Foldable/collapsible peg holder
A clothes peg holder for maintaining pegs therein in storage and allowing access during use including: a body portion defining a chamber for storing the clothes pegs, the body having a floor and dependent wall wherein the floor and wall structure define a collapsible chamber for receiving and storing a plurality of pegs; a pair of arms interconnected to the body, the arms extending upwardly from the body and having attachment means at their ends, wherein in a mounted condition the opposite arms and body form a longitudinal opening transverse to the plane of the arms for access into the chamber, and wherein the arms are adapted to fold within the chamber in a transportable condition; and wherein as the chamber progressively fills with pegs in a second mounting condition, the weight of pegs urges the arms outwardly of the body and form longitudinal internal concavities extending into the chamber.
The present invention relates to a peg holder for receiving a plurality of pegs. The present invention particularly relates to a peg holder, which is able to change configuration for receiving and retaining a plurality of pegs and fold and/or collapse to a convenient and easy transportable size.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is well known in a domestic setting that when items such as clothes, sheets, towels and the like are cleaned by subjecting such items to hand or machine washing, such washed items are commonly air dried.
Air-drying washed articles of clothing and the like is usually performed by clamping articles of clothing onto a wire clothes-line with clamping devices. Typical clamping devices known as pegs, consist of two arms interconnected by a spring means, the spring means biases the arms towards each other such that when the arms are urged apart over a clothes line wire, thereafter the arms clamp about the line and hence clothing hung over or on the line is secured to the line.
For convenience when hanging out washing on a line, it is known to use a container for storing pegs. Such a container can be transported to and from the clothes line. Washing baskets for transporting clothes are known which include an attachable peg holder. It is even known to store pegs on the clothes line, which can be removed from the line for use.
Such methods of storing and/or transporting pegs, while workable, have their drawbacks. For example, it is often inconvenient to carry both a load of washing and peg container. However most attachable holders add to the weight of a load of washing and often do not provide sufficient room for enough pegs to hang out a full load of washing.
In the case of storing of pegs on a clothes line, a person is required to remove the peg from the line before it can be used. When this is repeated many times, such an action becomes both tedious and reduces the useful lifetime of a conventional peg.
Attempts have been made to address the above drawbacks by providing a container such as in GB 2210857 adapted to be permanently mounted to a washing line pole. A container which is permanently attached to the pole however may require a person, hanging out washing on a line, to frequently return to the container or to take a large handful of pegs to minimize the frequency of return.
To help address the above drawbacks, peg baskets have been used which comprise a sturdy framework structure fabricated from material such as wire or coated metal. By way of example, GB Patent No. 2414390 describes a clothes peg holder comprising a frame formed of one or more rails. The holder includes hook members so that the holder can be clipped to a line allowing sliding movement. In use, clothes pegs are stored by clipping pegs onto the one or more rails and when required for use a peg is removed from the stored position.
One drawback of this type of basket is that the framework can cause an injury if a person inadvertently collides with it. Further, because the pegs are stored on the rails of the article, the biasing or hinges means interconnecting the two arms of a peg are continually under stress even in a stored condition.
Other types of peg baskets include shallow rectangular open framed steel containers having hook means for attaching to a clothes line. A disadvantage of such types of peg basket is that in windy conditions the basket may rock sideways and pegs spill out onto the ground.
Wire frame baskets are also known which include a wire frame adapted to change configuration between an open in use condition and a closed storage condition. One problem with this type of structure is that it cannot be readily folded into an easily transportable package.
There is therefore still a need for a peg basket/holder which can be easily folded for transport and provide a secure means for storing and dispensing a plurality of pegs.
It is to be understood that any discussion of prior art heretofor is not an admission that such art constitutes an acknowledgement of common general knowledge.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome one or more of the above drawbacks by providing an improved clothes peg holder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a variable geometry clothes peg holder for substantially securely maintaining a plurality of pegs therein in a storage condition and allowing access during use, the holder including:
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- a body having a floor and dependent wall structure wherein the floor and wall structure define a collapsible chamber for storing a plurality of clothes pegs;
- a pair of oppositely disposed arms interconnected to the body, the opposite arms extending substantially upwardly from the body in use, the arms having attachment means at their ends for slidable and releasable attachment of the holder with respect to adjacent lines of a washing line, wherein in a mounted condition for receiving pegs the opposite arms and body form a longitudinal opening transverse to the plane of the arms for access into the chamber, and wherein the arms are adapted to fold within the chamber in a transportable condition; and
- wherein as the chamber progressively fills with pegs, the weight of pegs urges the arms outwardly of the body and form longitudinal internal concavities extending into the chamber, and wherein opposite facing wall portions of the body lying in a plane transverse to the plane of the arms are drawn towards each other so that the opening to the chamber is oriented longitudinally and parallel to the plane of the arms thereby narrowing the opening and retaining the pegs within the chamber in a storage condition.
