FIELD

This invention relates to a clothes line cover.

The invention may be particularly suitable for use with outdoor rotary clothes lines used for drying (or airing) laundry. For example, the invention may serve to protect drying (or airing) laundry from adverse weather conditions or degradation from the elements or spoiling from pollutants.

BACKGROUND

There are several advantages to drying (or airing) laundry on outside clothes lines as compared to drying laundry indoors or with an electric clothes dryer.

For example, electric clothes dryers can be expensive to purchase, run and/or maintain. Moreover, many people may view the use of such appliances as being environmentally unfriendly due to the large amount of electricity (and/or fossil fuels) that they use. The use of clothes dryers may also inadvertently lead to laundry shrinking or otherwise suffering heat damage.

Furthermore, the use of electric clothes dryers produces a large amount of moisture, which (if not properly vented) results in an undesirable build up of condensation. This regular condensation has the potential to cause degradation to household contents, as well as encouraging mould to grow and/or causing unprotected timbers to rot. The condensation may also pose a health hazard for certain people, for example asthmatics.

Drying laundry inside houses, for example on fold-out clothes racks, addresses some of the drawbacks associated with the use of electric clothes dryers. However, there still remains the problem of condensation and moisture forming in the house as the laundry dries. Some people address this problem by installing mechanical ventilation systems or by running dehumidifiers. However, such appliances have the same disadvantages as electric clothes dryers, namely they may be expensive to purchase, run and maintain, and the use of them may be viewed unfavourably by some people.

Moreover, most people would agree that there is a superior quality to laundry which is dried outside, in the open air, as compared to drying laundry inside on clothes racks or in an electric clothes dryer.

Most laundry is dried outside on rotary clothes lines - one advantage of such clothes lines being that they take up very little space. Most rotary clothes lines consist of a centre pole with a plurality of radially extending arms therefrom, which are adapted to support a number of lines therebetween - to which laundry may be pegged. There are however several drawbacks associated with drying laundry on such outside clothes lines. These drawbacks include the following:

1. The laundry is susceptible to wetting from rainfall. This is of particular concern during winter or cool months where a 5 minute rain shower may mean that the laundry has to spend another day on the line to dry. This problem is particularly prevalent in regions where rain showers are a fairly frequent occurrence.

2. The laundry is susceptible to degradation, for example from exposure to UV rays.

3. The laundry is susceptible to bleaching, for example from continued exposure to direct sunlight (and this problem is compounded when near-dry laundry is suddenly wetted by rainfall - which means that it must remain on the line longer).

4. The laundry is susceptible to spoiling from pollutants such as bird droppings or organic matter which may fall off adjacent trees (eg, fruit trees).

5. The laundry is susceptible to contaminants such as airborne pollutants.

As a result, there are available a number of covers which are adapted to be fitted to rotary clothes lines to protect laundry from the above mentioned drawbacks. A disadvantage associated with many of these prior art covers is that they generally comprise a heavy and rigid framework which is to be attached to the clothes line (and they are usually quite complex installations which include many different components). As a result, they can be difficult and labour intensive to erect and install, and they may also prevent the clothes line from rotating. Furthermore, being rigid, they tend to trap wind and this sometimes results in damage to the cover, or the complete failure of the cover altogether (especially during high winds).

Other types of covers which are available comprise a rectangular-shaped tensile structure adapted to fit over an existing clothes line. However a disadvantage associated with these types of covers is that they often allow for the pooling of water. Some covers attempt to address this by including elastic bands to create surface tension in the cover, however under heavy rainfall this still does not adequately address the problem. These covers also tend to resist any wind, and are therefore susceptible to being damaged by the wind, especially when the wind is quite strong.

In recognition of the problem with wind, some cover designs have a pyramid shape and include vertical or horizontal slits in the fabric to relieve the upward wind pressure. However, in strong winds these designs still tend to resist the wind movement, and furthermore the slits allow rain water to enter.

OBJECT

It is an object of the present invention to provide a clothes line cover which goes some way towards addressing the aforementioned problems or difficulties, or which at the very least provides the public with a useful choice.

DEFINITIONS

Throughout this specification unless the text requires otherwise, the word 'comprise' and variations such as 'comprising' or 'comprises' will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. The term "waterproof material" as used throughout this specification is defined as including reference to a totally waterproof material, such as a plastics material, and also a substantially waterproof (or water resistant) material, such as tent canvas or nylon or some textile materials. Furthermore, the term "waterproof material" may include a material which consists of a breathable fabric - which generally resists liquid water passing through, but which may allow for air and/or water vapour to pass through.

