Field

[0001] This invention relates to doors with concealed airers or cassettes.

Background

[0002] When people wash their laundry, they will generally either: hang the washed laundry to dry on an airer or clothes line, thus letting them air dry naturally; or put the washed laundry in a clothes dryer. Letting the laundry air dry is a more cost-effective option than a dryer as no electricity is required, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

[0003] A clothes line takes up valuable space in the backyard of a house. Whilst airers usually fold from an expanded position to a compacted position to save space, people still need to find the space to store the airer when it is not in use. In small homes, such as apartments, it can be challenging to find the space to store an airer because storage space may be limited. Therefore, there is a need to provide an effective storage space for airers.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome one or more of the above disadvantages.

Summary of Invention

[0005] An aspect of the present invention provides a door including; a body, wherein the body includes: a first door face; a second door face spaced apart from the first door face, defining a cavity therebetween; and an airer attached to the body, the airer being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein: in the first position, the airer is located substantially within the cavity between the first door face and the second door face; and in the second position, the airer is located substantially outside of the cavity adjacent the first and second door faces, to allow a user to operate the airer.

[0006] Preferably, the airer is attached to one or more slides to allow the airer to move between the first and second positions.

[0007] Preferably, the one or more slides is a pair of drawer slides, each of the slides being attached to a top portion and a bottom portion of the airer, and the body of the door. Each slide may be a telescopic slide including two or more segments. The slide includes a first segment and at least one additional segment that is slidable relative to the first segment, the at least one additional segment being nestable in the first segment to cause the slide to assume a retracted configuration and being extendable from the first segment to cause the slide to assume an extended configuration. The first segment may be a hollow elongate member within which the at least one additional segment is nestable.

[0008] Preferably, the airer has a frame, the pair of slides being attached to the frame.

[0009] Preferably, the door has a longitudinal axis around which the door pivots when the door is pivotably attached to a door frame.

[0010] Preferably, the door has a transverse axis along which the airer moves.

[0011] Preferably, the airer has one or more elements connected to the frame that are movable between a folded position and an unfolded position.

[0012] Preferably, when the airer is in the second position, the one or more elements are movable to the unfolded position.

[0013] Preferably, one or more elements provide areas to hang items of clothing.

[0014] Preferably, the one more elements are held in the unfolded position by a support member connected to the frame. [0015] Preferably, the one or more elements are substantially perpendicular to the door face when the elements are in the unfolded position.

[0016] Preferably, the airer has a frame, a portion of the frame being fixed within the cavity of the door.

[0017] Preferably, the frame includes a slide to allow the airer to move between the first and second positions.

[0018] Preferably, the door has a transverse axis along which the airer moves via the slide.

[0019] Preferably, the airer has one or more elements connected to the frame that are movable between a folded position and an unfolded position.

[0020] Preferably, there is a pair of elements connected to the frame, one element being located above the slide and the other element being located below the slide.

[0021] Preferably, the slide is a three-stage slide.

[0022] Another aspect of the present invention provides a door including; a body, wherein the body includes: a first door face; a second door face spaced apart from the first door face, defining a cavity therebetween; and a cassette attached to the body, the cassette being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein: in the first position, the cassette is located substantially within the cavity between the first door face and the second door face; and in the second position, the cassette is located substantially outside of the cavity adjacent the first and second door faces, to allow a user to operate the cassette.

[0023] Preferably, the cassette is attached to one or more slides to allow the cassette to move between the first and second positions. [0024] Preferably, the one or more slides is a pair of slides that are attached to the body and a top and bottom portion of the cassette. Each slide may be a telescopic slide including two or more segments. The slide includes a first segment and at least one additional segment that is slidable relative to the first segment, the at least one additional segment being nestable in the first segment to cause the slide to assume a retracted configuration and being extendable from the first segment to cause the slide to assume an extended configuration. The first segment may be a hollow elongate member within which the at least one additional segment is nestable. The cassette is coupled to the at least one additional segment.

[0025] Preferably, the cassette has a void to store items in said void.

[0026] A further aspect of the present invention provides a cassette including: a frame portion that is attachable to a door; and an operative portion coupled to the frame portion and being movable relative to the frame portion between a stored position and an extended position.

[0027] The cassette may further include a housing for receiving the operative portion, the operative portion being extendable from the housing to allow the user to use the operative portion, the housing having the frame portion. The cassette preferably further includes one or more slides for coupling the housing to the operative portion to allow the operative portion to move between the stored and extended positions. The housing preferably has a void in which items can be stored.