The peg holder of the instant invention represents an improvement over the prior art because its allows (a) the holder to be collapsed and folded for easy transport, (b) improved retention and compaction of the pegs within the body, (c) progressive narrowing of the opening as the holder receives a complement of pegs, thus substantially minimising fall out of pegs from the holder even in the presence of high winds while still allowing access to pegs.
The peg holder can be made from plastic material such as polyethylene, polypropylene. The body portion of the peg holder can be an open mesh or weave structure to allow drainage of water and air flow therethrough to keep pegs dry and minimise mildew.
The floor can have an oval or elliptical configuration in which the floor extends longitudinally in one direction.
The pair of oppositely disposed arms can be joined or interconnected to the body by a pair of opposite shoulder portions. The shoulders can extend upwardly from opposite wall portions of the body to join opposite arm members to the body.
The shoulder portions interconnecting each of the arms can have a combined width greater than the longitudinal length of the floor so that the wall of the peg holder flares upwardly and outwardly from the floor.
The body portion can have at least one seam extending from the floor to one or other of the shoulders or preferably a pair of oppositely disposed seams extending from the floor to each pair of shoulders. In this embodiment the peg holder is substantially symmetric about a first vertical axis extending between the opposite arms and a second vertical axis extending in alignment with the longitudinal length of the floor.
When the oppositely disposed arms are mounted to adjacent lines on a washing line, the arms are spaced apart in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the floor. In this condition the arms and shoulders provide a substantially U-shaped opening to the internal chamber of the body portion and the opening extends longitudinally between the shoulders in substantial alignment with the longitudinal direction of the floor.
As the number of clothes pegs within the body portion increases, an increasing weight is placed on the internal chamber and oppositely disposed arms. The increased weight of pegs creates a longitudinal concavity or cradle extending along and substantially centrally of the arms into the chamber. This longitudinal concavity helps to compact a compliment of clothes pegs. Even in the presence of high winds the ability for the holder to sway enhances the urge to compact.
Further, as concavities are formed longitudinally on internal surfaces of the arms with increasing numbers of pegs, the arms also extend outwardly relative to the body. As this occurs the opposite ends of the pair of shoulders is caused to move or fold towards each other.
As the distance between the opposite shoulders decreases with increased concavity and expansion of the arms, the peg holder changes geometry. Initially, in the absence of pegs, the opening to the internal chamber extends longitudinally between the opposite shoulders. As the number of pegs within the internal chamber increases, and the shoulders are urged towards each other, the orientation of the opening extends progressively longitudinally between the opposite arms, i.e. the opening changes in a transverse direction to the plane of the shoulders when the shoulders are urged towards each other.
In use as the oppositely disposed shoulders move towards each other, the opening to the body alters configuration, and the body thereafter surrounds and partially covers the pegs contained therein adding to greater retention of pegs even in high winds.
In a related aspect of the present invention there is provided a foldable/collapsible clothes peg holder for storing a plurality of pegs including:
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- a body portion having an internal chamber for storing a plurality of clothes pegs, the body having a floor and dependent wall wherein the floor and wall are adapted to fold and/or collapse against each other in a transportable condition;
- a pair of oppositely disposed shoulders extending inwardly from an upper portion of the wall, the shoulders ending in a pair of oppositely disposed arms which extend substantially upwardly therefrom, the arms lying in a plane transverse to the plane of the shoulders, the shoulders and arms defining a longitudinal opening extending between the shoulders in a first mounting condition for access to the internal chamber so that pegs can be received by the body portion;
- the arms having a releasable fastening means at their respective ends to allow slidable mounting of the holder on a clothes line;
- wherein the body portion is sufficiently large relative to the arms as to hold a substantial quantity of pegs, and wherein as the internal chamber fills with pegs, the arms form internal concavities extending into the chamber and expand outwardly relative to the body in a direction transverse to the plane of the shoulders, and whereby the shoulders are urged towards each other causing a change in orientation of the opening between the opposite arms and thereby retain the pegs in a storage condition.
