A problem with hanging out washing to dry on a washing line is that a person generally bends down to pick up washing from a washing basket on the ground before straightening to peg the washing on the line. The repeated bending and straightening of the back can lead to or aggravate back problems.

GB-A-2282064 discloses a device for use with a rotary washing line which addresses this problem by having a basket of washing supported at a predetermined height above the ground. The device has a platform for holding the basket at one end of a bar and has an upper sleeve slidably mounted on the pole of the washing line at the other end of the bar, the bar being pivotally connected to the upper sleeve. A support stay extends obliquely from the bar to a lower sleeve mounted on the pole at the foot of the pole and the stay is pivotally connected at one end to the lower sleeve. The other end of the support stay is pivotally connected to a sleeve on the bar and a chain between the upper sleeve and the stay prevents the upper sleeve from rising above the platform.

When the device is not in use, the platform can be tilted towards the pole causing the upper sleeve to slide down towards the lower sleeve and the bar sleeve to slide along the bar. This device is complex and has many parts. It requires the pole of the washing line to be lifted out of the ground and through the upper and lower sleeves in order for the device to be attached to the washing line pole. The sleeves are prone to collect dirt which would prevent them effectively sliding and objects are liable to get caught up with the chain.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simpler device which at least alleviates the above problems.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for use with a washing line, comprising: a support upon which the basket can be placed;

an elongate member pivotally connected at a first end thereof to said support; means for attaching a second end of the elongate member to a generally vertical pole of a washing line, said attaching means being pivotally connected to said second end of said elongate member such that when the device is attached to said pole, the first end of said elongate member is higher than the second end; and abutting means for restricting the extent of pivotal movement of said pivotal connections such that, in use, said elongate member is inclined at a predetermined angle relative to said pole, and said support is in a substantially horizontal position.

The pivotal connections may be arranged to enable both the support and the elongate member to be pivoted to a more vertical position adjacent said pole when the device is not in use.

The abutting means may comprise means for the support to rest on in order to be in a substantially horizontal position whilst the elongate member is inclined. The rest means may comprise a stop portion fixed to, or integral with, the first end of the elongate member.

The abutting means may comprise the second end of the elongate member engaging the attaching means when the device is in use to maintain the inclination of the elongate member to be inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the pole. In another example, the means for restricting the extent of pivotal movement may comprise a stop portion fixed to, or integral with the attaching means for the elongate member to rest on when the device is in use to maintain the inclination of the elongate member at a predetermined angle relative to the pole.

The support may have a second elongate member pivotally connected to the elongate member and the second elongate member may be arranged to pivot over the first end of the first elongate member and rest on the first elongate member when the device is not in use. The support may comprise pivotal first

and second parts arranged to be folded to face each other when the device is not in use. The pivotal first and second parts may be pivotally connected to either side of the second elongate member. The first and second parts are preferably arranged to fold on either side of the elongate member when the device is not in use.

It may be desirable for the attaching means to comprise a clamp for clamping the device to the pole. The pole may, for example, be that of a rotary washing line or a pole supporting one end of a linear washing line. The clamp may be arranged to clamp the device to an in situ washing line pole.

The device requires fewer parts than the above-mentioned prior art and is easier and cheaper to manufacture. No sliding sleeves are required which get jammed with dirt, nor is any chain required which objects can become caught in.

Only one elongate member is required with only one attaching means, such as a clamp, to attach the device to the washing line pole, as opposed to having both a bar and a stay with their respective sleeves to attach the device to the pole.

The device according to the present invention does not necessarily require the washing line pole to be lifted out of the ground when the device is to be attached to it.

When the device according to the invention is attached to the pole of a rotary washing line, it is particularly useful to have the attaching means secured to the washing line pole at a position lower than the support. In this way, when the washing line is to be collapsed to its storage position, the device does not obstruct the downward pivotal movement of the arms of the rotary washing line relative to the pole.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic view of a device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention attached to the pole of a rotary washing line ; Figures 2 to 4 are a side elevational view, a plan view and an end elevational view of the device, respectively;

Figures 5 and 6 are isometric views of a clamp forming part of the device; Figure 7 is a detail of a connection between a platform and an elongate member forming part of the device; Figure 8 is a detail of the platform ; Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the device attached to the pole of a rotary washing line and in its"stored away"position; Figure 10 is cross-sectional view taken along lines 10-10 of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a detail of the platform in its"stored away"position; and Figures 12 and 13 are perspective views of a device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention attached to the pole of a washing line in its "in use"and in its"stored away"positions, respectively.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, the device 1 is clamped to the pole 2 of a rotary washing line 3 by a clamp 4 and is illustrated in its"in use"position. A first end 5a of an elongate member 5 is attached to a platform or support 7 by a first pivot connection 6 and the opposite second end 5b of the elongate member 5 is attached to the clamp 4 by a second pivot connection 8. The pivot connections 6,8 to the elongate member 5 ensure that the platform 7 is retained at a predetermined height above the ground in a substantially horizontal position whilst the clamp 4 is secured to the washing line pole 2 at a position lower than the platform 7. A washing basket 9 is shown being supported by the platform 7.