[0028] The cassette is preferably retrofittable to an existing door.

[0029] Further preferably, the cassette has the features of the cassette and/or airer of the door according to the previously described aspects. In an example, the cassette includes an airer.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0030] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. [0031] Figure 1 shows a front view according to an embodiment of a door having an airer, when said airer is in a first position.

[0032] Figure 2 is a front view of the door shown in Figure 1, with the airer being moved between the first position and a second position.

[0033] Figure 3 is a front view of the door shown in Figure 1, with the airer in the second position.

[0034] Figure 4 is a schematic end view of the door shown in Figure 1.

[0035] Figure 5 is a schematic view accordingly to another embodiment of a door having an airer, when said airer is in a first position.

[0036] Figure 6 is a schematic view of the door shown in Figure 5, when said airer is in a second position.

[0037] Figure 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the door shown in Figure 5, when said airer is in the second position and the elements are unfolded.

Description of Embodiments

[0038] Figures 1 to 4 show a door 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted from the outset that the door 10 shown in the Figures has been modified so that the reader can see inside the door. A clear plastic cover has replaced a portion of the door 10 to achieve this. The actual invention is embodied by a standard door.

[0039] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the door 10 has a body 12. The body 12 includes: a first door face 14; a second door face 16 spaced apart from the first door face 14, defining a cavity 18 therebetween. The door faces 14, 16 may be referred to as “door skins”. The door 10 also has door cassette in the form of an airer or rack 20 attached to the body 12 by one or more fasteners or other suitable means such as an adhesive. The airer 20 is movable between a first position and a second position. The first position is best shown in Figure 1 which has the airer 20 located within the cavity 18, whilst the second position is best shown in Figure 3 which has the airer 20 located outside of the cavity 18. Figure 2 shows a transitional position when the airer 20 is being moved between the first and second positions. In the first position, the airer 20 is located substantially within the cavity 18 between the first door face 14 and the second door face 16. In the second position, the airer 20 is located substantially outside of the cavity 18 adjacent the first and second door faces 14, 16, to allow a user to operate the airer 20. The cavity 18 in preferred embodiments is dimensioned to, when the airer is in the first position, to store other items such as any one or more of a security box (for storing documents, jewelry, collectables, or other valuable items), a tool box, a stepladder, household implements (such as a telescopic broom, dustpan, duster, etc.), and an ironing board.

[0040] The airer has a frame 22 to support one or more elements 24 connected to the frame. The elements 24 are movable between a folded position as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and an unfolded position as shown in Figure 3. When the airer 20 is located in the first position in the cavity 18 of the door 10, the elements 24 are trapped in the folded position. The elements 24 can only be moved to the unfolded position when the airer 20 is in the second position.

[0041] The frame 22 of the airer 20 is mounted to one or more slides 30, preferably a pair of slides 30, 32. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the pair of slides 30, 32 are mounted to a top portion and a bottom portion of the airer 20, via the frame 22. The slides 30, 32 are standard drawer slides that have multiple components that move relative to each other and do not need to be described herein. The slides 30, 32 are also mounted to the body of the door. In this embodiment, the slides are mounted to either one of the door faces 14, 16. However, it is also envisaged that the slide 30 can be mounted to a top surface 15 of the door 10. The other slide 32 can be mounted to the door face 14 or 16 to prevent the airer 20 swinging when installed in the cavity 18. The top surface 15 is numbered in Figure 4, described below. In another embodiment, each slide may be a telescopic slide including a first segment and at least one additional segment that is slidable relative to the first segment. For example, the slide may have two segments, three segments, or four or more segments. The at least one additional segment is nestable in the first segment to cause the slide to assume a retracted configuration and being extendable from the first segment to cause the slide to assume an extended configuration. The first segment may be a hollow elongate member within which the at least one additional segment is nestable. The first segment is attached to the door skin, while the one of the additional segments is attached to the airer. For example, an end of the additional segment may be attached to a vertical support of the airer (as shown in Figure 5).

[0042] The airer 20 can extend from the left-side of the door 10 or from the right-side of the door 100 depending on how the door 10 is hinged, i.e. so that the airer extends from the free (unhinged) side of the door. To change the direction of extension of the airer 20, the airer 20 is unfastened from the slides 30,32 and the orientation of the airer 20 relative to the door 10 is changed (i.e. the airer 20 is flipped about a horizontal axis) before being fastened to the slides 30, 32.