In a further related aspect of the present invention there is provided a variable geometry foldable/collapsible clothes peg holder including:
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- a foldable/collapsible body having a closed waistband of generally elliptical configuration, the waistband being interconnected to a torso having front and opposing side portions, the waistband and torso providing an internal chamber for storing a plurality of clothes pegs;
- the side portions of the torso ending in a pair of oppositely disposed open shoulders, the shoulders being wider than the waistband in the absence of pegs within the internal chamber;
- the shoulders extending upwardly from and at an obtuse angle to the torso ending in a pair of oppositely disposed arms, wherein the shoulders and arms form a first longitudinal opening extending between the shoulders for access to the internal chamber in a mounted condition in the absence of pegs;
- the arms each having a fastening means on an end portion thereof for slidable and releasable attachment to adjacent lines on a washing line, wherein the each arm is adapted to hang downwardly from adjacent lines on the washing line in an attached condition;
- wherein as the number of clothes pegs received within the internal chamber increases, the shoulders and side portions of the torso are urged towards each other thereby altering the first opening to form a second opening which extends longitudinally between the arms, in a transverse direction to the first opening, to assist encapsulating pegs within the internal chamber.
An advantage of the peg holder of the instant invention is that as the number of pegs held within the internal chamber increases, the geometry of the opening changes between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the second configuration, the holder operates to help compaction of an increasing complement of pegs within the internal chamber, and encapsulate and thereby retain the pegs within the internal chamber even in the presence of high winds. A further advantage is that the peg holder can if desired be collapsed and folded into a conveniently small size for easy transport when all pegs have been removed.
In a further related aspect of the present invention there is provided a foldable/collapsible clothes peg holder including:
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- a body having a closed waistband interconnected to a torso portion, the waistband and torso forming a collapsible chamber for storing a plurality of clothes pegs;
- a pair of oppositely disposed shoulders attached to the torso wherein the shoulders are wider than the waistband, the pair of shoulders extending upwardly from and at an obtuse angle to the torso ending in a pair of oppositely disposed foldable arms, the arms including fastening means at their respective ends so that the holder can be slidably and releasably mounted to adjacent lines of a washing line, wherein in a mounted condition, in the absence of pegs, the shoulders and arms form a first longitudinal opening extending between the opposite shoulders for receiving pegs; and
- wherein as the chamber progressively fills with pegs, the arms are urged outwardly of the torso and longitudinal concave cradle structures are formed centrally therein extending into the chamber, and wherein the shoulders are urged towards each other with progressive expansion of the arms to form a second longitudinal opening extending between the opposite arms thereby narrowing the opening of the holder in a direction transverse to the plane of the shoulders and partially collapsing the torso about the pegs thereby substantially securely retaining the pegs within the chamber.
As the arms are urged outwardly by an increasing number of pegs within the chamber, the opposite shoulders move towards each other causing the following: the opening to narrow along a line transverse to the plane of the shoulders, and
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- the torso or at least a part of the torso adjacent the shoulders to collapse.
As collapsing occurs the torso tends to enclose the pegs within the chamber. A combination of the configuration of the body and the ability of the body to distort and collapse allows improved retention of pegs within the chamber and foldability for easy transport.
A specific embodiment of a controller device in accordance with this invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings which are given by way of example only and should not be considered to be limiting.
The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its structure and its operation together with the additional object and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art or arts. If any other meaning is intended, the specification will specifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a word or phrase. Likewise, the use of the words “function” or “means” in the Description of Preferred Embodiment is not intended to indicate a desire to invoke the special provision of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, are sought to be invoked to define the invention(s), the claims will specifically state the phrases “means for” or “step for” and a function, without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material, or act in support of the function. Even when the claims recite a “means for” or “step for” performing a function, if they also recite any structure, material or acts in support of that means of step, then the intention is not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, are invoked to define the inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function, along with any and all known or later-developed equivalent structures, materials or acts for performing the claimed function.
Referring to the accompanying figures there is shown a variable geometry foldable/collapsible peg holder 1 in accordance with the present invention. The peg holder 1 includes a collapsible body portion 2 having a closed waistband 3 and a torso or wall 5 dependent therefrom. The body portion provides an internal chamber for housing a plurality of clothes pegs.
