Frame for supporting clothes lines
A frame for supporting clothes lines, which is mounted out of way over a bathtub or in a shower.
This invention relates to clotheslines which are used to hang clothes and other articles for air drying.
BACK GROUND OF INVENTIONThis arrangement features the ability to leave the dryer in place while the bathtub or shower is in use. It is easily installed and removable if necessary. Most other arrangements have to be continually removed and set up again after the bathtub has been used.
It may be constructed so some components are cut to length by the end user or they can be supplied with a means for adjustment.
This product will save power for drying small quantities of articles and will be more convenient in many circumstances than using a powered appliance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe frame to hold the clothes lines may be made of many materials such as wood dowels, metal or plastic with many configurations which use various combinations of the adjacent walls, ceiling and shower curtain rod to support the frame which contains the clotheslines. All have the feature of being overhead so they can remain in place while the bathtub or shower is in use.
Three configurations are shown with an elongated H shaped frame and one with a U shaped frame. In the preferred arrangements the end members are notched or have a fitting at one end which approximates the diameter of the shower rod. These end members are slightly longer than the horizontal distance between the shower rod and the back wall of the bath tub alcove so one end rests against the back wall and the other on the shower curtain rod. Another element many be used so the frame is supported by the ceiling above the shower curtain rod. In another arrangement the legs may be bent up at the ends and screwed to the ceiling with wall anchors.
The frame can be supported by the shower curtain rod alone when there is a clamping device on the end of the H to attach it to the shower curtain rod and the rod is prevented from turning by installing a screw through the rod mounting bracket into the rod.
The clothes lines are strung through holes in end members and may be secured by tying or by fasteners.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSThese as well as other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those familiar with house wares from the following detailed description of the preferred arrangements of the invention as used for drying articles such as clothes.
A frame with clothes lines may be supported in a number of ways above a bath tub so that wet articles drip into the tub. The walls, ceiling can be used in part or combination. The frame is shown in some of it's preferred arrangements which may in part depend upon which material the manufacturer has most available or prefers to use.
The approximate location of a shower head 10 is shown to be out of the way of all configurations of the dryer frame. The central tube 1, is used to hold tubes 2 and 3 apart and may be fixed size since most bath tubs and their alcoves are a more or less a standard length. Tubes 2 and 3 are joined by a tee 4, which may be standard PVC irrigation pipe and fitting, and glued together. Tube 3 may be cut to length by the end user or be adjustable in length by various means or as shown in
An alternative to using the wall 11 for support is to use the ceiling 12 as shown in
After the frame is assembled the clothes lines 7 are installed.
Since the exact location of the shower curtain rod 8 is unknown some components such as 3 and 14 will have to have a finish cut to length by the end user or a means provided to adjust the length as shown in
In
The length of tubes 3, 14, 29 and 30 need to be cut with reasonable accuracy. To aid in this a doughnut shaped ring 33.
With the tube placed against the shower curtain rod 8,
Although a detailed description of the preferred methods of providing an overhead dryer is given herein, it will understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made to such embodiments which would be apparent in making the product without departing from the sprit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A frame with clothes lines positioned above a bathtub so that it does not have to be removed to use the bath tub or shower.
2. A frame with clothes lines supported by the bath tub shower curtain rod and walls of the bathtub alcove.
3. A frame with clothes lines supported by the bathtub shower curtain rod
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 14, 2004
Publication Date: May 12, 2005
Inventor: Robert Reid (Wasaga Beach)
Application Number: 10/939,441