[0043] In other examples, the door may have two airers or two door cassettes that are independently extendable from the door. In yet further examples, the airer or door cassette may have a leg portion for contacting a floor to provide stability to the door and the airer or door cassette when in the second position and to thereby prevent the door from sagging when in the airer or door cassette is in second position. The leg portion may be extendable from a frame of the airer. For example, the leg portion may be stored in or received by the frame portion of the airer or cassette when in the first position and extended outwardly to contact the floor when the airer or cassette is in the second position. Alternatively, the leg portion may be fixed relative to the airer or door cassette and a side of the door may have a recessed area (or channel portion or rebate) for receiving the leg portion when the airer or door cassette is in the second position. Further alternatively, the leg portion may be fixed relative to the airer or door cassette and the leg portion may be located on or at a door face when the airer or door cassette is in the first position.

[0044] To maintain the position of the one or more elements 24 in the unfolded position, a support member 26 is attached to the frame 22 and can be pivoted and connected to the element 24 by the user. The support member 26 is selectively lockable to secure the element in the unfolded position. Several apertures (not shown) may be provided in the frame 22 to allow the support member 26 to be attached at different heights in the frame 22. This allows the elements 24 to be supported by the support member 26 at different angles. The elements 24 allow the user to hang their laundry. [0045] Figure 4 shows an end view of the door 10. Attached to the frame 22 of the airer 20, is a cover 17 to conceal the airer 20 within the door 10, when the airer 20 is not in use and stowed in the first position. To assist the user in moving the airer 20 between the first position and the second position, the cover 17 may have a handle (not shown) such as a ring pull, for example. Alternatively, a pop-out mechanism may be installed between the frame 22 and the body 12 so that the user push on the cover 17 and the airer will pop out of the cavity. The mechanism for operating the airer between the stored configuration to the extended configuration is preferably located near the hinge-side of the door. This location is preferred as it is closer to the door hinge (and as such the door would be more stable) and is the mechanism would not be visible when a user opens the door.

[0046] To prevent the airer 20 from sliding out of the cavity 18 when the door 10 is opened forcefully, one or more magnets may be mounted to the frame 22 and the body 12 to keep the airer 20 in place, as the door 10 pivots about a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis would generally be aligned with the hinge(s) of the door 10 (not shown). Alternatively, a slide with a “soft-close” mechanism may be used, as the “soft-close” mechanism generally retains the slide / airer 20 in the first position. Another alternative is to integrate a sliding latch in the cover 17, so that the latch slides away from the cover 17 and engages with the body 12 of the door 10. These mechanisms serve to prevent the airer 20 from inadvertently sliding along an axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis (i.e. parallel to the slides 30, 32). In other embodiments, the airer or door cassette has a ‘push-to-release’ configuration and is biased towards the second position. In this embodiment, the door includes a trapping mechanism that is configurable to trap the airer in the second position. The trapping mechanism may include a cam portion for example. In the ‘push-to-release’ configuration, the airer or door cassette can be extended from the door by pushing the airer or door cassette inwards which causes the trapping mechanism to disengage the airer or door cassette to thereby allow the airer or door cassette to pop outwardly from the door.

[0047] Use of the invention will now be described.

[0048] The clothes airer 20 is incorporated into the unused space (cavity 18) in a typical door. It involves, in production, the removal of any internal honeycomb structure of the door. To deploy the airer 20, the door 10 needs to be opened and the airer 20 will be pulled out on slides 30, 32 so that it is fully outside the cavity 18 of the door. The elements 24 can open to the desired angles (unfolded position) depending on the clothes to be aired / dried. When the clothes are dry and removed from the airer 20, the elements 24 are put back into the folded position and the airer 20 is pushed back into the cavity 18 and the door 10 can be closed.

[0049] The embodiment of the invention is advantageous because it is high off the ground, therefore allowing large items to be hung on the elements 24. Additionally, valuable storage space in a cupboard or laundry, for example, is not used by a clothes airer. Instead, the unused space of a door cavity is used to store the airer 20.

[0050] In an alternative embodiment, the airer may pivot between the first and second positions, instead of sliding. It is envisaged that the frame 22 of the airer 20 has a pivot connected to the body 12 of the door 10. The pivot is located so that when the airer 20 is positioned inside the cavity 18 of the door 10, a user can pull on a ring pull attached to the airer 20 and pivot the airer 20 180 degrees downward so that the frame 22 of the airer 20 rests against a face of the door. It is also envisaged that the airer 20 can rotate only 90 degrees to increase the distance between the airer 20 and the ground when the airer 20 is deployed. If the airer 20 is only rotated 90 degrees however, a ligature is provided to connect the airer 20 and the body 12 of the door 10 and retain the airer 20 in the 90 degrees position.