As seen in the figures, the holder further includes a pair of oppositely disposed arms 6 and 6a interconnected to the body by shoulders 4 and 4a. The arms 6 and 6a include at their ends a hook and loop fastening means 7 and 7a so that the upper end of each arm can be folded back on itself forming a releasable sleeve for accommodating a washing line therethrough in sliding engagement. In this embodiment shown in
As can be seen in
In the embodiments shown the peg holder is fabricated from plastic interwoven mesh. The torso 5, shoulders 4 and 4a and arms 6 and 6a are made from a single piece cut-out plastic interwoven mesh, the mesh being stitched about the periphery of the floor, and a single vertical seam 10 joining the single cut-out piece forming the shaped torso. As can be seen, the shoulders and arms further include protective material 52 overlayed on peripheral edge portions. The overlay in combination with the washing lines passing through the fastening means provides a sufficiently rigid but flexible framework structure relative to the interwoven mesh.
As can be seen in
In
In
In
The concave cradles assist to funnel pegs down into the internal chamber and improve ability to compact. Further, as the side portions of the torso expand, the apex portion 51 of the shoulders move toward each other causing the torso to fold over and the opening to become elongate in a direction extending between the arms 6 and 6a, i.e., transverse to the plane of the shoulders thereby narrowing the opening. In such a condition, the peg holder at least partially encapsulates the pegs within the internal chamber and retains the pegs in a compact condition within the internal chamber in a stored condition.
In use as the oppositely disposed shoulders move towards each other, the opening to the body alters configuration, and the body thereafter surrounds and partially covers the pegs contained therein adding to greater retention of pegs even in high winds.
As the number of pegs received within the internal chamber increases, the opening extends increasingly longitudinally between the arms in a transverse direction to the plane of the shoulders.
In a further embodiment of the invention shown with respect to the accompanying figures, there is provided a lightweight foldable/collapsible peg holder having a foldable/collapsible body defined by a closed waistband interconnected to a torso having front and side portions, the waistband and torso providing an internal chamber for securely storing a plurality of clothes pegs in an operating condition.
The side portions of the torso ending in a pair of oppositely disposed open shoulders, the shoulders being wider than the waistband in a foldable/collapsible condition in the absence of pegs within the internal chamber. The shoulders extend upwardly from and at an obtuse angle to the torso ending in a pair of oppositely disposed arms.
The arms each having a fastening means on an end portion thereof for slidable and releasable attachment to adjacent lines on a washing line, wherein the each neck member is adapted to hang downwardly from adjacent lines on the washing line in an attached condition wherein the shoulders and neck portions form an opening therebetween for access to the internal chamber.
In a first mounted condition as shown in
As best seen in
The preferred embodiment of the invention is described above in the Drawings and Description of Preferred Embodiments. While these descriptions directly describe the above embodiments, it is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such modifications or variations that fall within the purview of this description are intended to be included therein as well. Unless specifically noted, it is the intention of the inventor that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art(s). The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention known to the applicant at the time of filing the application has been presented and is intended for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Claims
1. A variable geometry clothes peg holder for substantially securely maintaining a plurality of pegs therein in a storage condition and allowing access during use, the holder including:
- a body portion defining a chamber for storing a plurality of clothes pegs, the body having a floor and dependent wall wherein the floor and wall structure define a collapsible chamber for receiving and storing a plurality of pegs;
- a pair of oppositely disposed arms interconnected to the body, the opposite arms extending substantially upwardly from the body in use and having attachment means at their ends for attachment to adjacent lines of a washing line, wherein in a mounted condition for receiving pegs the opposite arms and body form a longitudinal opening transverse to the plane of the arms for access into the chamber, and wherein the arms are adapted to fold within the chamber in a transportable condition; and
- wherein as the chamber progressively fills with pegs in a second mounting condition, the weight of pegs urges the arms outwardly of the body and form longitudinal internal concavities extending into the chamber, and wherein opposite facing wall portions of the body lying in a plane transverse to the plane of the arms are drawn towards each other so that the opening to the chamber is oriented longitudinally and parallel to the plane of the arms thereby narrowing the opening and retaining the pegs within the chamber in a storage condition.
2. A foldable/collapsible clothes peg holder for storing a plurality of pegs according to claim 1 wherein the pair of oppositely disposed arms are interconnected to the body by a pair of opposite shoulder portions.
3. A foldable/collapsible clothes peg holder for storing a plurality of pegs according to claim 2 wherein the shoulders extend upwardly from opposite wall portions of the body to join opposite arm members to the body.