STATEMENTS OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cover for an outdoor rotary clothes line which includes a centre post and a plurality of radially extending arms therefrom, said cover including: a) a flexible sheet of a waterproof material adapted to extend over and above said clothes line, b) support means for substantially maintaining the shape of said sheet of waterproof material over and above said clothes line, said support means including:

1. a flexible rod adapted to extend substantially around the periphery of said sheet of waterproof material, and

11. a plurality of strengthening ribs adapted to extend substantially across said sheet of waterproof material, c) attachment means for securing the periphery of said sheet of waterproof material to the distal end of at least one of the plurality of radially extending arms of said clothes line, d) tensioning means for attachment to the centre post of said clothes line, said

tensioning means being adapted to engage with the underside of said sheet of waterproof material, to thus provide a degree of tension to said sheet of waterproof material.

The outdoor rotary clothes line may be of any size or shape, and may have any number of radially extending arms. The most commonly available rotary clothes lines are generally square- shaped with four, six or eight radially extending arms - the arms extending from a centre post (although triangular shaped clothes lines with three radially extending arms are also quite common).

The sheet of waterproof material may preferably be substantially flexible and/or substantially non-rigid. The flexibility of the sheet of waterproof material allows for the sheet to flex or move, for example with the action of the wind, once the cover has been fitted to a clothes line. Conversely, many prior art covers are somewhat rigid, and this rigidity often results in the cover breaking, for example due to wind action.

Any suitable materials which have waterproof or water resistant properties may be utilised for the sheet of waterproof material. For example, the sheet of waterproof material may include or be comprised of a canvas material, a breathable nylon material, a tightly woven textile material or a plastics material - such as a polyethylene material or a PVC material.

Preferably, the sheet of waterproof material may be substantially (or wholly) UV resistant - in order to protect laundry from degradation due to the UV rays of the sun.

The sheet of waterproof material may be of any size or shape, as required or as desired, or as dictated by the type of rotary clothes line it is to be fitted to. For example, the sheet of waterproof material may be substantially square or oval in shape.

Preferably however, the sheet of waterproof material may be substantially circular in shape.

The support means may be preferably be adapted to at least substantially maintain the shape of the sheet of waterproof material over and above the clothes line. The support means may also serve to support the sheet of waterproof material generally. Preferably, the support means may include a flexible rod adapted to extend substantially around the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material. In such embodiment, the flexible rod may serve to provide a degree of tension to the sheet of waterproof material as a whole, as well as maintaining the shape of the sheet of waterproof material over and above the clothes line. Furthermore, the flexible rod may also preferably be springy in nature whereby it inherently tries to resist and/or spring back against any pressure exerted on it (or that it inherently springs back once any pressure - such as wind pressure - has been released).

The flexible rod may be of any size or shape, but preferably it may be substantially elongate in nature. The cross sectional shape of the flexible rod may also be of any shape, for example substantially round or rectangular or oval.

Once the flexible rod has been fitted around the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material, the two free ends of the flexible rod may be joined together, for example by tape or by a clamp or by a suitable sleeve fitting.

Preferably, the support means may also include a plurality of strengthening ribs adapted to extend substantially across the sheet of waterproof material. The strengthening ribs may preferably pass through substantially the centre of the sheet of waterproof material.

The strengthening ribs may preferably be somewhat flexible which may provide them with a degree of flex or movement, and thus provide the sheet of waterproof material with a degree of flex or movement (this may be especially important during windy conditions), whilst also substantially maintaining the shape of the sheet of waterproof material.

Furthermore, the strengthening ribs may also preferably be springy in nature whereby they inherently try to resist and/or spring back against any pressure exerted on them (or that they inherently spring back once any pressure - such as wind pressure - has been released).

The strengthening ribs may be of any size or shape, but preferably they may be substantially elongate in nature. The cross sectional shape of the strengthening ribs may also be of any shape, for example substantially round or rectangular or oval. The strengthening ribs may comprise a single piece of material, or alternatively, the strengthening ribs may comprise a number of segmented pieces joined together (for example, similar to how tent poles are joined together).

Preferably, the sheet of waterproof material (or the strengthening ribs) may include suitable means for receiving and retaining the strengthening ribs with respect to the sheet of waterproof material. For example, the strengthening ribs may be adapted to be clipped or tied onto the sheet of waterproof material. Alternatively, the strengthening ribs may slide within sleeves formed in the sheet of waterproof material.

Preferably, the sheet of waterproof material may also include suitable means for securing the ends of the strengthening ribs to the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material. For example, clips or sockets may be used or alternatively, the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material may include pockets or sleeves into which the ends of the strengthening ribs may be inserted.