Referring to Figures 2 to 8 and 11, the second end 5b of the elongate member 5 is supported by a pair of L-shaped brackets 10 attached to one side of a baseplate 11 of the clamp 4. Journalled in the upstanding part 12 of each bracket 10 is a horizontal axle 13 of the second pivot connection 8 about which the elongate member 5 rotates. An abutting or stop member or portion 14 is fixed to and spans between a bottom portion of the distal end of the upstanding part 12 of each bracket 10 and the elongate member 5 abuts, leans or rests on the stop member 14 so that it is inclined at a predetermined angle when the device 1 is attached to the pole 2.

Extending from the opposite side of the baseplate 11 is a pair of U- shaped members 15 one above the other and arranged to surround the washing line pole. Each U-shaped member 15 has an associated C-shaped sliding member 16. The C-shaped sliding member 16 has two side portions 17 linked by a linking portion 18 and each side portion 17 has a curved recess 19 shaped to receive part of the pole. The distal end portions 20 of each U-shaped member 15 are threaded and pass through the linking portion 18 of its respective C-shaped sliding member 16 and the baseplate 11. A nut 21 is screwed on each threaded distal end portion 20 extending beyond the baseplate 11.

A pair of support plates 22 are attached to either side of the first end of the elongate member 5 and extend above the elongate member 5. Journalled in the part of each support plate 22 above the elongate member 5 is a horizontal axle 23 of the first pivot connection 6 about which the platform 7 rotates. An abutting or stop member 24 is fixed to and spans between support plates 22 and is aligned with the first end of the elongate member 5.

The platform 7 has an elongate member 25 through an end portion of which is journalled the horizontal axle 23 of the first pivot connection 6 and the platform elongate member 25 abuts, leans or rests on the stop member 24. A pair of U-shaped members 26 are attached to either side of the platform elongate member 25 and a beam 27 is pivoted about a horizontal axle 28 between the arms 29 of each platform U-shaped member 26. The end of the beam 27 closest to the platform elongate member 25 has a stop plate 30 attached extending below the beam 27 and engaging the side of the platform elongate member 25 so that the beam 27 extends perpendicularly from the platform elongate member 25.

The platform 7 comprises two substantially semi-circular platform portions 31 and the distal end portion of each beam 27 is screwed to the underside of a respective platform portion 31. The upper surface of each semi-circular platform portion 31 has a bent rubber strip 32 positioned slightly within the curved edge of

the platform portion 31, and a pair of aligned rubber strips 33 slightly within and parallel to the straight edge of the substantially semi-circular platform portion 31.

Another rubber strip 34 is aligned with the beam 27 beneath the platform portion 31 and is spaced between the bent strip 32 and the aligned strips 33.

In use, the pole 2 of a rotary washing line 3 is lifted out of its socket 35 in the ground (see Fig. 1) and placed through the pair of U-shaped clamp members 15 before being placed back in its socket 35. Alternatively, if used with a pole supporting one end of a washing line, the U-shaped clamp members 15 would be detached from the rest of the clamp 4 and placed around the pole before being reattached to the baseplate 11.

The clamp nuts 21 are tightened so as to draw the U-shaped clamp members 15 further through the baseplate 11 causing the pole 2 to be clamped between the U-shaped members 15 and their respective C-shaped sliding members 16.

The stop or abutting members 14,24 support the elongate member 5 at a predetermined inclination relative to the pole 2 and the platform elongate member 25 in a substantially horizontal position so that the platform 7 can be in a substantially horizontal position, A basket 9 of washing can be then placed on the rubber strips 32,33, 34 of the two substantially semi-circular platform portions 31.

When the device 1 is to be stored away, the platform elongate member 25 is pivoted around the first pivot connection 6 towards the pole 2 until the platform elongate member 25 comes to rest on the elongate member 5. The beams 27 are rotated relative to the platform elongate member 25 so that the two substantially semi-circular platform portions 31 face each other on either side of the elongate member 5 and part of their rubber strips 32,33 engage the elongate member 5 (see Fig. 10). The elongate member 5 is then rotated about the second pivot connection 8 towards the pole 2 until the elongate member 5 and the platform 7 are in a near vertical"stored away"position as illustrated in Figures 9 to 11.