4. A foldable/collapsible clothes peg holder for storing a plurality of pegs according to claim 2 wherein the shoulder portions interconnecting each of the arms have a combined width greater than the longitudinal length of the floor so that the wall of the peg holder flares upwardly and outwardly from the floor.
5. A foldable/collapsible clothes peg holder for storing a plurality of pegs according to claim 4 wherein the floor has an oval or elliptical configuration being longer in one direction, wherein the longitudinal direction of the floor is substantially aligned with the shoulders, and wherein the shoulders have a width greater than the longitudinal length/direction of the floor.
6. A foldable/collapsible clothes peg holder for storing a plurality of pegs according to claim 1 wherein the body portion includes at least one seam extending from the floor to one or other of the shoulders or preferably a pair of oppositely disposed seams extending from the floor to the shoulders whereby the peg holder is symmetric about a vertical axis extending between the shoulders.
7. A foldable/collapsible clothes peg holder for storing a plurality of pegs including:
- a body portion having an internal chamber for storing a plurality of clothes pegs, the body having a floor and dependent wall wherein the floor and wall are adapted to fold and/or collapse against each other in a transportable condition;
- a pair of oppositely disposed shoulders extending inwardly from an upper portion of the wall, the shoulders ending in a pair of oppositely disposed arms which extend substantially upwardly therefrom, the arms lying in a plane transverse to the plane of the shoulders, the shoulders and arms defining a longitudinal opening extending between the shoulders in a first mounting condition for access to the internal chamber so that pegs can be received by the body portion;
- the arms having a releasable fastening means at their respective ends to allow slidable mounting of the holder on a clothes line;
- wherein the body portion is sufficiently large relative to the arms as to hold a substantial quantity of pegs, and wherein as the internal chamber fills with pegs, the arms form internal concavities extending into the chamber and expand outwardly relative to the body in a direction transverse to the plane of the shoulders, and whereby the shoulders are urged towards each other causing a change in orientation of the opening between the opposite arms and thereby retain the pegs in a storage condition.
8. A variable geometry foldable/collapsible clothes peg holder including:
- a foldable/collapsible body having a closed waistband of generally elliptical configuration, the waistband being interconnected to a torso having front and opposing side portions, the waistband and torso providing an internal chamber for storing a plurality of clothes pegs;
- the side portions of the torso ending in a pair of oppositely disposed open shoulders, the shoulders being wider than the waistband in the absence of pegs within the internal chamber;
- the shoulders extending upwardly from and at an obtuse angle to the torso ending in a pair of oppositely disposed arms, wherein the shoulders and arms form a first longitudinal opening extending between the shoulders for access to the internal chamber in a mounted condition in the absence of pegs;
- the arms each having a fastening means on an end portion thereof for slidable and releasable attachment to adjacent lines on a washing line, wherein the each arm is adapted to hang downwardly from adjacent lines on the washing line in an attached condition;
- wherein as the number of clothes pegs received within the internal chamber increases, the shoulders and side portions of the torso are urged towards each other thereby altering the first opening to form a second opening which extends longitudinally between the arms, in a transverse direction to the first opening, to assist encapsulating pegs within the internal chamber.
8. A foldable/collapsible clothes peg holder including:
- a body having a closed waistband interconnected to a torso portion, the waistband and torso forming a collapsible chamber for storing a plurality of clothes pegs;
- a pair of oppositely disposed shoulders attached to the torso wherein the shoulders are wider than the waistband, the pair of shoulders extending upwardly from and at an obtuse angle to the torso ending in a pair of oppositely disposed foldable arms, the arms including fastening means at their respective ends so that the holder can be slidably and releasably mounted to adjacent lines of a washing line, wherein in a mounted condition, in the absence of pegs, the shoulders and arms form a first longitudinal opening extending between the opposite shoulders for receiving pegs; and
- wherein as the chamber progressively fills with pegs, the arms are urged outwardly of the torso and longitudinal concave cradle structures are formed centrally therein extending into the chamber, and wherein the shoulders are urged towards each other with progressive expansion of the arms to form a second longitudinal opening extending between the opposite arms thereby narrowing the opening of the holder in a direction transverse to the plane of the shoulders and partially collapsing the torso about the pegs thereby substantially securely retaining the pegs within the chamber.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 23, 2010
Publication Date: Jan 26, 2012
Inventor: Mellissa Distefano (Taylors Lakes)
Application Number: 12/804,536
International Classification: B65D 90/02 (20060101);