There may also be provided suitable means to tie or join the strengthening ribs together in the centre of the sheet of waterproof material, for example by a strap or tie. This prevents any unnecessary movement of the ribs and helps to maintain the shape of the sheet of waterproof material.

Preferably, the cover may include attachment means for securing the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material to the distal end of at least one of the plurality of radially extending arms of the clothes line. For example, the cover may be provided with a number of clips for securing the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material to the distal end of at least one of the plurality of radially extending arms of the clothes line.

Alternatively, or preferably, the attachment means may include a number of pockets formed around the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material, the pockets being adapted to fit over the distal end(s) of at least one of the plurality of radially extending arms of the clothes line. In another embodiment, there may be provided a continuous pocket formed around the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material, and the distal end(s) of the radially extending arms may be inserted therein as appropriate.

Preferably, the cover may include tensioning means for attachment to the centre post of the clothes line. The tensioning means may be attached to the inside or the outside of the centre post, or both.

The tensioning means may be adapted to engage with the underside of the sheet of waterproof material, to thus provide the cover with a required or desired degree of tension (or increased/decreased rigidity). Preferably, the tensioning means may include a first portion for fitting to the centre post of the clothes line, and a second portion for engaging with the underside of the sheet of waterproof material - with the second portion providing the degree of tension required or desired.

In one embodiment, the first portion of the tensioning means may be attached to the centre post by being fitted inside the open top of the centre post of the clothes line. In such an embodiment, and for example, the first portion may be slid into the open top of the centre post of the clothes line, and secured at a desired height by the use of a clamp or collar which may pass around both the first portion and the open top of the centre post. Other suitable means for securing the first portion inside the centre post include the use of a bolt (or large wing nut) which may pass through the centre post and be tightened up against the first portion, to thus secure it in place. A further attachment means may include the use of a quick release clamp (such as used on bicycles for changing the height of the seat).

In another embodiment, the first portion of the tensioning means may be attached to the centre post by fitting the first portion to and/or around the outside of the centre post of the clothes line. In such an embodiment, and for example, the first portion may include a curved portion adapted to fit around the upper reaches of the centre post. The curved portion may be fixed to the outside of the centre post, for example, by of the use of clamps or screws or bolts or jubilee clips. In a slightly different version of this embodiment, the first portion may be in the form of a hollow cylinder adapted to fit over, and slide down and around, the top of the centre post. In either of these embodiments, the second portion may be slidable with respect to the first portion, for example by being fitted within the first portion or be being slidably fitted to the side of the first portion. It is also envisaged that the first portion may be fitted to both the inside and the outside of the centre post.

Preferably, the tensioning means may be adjustable whereby the amount of tension (or pressure) exerted on the underside of the sheet of waterproof material may be altered as required. For example, in calm conditions the tension may be minimal, whereas in windy conditions the tension may be more substantial (to provide the sheet of waterproof material with more stiffness or rigidity).

In such an embodiment, and for example, the adjustability of the tensioning means may be provided for by virtue of the positioning of the second portion of the tensioning means being adjustable, whereby the second portion of the tensioning means may be raised or lowered - to thus place more or less tension on the underside of the sheet of waterproof material respectively, and/or as required or desired.

The tensioning means, including the first and second portions as described above, may be made of any suitable materials, for example a plastics material, wood and/or metal.

One advantage of the cover is that whilst the sheet of waterproof material is provided with a certain degree of tension and/or rigidity by the support means and/or the tensioning means, the arrangement still allows for considerable flexibility or movement of the sheet of waterproof material. This allows for the cover to be effective in both calm and windy conditions. Furthermore, the substantially flexible, yet somewhat tensioned, nature of the cover allows for rainwater to be blown off or flicked off by movement of the cover with the action of the wind, rather than water pooling on the cover, which is the case with many prior art covers. Moreover, the substantially flexible, yet tensioned, nature of the cover allows for it to be effective (and retain its integrity) in very windy conditions - which is not the case for rigid or fixed prior art covers.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The description of a preferred form of the invention to be provided herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, is given purely by way of example and is not to be taken in any way as limiting the scope or extent of the invention.

DRAWINGS

Fig 1 : is a cutaway and simplistic side view of a rotary clothes line, with one possible

embodiment of a cover fitted thereto,

Fig 2: is a plan view of the underside of the cover of Fig 1, and Fig 3: is a view of how the embodiment illustrated in Fig 1 would look to an observer.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Having regard to Figs 1 & 2, there is shown a cover, generally indicated by arrow 12. The cover 12 is adapted to be fitted to an outdoor rotary clothes line, generally indicated by arrow 13.

