GB2273944A

GB2273944A - Washing line

Info

Publication number: GB2273944A
Application number: GB9225272A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm Tradewell; Keith Robert Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-12-03
Filing date: 1992-12-03
Publication date: 1994-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 2012-12-03
Also published as: GB9225272D0; GB2273944B

Abstract

A washing line 10 comprises a plurality of tubular segments 12 mounted end-to-end on an elongate flexible length of cord 11. The segments 12 are free to rotate about the axis of the cord 11 to prevent tangling of a washing article 50 about the line. A peg for attaching to the washing line 10 comprises an elongate C-section grip 21 and a lever 20. The lever 20 can be pivoted downwardly in order to close the grip 21 around the line 10. <IMAGE>

Description

Washing Line and Pegs This invention relates to a washing line and pegs therefor.

Washing lines generally comprise a length of plastics coated cord suspended between two fixed points. Spring loaded clothes pegs are used to fasten clothes and other objects to the washing line. A problem with this arrangement is that in windy conditions the clothes may become tangled around the washing line: I have realised that this occurs because the clothes are rigidly attached to the washing line which is unable to twist as the clothes are blown in the wind.

We have now devised a washing line and pegs therefor which alleviates the problems with conventional washing lines and pegs.

In accordance with this invention as seen from a first aspect there is provided a washing line comprising a segmented elongate member in which each segment is arranged for rotational movement about the axis of the elongate member.

Thus when clothes or other objects are attached to the elongate member they are able to swing about its axis.

Preferably the elongate member comprises an elongate flexible core on which a plurality of tubular segments are mounted end-to-end.

Preferably the tubular segments are circular in crosssection.

Preferably the walls of the tubular segments are thin so that the diameter of the elongate member is not too great.

A problem with having thin walled tubular segments is that conventional clothes pegs may compress the tubes so that they grip the elongate core and then cannot rotate about the axis of the line.

Conventional clothes pegs project upwardly from washing lines and can look unsightly. Furthermore conventional pegs break easily and frequently become detailed from the washing line.

Thus in accordance with this invention as seen from a second aspect there is provided a peg comprising a pair of jaws and a lever which is operable to open or close the jaws.

Preferably the jaws are formed from one piece of resilient material so that the jaws are biassed into their normally open position.

Preferably the lever is detachably mounted to the jaws.

Preferably the lever pivotally interconnects with the jaws.

The lever is preferably formed from a plastics moulding. Preferably the jaws are formed from a plastics extrusion.

Preferably the jaws comprise an elongate C-section portion having diverging arms extending from its opposite longitudinal edges.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washing line in accordance with the first aspect of this invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a peg in accordance with the second aspect of this invention; Figure 3 is a sectional view through a peg when fitted to a washing line; Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line III - III of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a washing line and peg when in use.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a washing line 10 comprising an elongate flexible length of plastics coated cord or other material 11. A plurality of tubular sections e.g. 12 are threaded onto the cord 11 so that they extend end-to-end along its length. The tubular sections e.g. 12 are free to rotate about the axis of the cord 11.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings there is shown a peg comprising an elongate grip 21 and a lever 20.

The grip 21 comprises an elongate C-section extrusion 27 having diverging arms 22, 23 extending from its opposite longitudinal edges. The arms 22, 23 are provided with serrations e.g. 24 which extend longitudinally along the internal and external faces of the arms 22, 23.

The lever 20 comprises an elongate channel-section plastics moulding having inwardly directed teeth e.g. 25 formed on its opposite inner side walls. One end of the lever is curved and has inwardly directed conical projections 26, 28 disposed on opposite inner side walls.

In use, the lever 20 can be pivotally interconnected with the grip 21 by sliding the lever 20 lengthwise onto one end of the grip 21 such that the conical projections 26, 28 seat around the C-shaped portion 27 of the grip at that end.

The arms 23, 24 of the grip 21 are open when the lever 20 is in the raised position: in this position the mouth 40 of the grip is wider than the diameter of the washing line 10 so that the peg can be fitted onto the line 10. Clothes or other objects may be folded over the line 10 prior to fitting the peg.

The lever 20 may be pivoted downwardly in order to close the grip and lock the peg onto the line 10. The teeth e.g. 25 of the lever snap engage over the C-shaped portion 27 of the grip and close the mouth of the grip 21 around the line 10. The peg can be further tightened onto the line 10 by urging the lever 20 further downwardly so that the teeth e.g.

25 engage with successively lower longitudinal serrations e.g.

24: this serves to close the mouth 40 of the grip around the line 10.

The peg can be removed by either pivoting the lever upwardly or by sliding the lever 20 longitudinally of the grip 21.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings an article of clothing 50 can be pegged to the washing line 10. The article 50 can either be folded over the washing line prior to attaching the peg, or alternatively the article 50 may be folded and subsequently fed between the arms 22, 23 prior to closing the lever 20. If the wind blows, the article of clothing 50 will merely rotate the segments of the washing line 10 such that the article will not become wrapped around the line.

Claims

1) A washing line comprising a segmented elongate member in which each segment is arranged for rotational movement about the axis of the elongate member.

2) A washing line as claimed in claim 1, in which the elongate member comprises an elongate flexible core on which a plurality of tubular segments are mounted end-to-end.

3) A washing line as claimed in claim 2, in which the tubular segments are circular in cross-section.

4) A washing line substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

5) A peg comprising a pair of jaws and a lever which is operable to open or close the jaws.

6) A peg as claimed in claim in claim 5, in which the jaws comprise a one piece member of resilient material.

7) A peg as claimed in claim 6, in which the jaws are biassed into their normally open position.

8) A peg as claimed in claims 6 and 7, in which the lever is detachably mounted to the jaws.

9) A peg as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, in which the lever is pivotally attached to the jaws.

10) A peg as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, in which the jaws are formed from a plastics extrusion.

11) A peg as claimed in any of claims 6 to 10, in which the jaws comprise an elongate C-section portion having diverging arms extending from its opposite longitudinal edges.

12) A peg as claimed in any of claims 5 to 11, in which the lever comprises a plastics moulding.

13) A peg substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.