The pivotal arrangement of the elongate member 5 and platform 7 enables end 5b to be lower than end 5a. In this way, when the rotary washing line 3 is collapsed as shown in Figure 9, by sliding the cylindrical base 36 of the arms 37 down the pole 2, the elongate member end 5b does not obstruct the base 36 because it can be located near the ground whilst the platform 7 (see Fig. 1) is at a sufficient height above ground to avoid a person having to bend down to retrieve washing from a basket 9 on the platform 7.

To use the device 1 again, the above steps are simply reversed.

The pivot connections 6,8, 28 are relatively stiff so that rotation only occurs when due pressure is applied.

The device 1 may be made of any suitable materials such as metal, wood and/or plastic.

Referring to Figures 12 and 13, a second embodiment of the washing line device 101 has a pair of brackets 110 attached to one side of a baseplate 111 a of the clamp 104 and the brackets are strengthened by bracing 140. The second end 105b of the elongate member 105 rests against the baseplate 111 a of the clamp 104 and provides a means of restricting the extent of pivotable movement for the second pivot connection 8. The clamp 104 has a second baseplate 111 b spaced apart from the first baseplate 111 a and each baseplate has a pair of V-shaped members 141 for receiving the washing line pole 2. The two plates 111 a, 111 b are held together by four bolts 142.

An abutting or stop member or portion 124 fixed to the first end 105a of the elongate member 105 is inclined to the elongate member 105 and a support elongate member 125 is arranged to abut, lean or rest on an inclined surface 145 of the stop member 124. The stop member 124 provides a means of restricting the extent of pivotable movement for the first pivot connection 6. Two pairs of beams 127a, 127b extend from either side of the support elongate member 125. One pair 127a extend from the end distal to the first pivot connection 6 and the other pair 127b is adjacent the first pivot connection 6.

The support 107 comprises two half portions 131 of a ring and each half ring portion 131 has a U-shaped cross-section strengthened by webbing 143.

The U-shape of the cross-section is upside down when the support 107 is in its "in use"position (see Fig. 12). The distal end portions 144 of each half ring portion 131 each have a pivot connection 128a, 128b with a respective one of the beams 127a, 127b. The distal end portions 144 are shaped so that the lower part of each distal end portion 144 engages the support elongate member 125 when the half ring portions 131 are pivoted about the pivot connections 128a, 128b to form the support.

For at least this embodiment, the device 101 may be manufactured mainly from glass-reinforced plastic and be very strong and weather resistant and may support a load of up to 10Kg. The device may have a safety mechanism for preventing fingers from being caught between the elongate member 105 and the clamp 104.

Other parts of the second embodiment correspond to parts of the first embodiment and are not described again.

In use, the pair of baseplates 111 a, 111 b of the clamp 104 are placed either side of an in situ pole 2 of a washing line and the bolts 142 are passed through holes in both plates 111 a, 111 b, the heads of the bolts being larger than the holes. The clamp nuts 21 are screwed onto the other ends of the bolts 142 so as to draw the baseplates 111a, 111b towards each other causing the pole 2 to be clamped between the V-shaped members 141. The second end 105b of the elongate member 105 abuts, leans or rests against the baseplate 111 a so that the elongate member 105 is inclined at an approximately 40 degree angle to the ground when the device 101 is clamped to the washing line pole 2 (see Fig.

12). The support elongate member 125 abuts, leans or rests on the inclined surface 145 of the stop member 124 of the elongate member 105 and the half ring portions 131 are pivoted so that the lower part of their distal end portions 144 engage the support elongate member 125 so to form a level support to receive a basket of washing. The support 107, although substantially horizontal,

is actually tilted slightly, in this case at approximately a 5 degree angle down towards the pole 2. However, when the load of a basket of washing is placed on the support 107, the load causes the support 107 to become effectively horizontal.

When the device 101 is to be stored away, the support elongate member 125 is pivoted around the first pivot connection 6 so that the support elongate member 125 comes to rest on the elongate member 105 and the half ring portions 131 are rotated relative to the support elongate member 125 so that they face each other on either side of the elongate members 105,125. The elongate member 105 is then rotated towards the pole 2 so that the device 101 arrives at its"stored away"position as illustrated in Figure 13.

Whilst particular embodiments have been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, although the clamp 4,104 is shown for use with a conventional 4.4 cm (1% inch) diameter rotary washing line pole, the clamp 4,104 could easily be designed to suit poles of a different diameter. For example, the relevant dimensions of the clamp could be increased to suit a conventional 5.1 cm (2 inch) diameter pole supporting one end of a linear washing line. Other forms of clamps may be used to attach the device to a washing line pole.

The angle between the elongate member and the ground when the device is clamped to the washing line pole and, say, the length of the elongate member may be adjusted to have the support/platform at a predetermined height above the ground.