The clothes line 13 comprises a centre post 14 and four radially extending arms 15. The arms 15 have a number of rows of cord 16 strung therebetween (see Fig 3) to which laundry is to be pegged (laundry not shown). Fig 3 also illustrates a number of peg baskets 17 which hang from the clothes line 13.

The cover 12 includes a circular sheet of a waterproof material 1. Having a circular sheet of waterproof material 1 is generally more effective than a square or rectangular sheet of material, and furthermore a circular sheet offers more protection and shading than a square or rectangular sheet. The sheet of waterproof material 1 is comprised of a PVC and nylon composition (which is a material which will be well known to those skilled in the art). The sheet of waterproof material 1 is therefore flexible. Furthermore, the sheet of waterproof material 1 is able to be folded up or rolled up into a relatively small size when not in use or when the cover 12 is presented or packaged for sale.

The preferred size of the sheet of waterproof material 1 will vary according to the dimensions of the clothes line 13. Ideally, the diametre of the sheet of waterproof material 1 should be equal to or slightly larger than the maximum area defined by the radially extending arms 15 of the clothes line 13. The sheet of waterproof material 1 is adapted to extend over and above the clothes line 13.

The sheet of waterproof material 1 includes support means to support the sheet of waterproof material 1 and/or to maintain the shape of the sheet of waterproof material 1 over and above the clothes line 13.

One of the support means are in the form of four separate strengthening ribs 3, which extend across the underside of the sheet of waterproof material 1. The strengthening ribs 3 all pass through the centre point 5 of the sheet of waterproof material 1. The strengthening ribs 3 are made of a flexible fibreglass material.

The strengthening ribs 3 are attached to the underside of the sheet of waterproof material 1 by sliding them in and along directional sleeves 10 built into the underside of the sheet of waterproof material 1. The strengthening ribs 3 are tied together at the centre point 5 to limit any unnecessary movement of the strengthening ribs 3 (tie not shown)

There are also provided pockets 11 around the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material 1 in the regions where the ends of the strengthening ribs 3 are to sit. These pockets 11 serve to secure the ends of the strengthening ribs 3 to the edges of the sheet of waterproof material 1. The strengthening ribs 3 are somewhat flexible, which provides the sheet of waterproof material 1 with a certain degree of flex or movement, whilst also providing a degree of support or tension to the sheet of waterproof material 1.

The support means also includes a flexible rod 2 adapted to extend around the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material 1. The flexible rod 2 is adapted to slide in and along a sleeve which extends around the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material 1 (sleeve not clearly shown - but the fitting of the flexible rod 2 is similar in concept to how a flexible curtain rod may be threaded through a top sleeve associated with curtains or net curtains). The two ends of the flexible rod 2 are joined together by an aluminium sleeve fitting 9.

The flexible rod 2 is comprised of a flexible fibreglass material, and it helps to substantially maintain the shape of the sheet of water proof material over and above the clothes line. It may also serve to provide support and tension to the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material 1.

The flexible rod 2 (in conjunction with the strengthening ribs 3) also serve to keep the fabric of the sheet of waterproof material 1 somewhat taut and to provide sufficient tension to prevent pooling of rain water on top of the sheet of waterproof material 1. The sheet of waterproof material 1 is also provided with four pockets 8a-d for securing the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material 1 to the distal end of each of the four radially extending arms 15 of the clothes line 13.

In another embodiment, the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material 1 may alternatively or additionally be provided with a continuous pocket or sleeve 18 extending there around - shown in dotted outline in Fig 2. The distal end(s) of the radially extending arms 15 may therefore be inserted into, and retained by, the continuous pocket 18 as appropriate. An advantage of having a continuous pocket 18 as compared to having just four pockets 8a-d is that the continuous pocket 18 allows for the cover 12 to be utilised with a rotary clothes line which has a different number of arms, for example three or six or eight. The cover 12 includes tensioning means for applying a required or desired amount of tension to the underside of the sheet of waterproof material 1. The tensioning means includes a first portion which is in the form of a metal sleeve 4, and which is adapted to fit into the open top of the centre post 14 of the clothes line 13. Most centre posts 14 of clothes lines 13 have a cap which sits atop the centre post 14. This cap can simply be removed and the sleeve 4 fitted inside the hollow top of the centre post 14. The sleeve 4 is fitted with a quick release clamp (not shown) for fixing the sleeve 4 with respect to the (inside of the) centre post 14. This quick release clamp can be released and the sleeve 4 repositioned anywhere within the top of the centre post 14 before the clamp is tightened once more. This allows for the sleeve 4 to be raised or lowered as required or desired.

