GB2294967A

GB2294967A - Suspendable biassed clip

Info

Publication number: GB2294967A
Application number: GB9417914A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Ward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-09-06
Filing date: 1994-09-06
Publication date: 1996-05-15
Also published as: GB9417914D0

Abstract

A peg (10) is of an integral construction and includes two arms (12), (14) which are connected together by means of integral hinges (16) and (18). The arms (12) and (14) have gripping ends and the upper end of one of the arms has a biassing lever (26) which is attached to a hook (28). The lever may be formed integrally with one of the arms (14B) and latch against the other arm in the biassing condition. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PEGS The present invention relates to pegs. For example pegs which are used to hang out washing to dry on a line but the invention can be applied to the suspension of other items such as photographic prints for drying or other purposes.

Pegs such as clothes pegs are well know. Commonly used types comprise either a peg formed from a single piece of wood or plastics material in which a garment to be dried is gripped between the prongs of the peg and the washing line. The other well known type comprises two arms which can pivot about an intermediate point usually on a spring and the spring maintains the gripping portions of the peg in contact with one another. A garment is gripped by the gripping portions to the washing line.

In both cases any load applied to the garment tends to release the grip of the peg including the weight on the peg and not just applied loads such as aerodynamic loads.

The present invention seeks to provide a peg in which the weight of the item being dried or suspended and any load applied to the item tends to increase the grip of the peg on the items.

Accordingly the present inventions provides a peg comprising two arms which are pivotally mounted with respect to one another, each arm having a gripping portion, and biasing means tending to force the gripping portions together, the peg being suspendible by means of the biasing means.

The biasing means can comprise a pivotally mounted lever mounted on one of the arms of the peg remote from the gripping portion of that arm and upon pivoting being engagable with the remote end of the other arm to force the open ends apart and the gripping portions together.

The biasing means can include a hookor similar arrangement enabling the peg to be suspended from a line for example a washing line.

The biasing means can be formed integrally with the arm of the peg. The gripping portions of the peg can be corrugated or have other types of discontinuous surface.

The peg can be formed as an integral construction. The inherent flexibility of the material of construction providing an effective biasing means to urge the gripping portions together.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of one form of peg according to the present invention in a first position; Figure 2 shows the peg of figure 1 in a second position; and Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of a peg according to the present invention.

Referring to figures 1 and 2 a peg (10) is of an integral construction and includes two arms (12,14) which are connected together by means of integral hinges (16,18) themselves connected to an integral pin (20).

The arms (12,14) have gripping ends (12a,14a) which are provided with enlarged portions (22,24).

The arms (12,14) have upper ends (12b,14b), the arm (14b) being formed with a biasing lever (26) which is hinged to the end (14b). The lever (26) is provided with a hook (28) enabling the peg to be hung from a washing line.

Referring particularly to figure 2, as the lever (26) is pivoted upwardly, the free end of the lever will contact the end (12b) of the arm (12) and force the enlarged portions (22,24) towards one another enabling for example a garment to be gripped by the peg. It will be appreciated that when the peg is hung from a washing line by means of the hook (28) the weight of the garment gripped by the peg and any loads applied to that garment will tend to force the ends (22,24) into close contact thereby increasing the grip of the peg on the garment.

Referring to figure 3 which shows a peg according to the invention in the form in which it may be produced similar components of the peg have been given identical references to those used in figures 1 and 2. The gripping portions (22,24) are formed with ridges or corrugations or a similar roughened surface in order to improve the grip on the garment or item to be suspended.

The peg shown in figure 3 can be formed for example in a plastics material as a fully integral construction and designed so that the ends (22,24) tend to be urged towards one another in order to grip a garment.

In use, the peg is mounted on a washing line (30) by means of the hook(28), the ends (12b,14b) of the peg can be manually urged together which will displace the lever (26) in an anticlockwise direction enabling a portion of garment to be placed between the gripping ends (22,24). As the peg is already suspended from the washing line the weight of the garment will pull the peg downwards and cause the lever (26) to rotate in a clockwise direction thereby forcing the ends (12b,14b) apart and the gripping portions (22,24) into a greater gripping contact with the garment.

Any load applied to the garment for example, an aerodynamic load will also tend to urge the ends (12b,14b) apart and the gripping ends (22,24) together.

When the garment is to be removed from the peg the ends (12b,14b) are squeezed manually together thereby opening the gripping portions (22,24) enabling the garment to be removed.

The pegs can then be left upon the washing line if required although they can be removed if necessary.

It will be appreciated that a peg according to the present invention has at least one considerable advantage over commonly know pegs. That is the loads applied to the peg tend to increase the grip of the peg rather than release the grip of the peg.

The peg can be used not only for the drying of garments and similar domestic items but also other items which need to be gripped and suspended for example photographic films and prints. A larger or scaled up version could be used for lifting or holding much heavier items.

Claims

1. A peg comprising two arms which are pivotally mounted with respect to one another, each arm having a gripping portion and biassing means tending to force the gripping portions together, the peg being suspendible by means of the biassing means.

2. A peg as claimed in claim 1 in which the biassing means comprise a pivotally mounted lever mounted on one of the arms of the peg remote from the gripping portion of that arm and upon pivoting being engageable with the remote end of the other arm to force the open arms apart and the gripping portions together.

3. A peg as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the biassing means includes a hook or a similar arrangement enabling the peg to be suspended from a line.

4. A peg as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the biassing means is formed integrally with an arm of the peg.

5. A peg as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the gripping portions of the peg are corrugated or are formed with a discontinuous surface.

6. A peg as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the peg is formed integrally.

7. A peg constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.