REMOVABLE, CEILING-BASED DRYING APPARATUS

Abstract

An indoor, removable ceiling-based air-drying apparatus includes two opposing right angled brackets. Each bracket has two (2) slotted keyholes in the upper horizontal leg. Wood screws are partially screwed into the ceiling leaving a gap of from the ceiling to the screw head, for sliding and locking into the brackets' slotted keyholes for fastening it on the ceiling. The vertical leg has a lower horizontal tab with keyhole. The hypotenuse leg connects the upper horizontal leg with the vertical leg for strength when using the apparatus. A vinyl-coated line, including a turnbuckle, is connected to and spanned between the horizontal tabs of the vertical legs. The turnbuckle is turned by the user, to either increase the tension of the cable for ready use, or lessen the tension to allow the cable to be removed, thus freeing both brackets to be easily removed by sliding them off the screws.

Claims

1. A removable, ceiling-mounted, laundry air-drying apparatus comprising: a. two identical right-angled opposing brackets, each with an upper horizontal leg, a vertical leg with a lower horizontal tab, and a hypotenuse leg that connects the horizontal leg with the vertical leg for strength when in use; i. each upper horizontal leg of the bracket has two (2) keyhole slot cutouts; ii. each lower horizontal tab of the bracket has a single keyhole slot cutout b. two (2) screws per bracket, which are partially screwed into a ceiling leaving a gap of between the ceiling and the screw head, for sliding and locking the bracket flush under the ceiling, through its upper horizontal leg keyhole cutouts; c. one (1) vinyl-coated, 304 stainless steel line terminated with a turnbuckle on one end, and a looped line on the other, for connecting to, and spanning between the horizontal tab of each of the vertical legs.

2. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus can be placed flush under the ceiling by sliding the upper horizontal leg of the bracket through its keyhole cutouts into the gap between the ceiling and the pre-installed screw heads, and can be removed from the ceiling by sliding each bracket out of the gap between the ceiling and screw head, unlimited time, on an as needed basis.

3. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein each bracket has a 1.5 horizontal tab with 45-degree keyhole-type cutout for inserting the hook end of the turnbuckle into the tab's keyhole of one bracket, and slipping the looped line into the tab's keyhole of the other bracket.

4. An apparatus of claim 1, involves connection/placement of the line between two brackets with the use of horizontal tab and increasing its tension by turning the turnbuckle to firmly stabilize the apparatus for use, and releasing the tension by turning the turnbuckle the opposite way to allow the removal of the line and the brackets.

5. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein one-time screwed-in four (4) wood screws (two (2) per bracket) remain in the ceiling for unlimited placements and removals of the apparatus/brackets.

6. An apparatus of claim 1, line designed to be used for appropriate placement (distancing) of each of four (4) screws to accommodate a fixed placement of each bracket and their separation.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view of the entire apparatus mounted under the ceiling;

[0008] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the general appearance and structure of the two identical brackets, which include two keyhole slots cutout in each of the upper Horizontal Legs (H), and 1.5 horizontal tab with a 45 degree smaller keyhole-type cutout;

[0009] FIG. 3 shows a front elevation view of the vinyl-coated 304 stainless steel line with one end of the line terminated on the eye side of the hook & eye 304 stainless steel turnbuckle, and the other end terminated with a looped end of the line, which are used to be temporarily secured into the keyhole-type cutout in the Horizontal Tab of each bracket, thus holding them firmly in place under the ceiling;

[0010] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of four (4) screws and how they are screwed into the ceiling through drywall and into the wood joist. It also includes a detailed drawing of the required gap between the drywall and screw head, as shown in Detail A.;

[0011] FIG. 5 is a technical drawing showing the design details of the bracket(s), including Details A and B of the 1.5 horizontal tab which show the angle of tab and the 45 degree keyhole-type cutout, respectively.

[0012] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a thick plastic gap guide to be used only one time to aid in screwing in two (2) screws for each bracket. The greater distance between each bracket is measured by using the vinyl coated line (equivalent to the length of the line, excluding the turnbuckle). Each notch in the gap guide represents the exact screw in location of each screw.

[0013] FIG. 7 shows representative examples of the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] This disclosure relates to a design and usage of an indoor, ceiling-mounted apparatus to air dry laundry and a plethora of other uses and applications. It includes two opposing right angled brackets each with its hypotenuse legs facing each other (see FIG. 1).

[0015] Each bracket has two keyhole slots in the upper Horizontal Leg H (see FIG. 2, Leg H) for fastening the brackets flush under the ceiling.

[0016] The round (circle) cutout of the keyhole is just large enough to allow the head of the screw to pass through it. The elongated cutout of the keyhole is narrower than the round cutout, yet wide enough to accommodate the threaded portion of the screw, hence allowing the bracket to slide along the length of the elongated cutout to its end. This keyhole design allows for the Horizontal Leg H of the bracket to be inserted over the screw head flush against the ceiling and then slid into the elongated cutout of the key hole to loosely secure the bracket on the ceiling to first install the apparatus for use. Once the line is attached to the horizontal tabs of the Vertical Leg V, the turnbuckle is then turned to increase the tension of the line to firmly secure the brackets.

[0017] The round (circle) cutout of the keyhole is large enough to allow the head of the screw to pass through it. The elongated cutout of the keyhole is narrower than the round cutout, yet accommodate the threaded part of the screw to slide along the long cutout to its end. This keyhole design allows for the bracket to be inserted over the screw head flush against the ceiling and then slid into the elongated cutout of the key hole to loosely secure the bracket on the ceiling.

