Field of the Invention The present invention relates to means to improve the drying of washing on a washing line, and in particular to encourage washing to hang stably on a washing line to limit tangling and so reduce ironing requirements.

Background

Drying of suspended items outdoors, such as bedding, table cloths or clothing on a washing line has the problem that clothes may tend not to hang vertically under their own weight. In particular the washing can have a tendency to wrap around the line in the wind which can prevent or hinder drying, and can form creases.

Larger items have an increased likelihood of becoming tangled and therefore can be slower to dry as they can flap significantly on windy days. Therefore such items often require ironing in order to remove the creases created due to tangling and drying in the tangled orientation.

Furthermore ah item of washing that is flapping wildly can be more likely to hit surrounding objects such as foliage, buildings or the ground which may soil the item of washing. Traditional clothes pegs serve to secure an item of washing to a washing line or other suspension device; however they do not prevent tangling of the washing. The clothes pegs can also cause creases in the washing.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following:

International Patent Application WO2004054792 (Coetzee) discloses a means for securing a beach towel or blanket or the like on a beach, lawn or the like, having a container sized to receive a weight such as sand, and a slotted diaphragm of flexible resilient material shaped to receive and secure the edge or corner of the towel or blanket. This device has a holding system liable to cause creasing. Japanese Patent Application JP2006218260 A (Fusayuki) discloses an auxiliary hanger which can smooth a garment by insertion of a clip with a weight. United States granted Patent US2922209 (Longhi) discloses an improved weighted pinch-type clothespin which can be used in a conventional way for hanging clothes on a line and which can also be attached to the bottom of such clothes to prevent them from flapping, tearing and tattering in high winds. United States granted Patent US5520364 (Bloxson) discloses a detachable weight assembly and cover for use in combination with a detachable weight assembly for holding a cover securely by means of gravity.

United States Patent Application US 2008/0023617 A1 (Stanley Ho) discloses a weight assembly which includes a container having a first portion and a second portion with a means for attaching the v/eight assembly to a fastening means, and a fastening means.

United States Patent Application US2008/0057825 A1 (Nelson) discloses a balloon weight having a display clip, first and second clip members biased to be in close proximity to each other at a clip end and separate from each other at a squeeze end. The display clip has a base mass.

The present invention provides a device that is secured to washing in order to weigh down the washing so as to prevent tangling as a result of the wind and thereby accelerate drying and reduce requirement for ironing.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a clip comprising: a weighted body including a first and a second body portion, the first body portion has a first handle region and a first jaw region, the first handle region and the. first jaw region each have an inner surface and an outer surface; the second body portion has a second handle region and a second jaw region, the second handle region and the second jaw region each have an inner surface and an outer surface; the outer surfaces are rounded across multiple axes; the inner surfaces of the handle and jaw regions are arranged to face each other by a retention means that urges the jaw regions together and spaces the handle regions apart so that the jaw regions are capable of being urged apart by a user applying a force to the handle regions. In this way the jaw regions of the clip can be opened and closed in order to enable the clip to be clipped in a variety of orientations to an item of washing, such as a sheet or garment.

Preferably the item of washing to be dried is hung from a point of suspension such as a washing line. Typically the item of washing is secured to the point of suspension by a clip at one end of the item of washing. The clips are arranged in use at opposite ends of the item of washing so as to be distal from a point of suspension of the item of washing, therefore hanging on a lower portion of washing so as to weigh down the washing and causing it to hang substantially straight down.

Typically a method of use for the clip for drying an item comprises the steps of: hanging the item to be dried from a point of suspension, attaching one or more clips as claim in any preceding claim to a portion of the item which is lower than the point of suspension.

In this way the tendency of the item of washing to flap in the wind or to become tangled is reduced due to the item of washing being weighed down by the clip(s). This limits the number of times a user has to physically attend to the items of washing being dried for example to untangle them, especially larger items such as bedding and table cloths.

The use of the clips on items of washing can also accelerate drying and ensure the washing has a lesser requirement for ironing as the item of washing is dried under tension due to presence of the clips. This may reduce time taken to hang out the washing.