The tensioning means also includes a second portion for engaging with the underside of the sheet of waterproof material 1 - with the second portion serving to provide the degree of tension required or desired. The second portion is in the form of a plastic distribution disk 6 which sits atop the metal sleeve 4 and which engages with the underside of the sheet of waterproof material 1. The distribution disk 6 thus forms the high point of the cover 12.

It may be appreciated that the pressure or tension exerted on the underside of the sheet of waterproof material 1 by the distribution disk 6 can be increased by extending the sleeve 4 further out of the open end of the centre post 14. Likewise, it may be appreciated that the pressure or tension exerted on the underside of the sheet of waterproof material 1 by the distribution disk 6 can be decreased by lowering the sleeve 4 further into the open end of the centre post 14. In another embodiment of the invention, the metal sleeve may be in the form of a hollow cylinder and which is adapted to fit over the top of the centre post 14 and be fixed thereto at a required or desired height, for example by a clamp such as a quick release clamp. In such an embodiment, the distribution disk may, for example, be fitted to a connecting sleeve adapted to slide within (or with respect to) the metal sleeve (with the height of the connecting sleeve, and therefore the distribution disk , being adjustable, for example of the use of a clamp such as a quick release clamp).

The cover 12 may be erected and attached to a clothes line 13 in the following way. Firstly, the sheet of waterproof material 1 may be laid out on the ground, with the underside facing up - as illustrated in Fig 2. The four flexible strengthening ribs 3 may then be threaded through the directional sleeves 10, with each end of the strengthening ribs 3 being secured by the pockets 11. A tie (not shown) may then be tied around the four strengthening ribs 3 in the region of where they all meet in the centre point 5.

The flexible rod 2 may then be fitted around the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material 1 by threading it into and along a sleeve (not clearly shown) which extends around the periphery of the sheet of waterproof material 1. The two ends of the flexible rod 2 are then joined together by the aluminium sleeve fitting 9. The cap (not shown) on top of the centre post 14 of the existing clothes line 13 may then be removed and the metal sleeve 4 of the tensioning means fitted within the open end of the centre post 14 and attached by the use of a quick release clamp. The metal sleeve 4 has the distribution disk 6 fitted thereto.

The sheet of waterproof material 1 may then be placed over the clothes line 13 and each end of the four radially extending arms 15 may be fitted into the pockets 8a-d - to thus secure the sheet of waterproof material 1 to the clothes line 13.

The metal sleeve 4 may then be adjusted (by being raised or lowered, substantially as described previously) so that the required or desired amount of pressure or tension is applied to the underside of the sheet of waterproof material 1 by the distribution disk 6. As can be seen from Fig 3, the cover 12 allows for the wind to pass underneath the clothes line 13. This has the effect of decreasing uplift from displaced wind and thus releases the wind pressure.

Furthermore, the weight of the strengthening ribs 3 and the peripheral flexible rod 2 serve to provide the circular cover 12 with an uneven or irregular shape, and this irregular shape is enhanced as the different parts of the cover 12 flex or move with the wind. This is best illustrated in Fig 3 where it can be seen that the cover 12 hangs down in the form of a slightly irregular circle, Furthermore, there is no pooling of water even in calm conditions because the slightly irregular circular shape of the hanging sheet of waterproof material 1 does not present any areas where the water may pool - instead the water simply runs off. This is a significant advantage of presently available square or rectangular shaped covers - which always tend to have areas in which water will pool.

Furthermore, the action of the wind on the cover 12 produces a wave-like motion - similar to the movement of a stingray. This wave-like motion serves to constantly displace or flick off any water. As a result, there is no pooling of water whatsoever on top of the cover 12. Hence, the action of the wind is in fact of benefit to the workings or effectiveness of the cover 12, as compared to prior art covers where the wind generally lessons the performance of the covers, or results in damage to the cover.

The cover 12 was secretly trialled for the duration of one week in extreme weather, with very strong wind speeds of up to 61 km/h and heavy rain. The cover 12 was effective in keeping the laundry dry (and with no pooling of rain water on the top of the cover 12), and furthermore the cover 12 suffered no wind (or rain) damage during the trial.

Another advantage of the cover 12 is that it can generally be fitted to any type of rotary outdoor clothes line.

VARIATIONS While the embodiments described above are currently preferred, it will be appreciated that a wide range of other variations might also be made within the general spirit and scope of the invention and/or as defined by the appended claims.