[0018] Additionally, on the bottom of the Vertical Leg V of each bracket is a 1.5 Horizontal Tab with a 45-degree keyhole-type cutout (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, Detail A). Two (2) pre-painted screws per bracket are screwed into the ceiling, leaving a gap of between the ceiling and the screw head (see FIG. 4, Detail A). This design allows for each bracket to be easily slid in the gap (see video, URL: https://www.rommare.com/how-to-videos/).

[0019] The Hypotenuse Leg of each bracket connects Leg H and Leg V as shown in FIG. 2 for strength when the line tension is increased, which crates stabilizing pressure between the ceiling and the screw heads for both brackets to remain stable and firm for use.

[0020] A 0.06 (1.5 mm) vinyl-coated 304 stainless steel line, which includes an eye & hook turnbuckle on one end, and a looped line on the other end, is connected to and spanned between each bracket, with the use of each Horizontal Tab (see FIG. 1). The eye & hook turnbuckle is turned by the user, to either increase the tension of the line for ready use, or lessen the tension to allow the line to be removed, thus freeing both brackets for easy removal from the ceiling.

[0021] The principal object and advantage of the invention is its unique design, which allows its placement and use right under the ceiling;

[0022] Another object and advantage of the invention is its quick and easy, on-and-off design for easy placement and removal on an as-needed basis. It takes less than a minute each to place it and remove it.

[0023] Another object and advantage of the invention is its space-saving design that does not require floor and/or wall space to be used.

[0024] Another object and advantage of the invention is its innovative concept that allows users to air-dry or display item(s) in any room(s) inside the residence, where there is a ceiling.

[0025] Another object and advantage of the invention is that its design allows for multiple apparatus' to be used within a single room without interfering with the living space below it.

[0026] Another object and advantage of the invention is that when it is ready for use, the vinyl-coated line is positioned 16 from the ceiling and 80 from the floor (when used in a room with a 96 ceiling height), spanned either 8, 10 or 12 in length (although, the actual length of the line can vary).

[0027] Another object and advantage of the invention is that by using the ceiling to mount the apparatus, it allows individuals under 65 in height an unobstructed living space (when used in a room with a 96 ceiling height).

[0028] Another object and advantage of the invention is that because of its unique ceiling placement (80 from floor to the vinyl-coated 304 stainless steel line when used in a room with a 96 ceiling height), it eliminates potential sources of injury to people and pats, especially children, which may occur with the use of traditional clothes drying racks or newer designs equipped with a thin and almost invisible clothesline tightly stretched between two walls across the room, only a few feet above the floor.

[0029] Another object and advantage is the one-time placement of four (4) properly spaced and mounted and paint-ready screws into the ceiling to accommodate an easy placement or removal of the apparatus, on an as-needed basis.

[0030] Another object and advantage of the invention is that when removed, it leaves only four small ceiling-matched pre-painted screw heads in the ceiling, which are barely visible and do not draw visual attention to where the apparatus was originally placed, which is analogous to the well-known phrase; now you see it, now you don't.

[0031] Another object and advantage of the invention is its sturdy design without any moving mechanical parts (i.e., rolls, springs, pulleys, buttons, etc.), to assure its log and repeated use without compromising its original function, and/or causing undesirable malfunctions.

[0032] Another object and advantage of the apparatus is that it requires minimum space to stow it away, taking only 16L10W2H of space (about the size of half of a large pizza box)

[0033] Another object and advantage of the invention is that, if desired, it can be left placed on the ceiling for an indefinite period, without affecting the living space beneath the apparatus.

[0034] Another object and advantage of the invention is that since the functionality of this invention is 80 above the floor, which renders it unreachable by the average toddler, thus may be considered childproof, not to mention pat-proof.

[0035] Another object and advantage of the invention is that it provides a green approach to laundry: [0036] Environmentally-friendly alternative to gas and electric dryers; [0037] Minimize environmental impact or carbon emissions in air-drying laundry; [0038] Energy savings by using air to dry clothing, sheets, etc., rather than electric or gas dryers;

[0039] Another object and advantage of the invention is that it provides the convenience of hanging laundry to air-dry in any room of the residence with a ceiling: [0040] Simple, trouble-free and clean design; [0041] Quick and easy to place it for use and to remove it with virtually no visible trace of the ceiling screws when not in use; [0042] No need for cumbersome free-standing floor racks, or unsightly, permanently mounted drying racks or devices, including those requiring the use of wall space;

[0043] Another object and advantage of the invention is that extends the life of clothing: [0044] Appropriate for air-drying fabrics such as silk, cashmere, and wool, that are not recommended for traditional clothes dryer; [0045] Virtually any fabric benefits from natural air-drying compared to electric or gas generated high temperature drying; [0046] Air-drying laundry indoors avoids fading due to sun exposure;

[0047] Another object and advantage of the invention is that it provides a convenient method of drying laundry in a home, apartment or condominium. There is no need to use a common/community dryer or laundromat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0048] The design and the concept of the invention is fairly simple. Its main function and use is to allow air drying laundry 16 from the ceiling, whereby leaving 80 from the line to the floor of unobstructed open space, when used in a room with a 96 ceiling height.

[0049] The apparatus is comprised of the following components: [0050] a) Set of two (2) identical right-angled brackets with a hypotenuse leg. The brackets are constructed of steel or other materials such as wood, metal, plastic, etc.) (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 5). [0051] b) One (1) vinyl-coated 304 stainless steel line terminated at each end (see FIG. 3) where one end of the line is affixed to an eyelet side of the hook & eye turnbuckle, and a looped line on the opposite end. Note: The vinyl-coated line is also designed to be used for proper distancing of each of four (4) screws. [0052] c) Four (4) #8 wood screws 1.5 in length with pre-painted, or paint-ready screw heads.

[0053] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.