CLOTHES AIRER

Abstract

Disclosed is a clothes airer includes two spaced apart frame members and a plurality of hanging rails which extend between the frame members, at least the hanging rails being provided with a coating, such as a coating of poly fluoride wax, that defines a slip resistant surface.

Claims

1. A clothes airer comprising two spaced apart frame members and a plurality of hanging rails which extend between the frame members, at least said hanging rails being provided with a coating that defines a slip resistant surface.

2. The clothes airer according to claim 1 wherein the coating comprises poly fluoride wax.

3. The clothes airer according to claim 2 wherein the coating comprises at least 1% poly fluoride wax by weight.

4. The clothes airer according to claim 3 wherein the coating comprises between 1% and 2% poly fluoride wax by weight.

5. The clothes airer according claim 2 wherein the coating comprises between 1% and 1.5% poly fluoride wax by weight.

6. The clothes airer according to claim 5 where in the coating comprises 1.4% poly fluoride wax by weight.

7. The clothes airer according claim 2 wherein in addition to poly fluoride wax the coating comprises one or more of an epoxy resin, polyester resin, barium sulphate, titanium pigment, polyethylene wax, aluminium powder and colouring pigment.

8. The clothes airer according to claim 2 wherein the coating provides a textured finish.

9. The clothes airer according to claim 2 wherein the coating provides a matt finish.

10. The clothes airer according to claim 1 wherein at least a part of the clothes airer additional to the hanging rails is provided with the same coating as that provided on the hanging rails.

11. The clothes airer according to claim 1 wherein the hanging rails have a diameter of 5 mm or less.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes airer in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, and

[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a clothes airer in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] A collapsible airer 10 (see FIG. 1) of the so-called three-tiered type comprises a main frame 11 formed of a pair of substantially identical side frame assemblies 12 which each comprise relatively pivotable side frame members 13.

[0018] The two side frame assemblies are spaced apart by a plurality of hanging rails 14,15 which in use of the airer extend substantially horizontally between the side frame assemblies.

[0019] Each outermost hanging rail 14 of the lowermost and intermediate tier is integral with a pair of side frame members 13 and in this embodiment each said rail 14 and pair of side members 13 are formed from a single length of bent metal tube.

[0020] Other, inward, hanging rails 15 of a lighter construction extend between the side frame members.

[0021] For the uppermost tier the outermost edge rails 16 are not formed integrally with the side frame members 13. Instead they are secured to the side frame members by moulded plastic hinge units 19.

[0022] The outermost hanging rails 14 are of a cross-section corresponding to that of the side frame members 13 and greater than the cross-section of the hanging rails 15 Typically the outer hanging rails 14 and side frame members 13 are of a tubular construction whereas the hanging rails 15 of light construction typically are formed from relatively stiff steel wire.

[0023] Conventional locking arms 41 hold the side frame assemblies in the position shown in FIG. 1 but may be released to allow the airer to be collapsed for storage. Other details of an airer of this type are described in GB2563107A.

[0024] In this embodiment the hanging rails 14 are secured to side frame members to form a sub-assembly which is then provided with a slip resistant coating comprising poly fluoride wax. Subsequently a plurality of the sub-assemblies are inter-connected by means of conventional plastics components and hinges that provide a pivotal connection between the tiered sub-frames.

[0025] In this embodiment of the invention the coating comprises the following ingredients namely:—

TABLE-US-00001 Main Ingredients Concentration (Generic Name) (Weight Percentage) Epoxy resin 29.0% Polyester resin 29.0% Barium sulphate 25.1% Titanium pigment (Ti02) 12.5% Poly fluoride wax  1.4% Polyethylene wax  0.8% Red pigment * 0.12% Black pigment * 0.85% Yellow pigment * 0.23% Aluminium powder  1.0% * Other colour pigments may readily be employed without adversely affecting the slip resistance of the surface of the coating.

[0026] The aforementioned composition is applied in conventional manner for creating a powder coated finish. By the use of this coating the hanging rails are provided a matt and textured surface finish that exhibits a beneficial slip resistance to assist in securely restraining laundry items from slipping down from a hanging rail.

[0027] Although the present invention is particularly applicable to an airer of the so-called three tiered type it may be employed also for other clothes airers, such as described in more detail in the specification of our UK patent GB 2560415B and comprising a pair of leg frames 11 (see FIG. 2) which are pivotally mounted relative to one another about an axle 12 and provides support for side frames 24.

[0028] Each side frame comprises a plurality of laundry support rails 26 and in this embodiment of the invention each of the support rails 26 is provided with the coating corresponding to that described in respect of the first embodiment of the invention, said coating being provided prior to securing the rails in position relative to the side frames 24. Optionally the leg frames as well as the hanging rails may be provided with the slip resistant coating.

[0029] Although the composition of the coating may be varied from that specifically described herein, the coating nevertheless beneficially may contain poly fluoride wax in order to provide the desired slip resistance, more particularly a coating comprising poly fluoride wax in the aforedescribed ranges or that of 1.4% by weight thereby to provide an advantageous degree of slip resistance without significantly inhibiting the ease of removal of laundry items subsequent to drying. That also avoids the risk of damage to laundry items such as might arise if a higher percentage of poly fluoride wax is present in the coating.