[0051] In another embodiment, the airer 20 may pivot upward 90 degrees out of the cavity. A lockout mechanism, such as an over center spring loaded bracket, is provided to prevent the airer 20 pivoting down into the cavity 18. To keep the airer 20 inside the cavity 18 when in the stowed position, the cover 17 may be slid down so that it locks into the door 10.

[0052] When the airer 20 is in a storage configuration in the cavity 18, there is space in the cavity for housing other items. For example, the cavity may house a security box (for storing documents, jewelry, collectables, or other valuable items), a tool box, a stepladder, household implements (such as a telescopic broom, dustpan, duster, etc.), and an ironing board. In this example, the door may include a primary door cassette (such as the airer described above) and secondary door cassette (for storing the other items described previously) that is nestable in the primary door cassette in the door, wherein the primary and secondary door cassettes are operable independently of each other. For example, a user may first adjust the primary door cassette (the clothes airer) to its respective second position and if the user desires to access the other items stored in the secondary door cassette, the user can adjust the secondary door cassette to its respective second position. Alternatively, instead of the secondary cassette being nestable in the primary cassette in the first position, the first and secondary cassettes may be mutually side-by- side or the secondary cassette may be provided below the primary cassette in the door.

[0053] With reference to Figures 4 to 7, it is envisaged in a further alternative embodiment that the airer 20 may be operable with only one slide. Figures 4 and 5 show a door 10’. The door 10’ has the same parts as the door 10 described above, therefore like terms and numbering will be used to describe the embodiment of the door 10’. As mentioned above, instead of using a pair of slides 30, 32, embodiment of the door 10’ has a single slide 30. The single slide 30 is attached to the frame 22 of the airer 20. A portion of the frame 22 remains static within the cavity 18 of the door and the slide 30 is attached to this portion of the frame 22 or a timber frame attached to the body 12 of the door 10. Another part of the frame 22 moves with the airer 20 and its associated elements 24 to hang items of clothing therefrom. In this embodiment the slide 30 is preferably a 3 -stage slide, however less or more stage slides may be used, depending on the extension required of the airer. Furthermore, it is envisaged that the airer 20 has a pair of elements 24 and that one of pair of elements is located above the slide 30 in an upper portion of the cavity 18, and the other one of the pair of elements is located below the slide 30 in a mid or lower portion of the cavity 18. Turning to Figure 5 specifically, the airer 20 and its associated elements 24 may be moved from the first position to the second position along a transverse axis of the door as shown, with the slide 30 at full extension. From this position, the elements 24 can be deployed in the same manner as described above, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, such that the upper element 24 pivots toward the top of frame 22 and locks into place with a support member 26. The lower element 24 pivots toward the bottom of frame 22. It may be assumed that the door pivots on its hinge/s about a longitudinal axis.

[0054] In another alternative embodiment, the airer 20 and associated frame 22, are replaced by a cassette (not shown). The cassette is attached to the body 12 of the door 10, in the same manner as the airer 20 i.e. on slides 30, 32, to allow the cassette to slide between the first and second positions. The cassette has a void which may be used to store items that are small or slim within the cassette, such as documents and the like. In this way, the cassette may be used to discretely store important items and may be more advantageous than a safe as the cassette is concealed in a door and likely to be unnoticed to an intruder. The cassette may be up to 25mm thick, preferably up to 35mm thick, further preferably up to 50mm thick, on a standard door to allow the storage of documents. The cassette may be sized to suit A4 or A3 documents, for example. It is envisaged that the cassette may be fire rated by the addition of steel liners inside the door. Furthermore, the cassette may be configured to receive and hold household tools such as screwdrivers, Allen keys, torque bits, hammers, spanners and the like, in a vacuum formed liner within the cassette. The cassette may be lockable with lock or electro-mechanical lock that is operable by keypad or a handheld device such as a smartphone or wearable. The cassette may preferably be retrofittable to an existing door.

[0055] The embodiments described above may be combined so that the door 10 has the airer 20 occupying the cavity 18 above the door lock and the cassette occupying the cavity below the door lock to provide both clothes hanging and storage capabilities on one door. This arrangement may be reversed.

[0056] Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.