In preferred embodiments the clip is for air-drying of larger fabric items, and consequently comprises weighting arranged to maintain said items in a stretched and stably hung arrangement. The clip provides a well-spread and effectively dispersed tensionai force on a larger portion of the item by means of a jaw region that is larger than is common to prior art devices such as known clothes pegs. Preferably the clips have an arcuate or rounded formation and symmetry about multiple axes, so that movement of the item of washing whilst the clip is in place will not cause snagging or creases. Additionally the rounded formation ensures the clip has no edges that may cause injury if a person is hit by the clip whilst it is hung from the washing.

Typically the outer surfaces of the jaw regions are rounded and the inner surfaces of the jaw regions are planar so that each jaw region is substantially ovaloid or hemispherical in appearance.

In some embodiments the planar surface of the inner jaw region of the clip may have an elliptical footprint. Preferably the inner surface of the jaw region is substantially planar so as to expose a substantially flat surface to the item of washing. In some preferred embodiments the handle regions are smaller compared with the jaw regions. Advantageously the jaw regions are larger so as to spread a gripping or compressive force across a larger surface area of the item of washing. In this way creasing associated with prior art clothes pegs is prevented as the jaw region of the clip provides a flat surface that contacts either side of the item being dried.

In some embodiments the handle regions may have a similar or identical form or shape as the jaw regions wherein the handle regions are also substantially hemispherical. Typically however the handle regions are smaller than the jaw regions.

In other embodiments the outer surface of the handles may be shaped to receive fingers, for example being moulded to receive one or more finger so that the handles can be easily gripped in order to urge apart the jaw regions.

In another embodiment the handles may be formed from denser material than the jaws and therefore the centre of gravity of the clips is extended beyond the actual area of the item of garment that is being dried. This is considered to be a particularly beneficial feature as the clips actually act to hold the item of washing in tension about two axes. Typically the jaw regions and handle regions join at a narrow waist. In this way the clip has a figure of eight profile when viewed from above. The waist may correspond to location of the retention means.

In an alternative embodiment the waist may be elongate in order to clearly separate the jaw and handle regions and so extend the centre of gravity beyond the area of the item of washing. In use the jaw regions are closed about the item of washing wherein the inner faces are urged against one another by the retention means. This enables the clip to be fixed securely to the item of washing.

In a preferred embodiment body portions of the clip are substantially the same size and shape.

Preferably body portions are mirror images of one another. In this way both body portions may be manufactured in the same way so as to reduce costs. Therefore the body portions provide equal jaw regions and equal handle regions.

In some embodiments one of body portion may be larger than the other body portion.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the retention means comprises a resiliently deformable means, such as a spring means, adapted to bear on a portion of each body portion and adapted to urge the jaw portions in contact with each other. In this way the jaw regions are closed and so have to be urged apart by application of pressure to the handles.

Furthermore the retention means serve to hold the bodies together wherein the inner faces are arranged to face each other.

In preferred embodiments the retention means comprises a torsion spring, such as torsion bar or helical torsion spring bearing on both of the two body portions. The body portions may be moulded to include recesses or may be shaped for receiving the retention means and/or a means for holding the retention means to the clip thereby holding the bodies together and enabling rapid assembly as well as easy opening of the jaw regions wherein the jaw regions are biased to be closed by the retention means. In another embodiment the retention means may be removable from the clip so as to be replaced or exchange if required.

Additionally, or alternatively, the clip may include at least one mounting for receiving the retention means. For example the torsion spring may be fitted to the clip by means of a pin that is secured to the clip for example by means of at least one eyelet. In this way the torsion spring is able to rotate about the pin allowing pivoting of the bodies and thereby opening and closing of the jaw regions, optionally independent to opening and closing of the handle portions. In some other embodiments the torsion spring is dimensioned to fit about the bodies so as to not require a pin.

Preferably the torsion spring is formed from a strong, durable, weather resistant material so as to be suitable for repeated use in an outdoor environment. For example the spring may be formed from stainless steel, or may be galvanized and/or coated with a synthetic plastics material in order to prevent rust or corrosion.

