet and the second end wall can be made from another sheet. In one embodiment all three walls are made from different sheets.

The sheet has a thickness in the range of 0.01 -1 .5 cm, such as 0.1 -1 .0 cm or 0.2-0.8 cm or 0.2.0.3

In one embodiment of the invention the length of the clotheslines may be in the range of

10-300 cm, such as in the range of 10-250 cm, in the range of 10-200 cm, in the range of 10- 150 cm, in the range of 10-100 cm, in the range of 10-50 cm, such as in the range of 25-45 cm or in the range of 35-45 cm. The ends of the clothes line can be fastned to the first and the second end walls by going though a perforation of the end walls. The perforation can be formed as a hole adapted to received the clothes line and having essentially the same diameter as the clothesline. Or the perforation can be formed a an extensive perforation which can be used for receiveing the clothes line. In one embodiment of the invention the clothes line protrudes the perforation and continues to the second perforation.

In one embodiment of the invention at least one of the clotheslines serve as a support structure for supporting the drying rack, so the end walls do not collapse. The clothesline supporting the structure is outstretched between the two end walls so when the drying rack is in the second configuration the at least one clothesline supporting the structure is outstretched between the end walls so that it keeps the end walls in this position.

The at least one clothesline supporting the structure should be made of a material that is strong enough to support the end walls. The at least one clothesline can be an extendable clothesline e.g. telescopic extentable or foldable made of a material that supports the structure.

The size of the drying rack may be so that children playing with dolls can use the drying rack for playing. In one embodiment the drying rack is coloured or printed with a specific design to make it attractive for children to play with. Or the base wall and the first and the second end walls may be printed with one picture extending the whole drying rack so that the picture gives the background for the clothes lines, so it looks as if the clothes lines are in a garden or they cross the canals of Venice.

The present invention is further described by the following examples that should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. EXAMPLES

Example 1 :

The drying rack (1 ) is made from one rectangular sheet of cardboard having a thickness about 0.3 mm (figure 1 ), where the sheet has crease lines (9) to form a base wall (2), a first (3a) and a second (3b) end wall (figures 1 ). Each of the end wall has two perforations (10) positioned 2/3 of the hight from the foot of the drying rack when standing in an upright position. The perforations receives and fastnes the clothes lines (4) to the first (3a) and the second (3b) end walls (figures 2-1 1 ). Figure 10 and 1 1 shows the drying rack (1 ) with different kinds of laundry items (7) being aired. The laundry items (7) are fastned to the clothes lines (4) with clothes pegs (8).

The invention described and claimed herein is not to be limited in scope by the specific aspects herein disclosed, since these aspects are intended as illustrations of several aspects of the invention. Any equivalent aspects are intended to be within the scope of this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. In the case of conflict, the present disclosure including definitions will control.

Claims

Foldable drying rack (1 ) comprising: a. a base wall (2), b. a first end wall (3a) and a second end wall (3b), where each end wall is connected to the base wall at opposing sides thereof, and c. at least one clothesline (4) having a first (5) and a second end (6), wherein the first (5) and the second end (6) of the clothes line (4) is connected to a respective one of the first (3a) and second end wall (3b), where the drying rack (1 ) is positionable in folded configuration and in an erected configuration characterized by the base wall and the first and the second end walls are made of sheet material.

Drying rack (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein in the first configuration the end walls (3a, 3b) are positioned parallel to the base wall (2) and wherein in the second configuration the end walls (3a, 3b) are positioned at an angle (a) to the basewall so that the clothesline is stretched between the first and the second end wall.

Drying rack according to claim 2, wherein the angle (a) between the base wall (2) and the end walls (3a, 3b) are in the range of 70 ⁰ -120°.

Drying rack according to any of claims 1 -3, wherein in the erected configuration the basewall and the first and the second end wall is positioned in an upright position.

Drying rack according to any of claims 1 -4, wherein the base wall and the first and the second end walls are made of one sheet.

Drying rack according to claim 5, wherein the first and the second end walls have a tendency to position towards the erected configuration.

Drying rack according to any of claims 1 -4, wherein the base wall and the first and the second end walls are made of more than one sheet.

Drying rack according to any of claims 1 -7, wherein the base wall and the first and the second end walls are made of paper, cardboard or plastic.

Drying rack according to any of claims 4-8, wherein the thickness of the sheet is in the range of 0.01 -0.9 cm, preferably 0.2 cm.

10. Drying rack according to any of claims 1 -9, wherein the length of the clothesline is in the range of 10-300 cm.

1 1 . Drying rack according to any of claims 4-9, wherein the base wall and the first and the second end walls are made of one sheet on which crease lines (9) divides the drying rack in a base wall and a first and a second end wall.