In an alternative embodiment the retention means comprises: a magnetic closure means including a first component associated with the first body portion and a second component associated with the second body portion. For example each jaw region may be magnetic including a ferrous material so that the jaw regions are attracted to each other in order to clamp about an item of washing, wherein the jaw regions are urged apart by application of force to the handles. In another embodiment the clip may comprise one body portion having attachment means mounted on said on body for receiving the item of washing. For example the body may have a spring mounted plate that can be displaced from the body to define a jaw region into which the item of washing can be accepted. In preferred embodiments all or part of the handle regions are arranged in a different plane to the jaw regions so that the handle regions are spaced apart when the jaw regions are urged together. This arrangement allows pivoting so as to open and close the jaw regions by displacement of the handle regions. Typically the handle regions are squeezed together by the user to cause opening of the jaw regions. In a preferred embodiment the inner surfaces of the handle regions are angled in the range 10 to 45 degrees relative to the jaw regions. More preferably the angle is in the range 15 to 30 degrees. Advantageously the hemispherical shaping of the bodies enables the clip to be easily weighted. For example the body may be solid to increase weight. Additionally or alternatively the body may include ballast material, such as dense substance such as metal, in order to add weight to the clip.

Preferably the clip bodies are formed from a moulded shell, and are for example moulded from a polymer such as polyurethane, and may comprise a weighting material deposited around and/or within one or both of the bodies.

In a preferred fabrication method the weighting material may comprise a gel material which is introduced into the moulded shell during fabrication.

In a further embodiment the gel material may be moulded around the polymer shell to form a soft but heavy outer edge of the clip. In this way the clip may have a soft, flexible outer layer that is less likely to cause injury to a person or damage to surrounding objects if they become hit by the clip.

In a preferred fabrication method each portion comprises a closed moulded shell filled wholly or partially with a gel material. The gel material may be a polyurethane gel. A suitable gel has a density of at least approximately 1.05 g/cm3.

In some embodiments the clip may comprise one or more metal components to give additional weight, for example moulded into the interior of a polymer moulding.

In preferred embodiments the inner surfaces of the jaw regions may have grip portions to aid with fixing the clip to the items of washing and preventing slippage in use.

Typically the inner surface of the jaw region may be textured, for example having raised and/or lowered surfaces such as being crenelated, knurled, ridged or dimpled so that the jaw regions contacts securely with the item of washing. In this way a larger spread of contact is possible without causing localised damage or creasing to the item being dried. Furthermore raised and lowered parts may be formulated and arranged to disperse tension across the item.

Typically the textured jaw regions have raised portions that project no more than 3mm, preferably not more than 2mm and ideally 1 mm or less so that pressure from the jaw region against the item to be dried does not cause distortion of the fabric or lead to creasing.

Preferably the textured surface may be formed from or may include sections formed from a resiiiently deformable material such as rubber for example silicone so as to enhance grip and to flex against the item of washing. Thereby the clip is less likely to move in use and the grip portions are less likely to leave a crease in the washing.

In some embodiments the raised portion may comprise a ring-like grip portion. The ring-like grip portion may be a substantially circular ring. The ring may have varying radii of curvature, or may have one or more straight sides. The grip portion may for example include a plurality of concentric rings.

The grip portions on each inner surface of the jaw regions may be arranged to correspond with one another in such a way the a grip portions may be different on each surface, for example being staggered so as to interlock, or so that rings of one inner surface fit concentrically within rings of the second inner surface.

In some embodiments one inner surface may include projections and the second inner surface may include recesses for receiving the projections.

In some embodiments the jaw region may include apertures and/or channels so as to allow circulation of air in order to let the material between the jaw regions to be dried in spite of being substantially covered. The apertures and/or channel may form part of the body or may be formed by the grip portions.

In some other embodiments the inner surface may be smooth and formed from a grippy material such as rubber or silicone that aids in securing the clip in a fixed position on the item of washing. Preferably the clip has a mass in the range 100 to 500g in order to weight down the washing during drying. More preferably the clip has a mass in the range 150 to 250g. In a preferred embodiment each body portion has the same weight in the range 50 to 250g. In a more preferred embodiment each body portion has the same weight in the range 75 to 125g.

The clip may be provided in a range of sizes so as to be suitable for different items of washing and different levels of wind.

The surface area of the inner face of the jaw region may be in the range 10cm ² to 15cm ² , more preferably 25cm ² to 78cm ² . However, other areas may be preferred in view of the size and nature of the items of washing to be suspended. In some embodiments a range of clips is provided wherein the dimensions of the clip remain constant although weight of the clip may vary.

In an alternative embodiment a range of clips may be provided wherein the size of the clip may be proportional to weight of the clip, for example larger clips being heavier than smaller clips.

The clip may be provided in a range of colours, and may have moulded profiles or images formed on one or both body portions. For example the clips may be colour coded to correspond to weight of the clip or may have the weight of the clip embossed or debossed on the body.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in a first, closed position;

Figure 2 shows a second perspective view of the embodiment shown in figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the embodiment shown in figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the clip; Figure 5 shows a dismantled view of the Clip shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows an over view of the clip shown in Figure 4;

Figure 7 shows a selection of torsion springs for use on the clip; and

Figure 8 shows two items of washing hung from a line one item using the clips according to the invention and the second item with no clips.

Detailed Description of Figures

Referring to figures 1 to 3, an embodiment 00 of a clip comprises a first body portion 10A and a second body portion 10B that are articulated together in use. Each body portion 10A, 10B having a jaw region 20 and a handle region 30.

The two body portions 10A, 10B are arranged to oppose each other being connected by retention means 40 arranged between the jaw region 20 and handle region 30. The jaw region 20 has a planar inner face 21 and an arcuate outer face 22. The jaw region is substantially hemispherical.

The handle region also has a planar inner surface 31 and an arcuate outer surface 32. The handle region is also substantially hemispherical.

Both body portions are substantially the same size and shape.

The jaw region 20 is larger than the handle region 30 to provide a large area for interfacing the item of washing.

The first and a second body portion 10A, lOBcan pivot at retention means 40 to enable opening and closing of the jaw regions. The retention means 40 comprises a hinge located between the handle region and the jaw region on each portion in an area defined as a waist 80. The retention means 40 is arranged to bear on a portion of each body portion 10A and 10B. The retention means 40 serves to urge the inner surfaces 21 of the jaw regions 20 towards each other. The handle regions 30 are arranged in a different plane to the jaw regions 20. In this way the handle regions 30 are spaced apart when the jaw regions 20 are urged against one another. This allows the bodies 10A, 10B to pivot at the waist 80 so as to open and close the jaw regions 20. The inner surfaces of jaw regions21 comprise a raised grip portion 50 adapted to aid with gripping items of washing. The grip portion 50 has a raised profile around an outer edge of the inner surface 21 of both of the jaw regions20. The grip portion 50 helps the clip 100 to remain fixed to the item of washing 200 and prevent slippage during use.

The clip 100 has a mounting 60 having eyelets 65 on each of the two body portions for receiving part of the retention means 40.

The retention means 40 includes a metal hinge in the form of a torsion spring. The torsion spring is arranged on a pin 45 that is secured to the bodies 10A and 10B by the mounting 60 passing through the eyelets 65.

The torsion spring 60 located around the pin 45 bears on both of the two body portions 10A and 10B having one arm 66A to bear on the first body portion 10A and a second arm 66B to bear on the second body portion 10B.

The clip is formed from moulded polymer shell with a weighting material deposited within both of the jaw and the handle regions. In some embodiments the weighting material may be the polymer whereas in other embodiments alternative material may be used to add ballast.

Figures 4 to 6 show a second embodiment 400 of the invention having a different retention means 40 to the embodiment shown in figure 1 to 3.

The second embodiment 400 also has an elongate waist region 80 wherein the retention means are arranged on inner faces of the bodies 10A, 10B. The mounting for receiving the retention means 40 comprises a male fulcrum 65A and female fulcrum 65B. Figure 7 shows two different types of torsion springs 40 that may be used on the clip 100, 400. The clip 100, 400may be adapted in different ways to receive each different torsion spring 40.

Figure 8A shows an item of washing 200 hung from a line 210. The item of washing 200 is secured to the line 210 by four clothes pegs 300. The item of washing 200 has two clips 100, 400 arranged on a distal end of the washing so as to weigh the item of washing 200 down.

Figure 8B shows two items of washing 200A, 200B hung from lines 210. One item of washing 200A is secured to the line 210 by two clothes pegs 300 and has no clips. Therefore the item of washing flaps wildly in the wind.

The second item of washing 200B is secured to the line 210 by two clothes pegs 300and has two clipsl OO, 400 arranged on a distal portion of an item of washing 200B so as to encourage the washing to hand downwards and to limit displacement of the washing due to any wind. Therefore the item of washing 200B is less affected by the wind due to addition of the weighed clips. This prevents tangling and accelerates drying. The item of washing 200B with the clips 100, 400 arranged distally on the item of washing 200B also hangs straighter in t e wind and therefore requires less ironing.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.