GB2488981A

GB2488981A - Adjustable laundry basket

Info

Publication number: GB2488981A
Application number: GB1103832.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dean Carrick; Clive Mccarthy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-07
Filing date: 2011-03-07
Publication date: 2012-09-19
Also published as: GB201103832D0

Abstract

The laundry basket 1 includes a telescopic leg 2 and a latch 7 to retain the leg in a retracted or extended position. The leg has multiple members 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D which are nested when the leg is retracted. The leg also has a biasing mass (14, Figure 5) which is sufficient to overcome the resistance between the nested members so that when the latch is opened, the telescopic leg can be extended. The basket may have a frame 3 supporting a collapsible bag 4. The telescopic leg may be pivotally mounted to the frame.

Description

A Laundry Basket The present invention relates to a laundry basket having a telescopic leg.

Laundry baskets or hampers, are primarily used for transporting damp laundry from a washing machine to place where the laundry is to be dried, e.g. a washing line or tumble dryer.

There is often a disparity between the height of the basket and the washing line, resulting in the need of the operator to repeatedly bend down to take items from the basket. This is particularly a problem for those with back pain and the generally infirm.

A proposed solution is provided by US7421956 which describes a basket having telescopic legs, each with a spring disposed therein to bias the telescopic leg away from the basket. With the legs in a retracted position, the basket can be placed below the entrance of a washing machine door (front loaders) for filling. Once carried to the washing line, the legs can be extended to provide an elevated basket which can be emptied by the user with minimal bending over.

Nevertheless, there remains a problem with this arrangement. The springs are chosen to provide sufficient resilience to hold the legs in the extended position when the basket is full of damp clothing. Once the washing basket is emptied of clothing, and it is wished to collapse the basket, the user must exert sufficient downward force upon the basket to overcome the resilience of the springs. Performing this action is likely to be difficult for a person who has back problems or the generally infirm, and therefore the basket of US742 1956 is unlikely to provide any significant advantage over traditional baskets.

According to the invention there is provided a laundry basket having a telescopic leg, a latch to retain the telescopic leg in either a retracted or extended position; the leg comprising multiple members which are nested when the leg is retracted, and the leg having a biasing mass sufficient to overcome resistance between nested members, so that when the latch is opened, the telescopic leg extends to an extended position.

Use of the invention makes it is possible to remove the need for a spring and its accompanying problems.

To assist in providing the necessary weight to the legs to enable self extension, a traverse bar may be provided between a pairs of legs. The bar, which is preferably positioned towards the free ends of the legs, may be arranged to comprise the feet of a pair of legs.

To increase weight, the transverse bar may be formed from a solid material, e.g. a relative dense plastic or formed hollow and filled with a different substance such as sand or water.

To enable convenient transportation and storage, the basket is preferably constructed to be collapsible. This may be achieved by providing the opposing walls, and possibly the base, of the basket from a relative flexible material, e.g. fabric, supported by a relatively ridge frame. The telescopic leg may also be pivotally mounted to a frame of the basket and moveable between an operational position and a stowed position.

To ensure the basket is stable when in use, it is preferred that the basket comprises means to hold the telescopic leg in the operational position.

In a preferred embodiment, the basket comprises two pairs of legs, one on each side of the basket. Each pair may be supported from a top member pivotally mounted to the frame. The top member may house means to actuate the latch with operates both legs.

To enable the top member to pivot, the frame may comprise slots into which tntnnions associated with the top member sit.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective of a laundry basket with the legs in a retracted position; Figure 2 is a perspective of a laundry basket with the legs in an extended position; Figure 3 is a perspective upward view showing the underside of the basket (with collapsible fabric bag omitted) with the legs shown in an extended position; Figure 4 is a perspective upward view showing the underside of the basket (with collapsible fabric bag omitted) with the legs stowed; Figure 5 is a side elevation cross section schematic of a washing basket illustrating legs in an extended position and a mechanism for use within the legs; and Figure 6 is a side elevation cross section schematic of the washing basket of Figure 5 illustrating the legs in an extended position.

A laundry basket 1 is supported upon two pairs of telescopic legs 2. The basket 1 comprises a rigid frame 3 upon which is suspended a fabric bag 4. The bag 4 is formed from five panels sewn together to form an open box shape. An optional reinforcing base panel (not shown), congruent to the base panel of the bag is supported by the base panel in order to retain the box like shape.

The fabric of the bag 4 preferably has a relatively open weave; the pattern of the weave may define openings for promoting evaporation. The fabric is resistant to rotting in damp conditions. Suitable materials for the bag include polyethylene or polyvinylchloride.

The frame 3 has a generally rectangular shape with two sets of parallel sides. The first set of sides 3A, 3B are relatively long and act to support the bag 4. The other two sides 3C, 3D of the frame provide seating and support for the legs 2, and handles 21 (Fig 3) for carrying the basket 1.

Each pair of legs 2 extends from a top member 5 supported by the frame 3, and comprises a plurality of hollow, elongate members 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D that can slide within one another. The number of nested elongate members can be varied depending upon the length of the legs 2 desired.

The elongate members may be formed metal such as steel, e.g. stainless steel, or aluminium (including alloys thereof). It is preferably the elements are arrarigedlformed so that their weight is sufficient to overcome any frictional resistance between the members so that when the latch(see below) is opened, the elongate members are free to move to an extended position. To minimise friction a lubricant maybe applied to the elongate members.

Each pair of legs 2 has a foot member 6 which traverses the legs 2. The foot member 6 may be used as a ballast to aid the free extension of the legs 2 under gravity. The size and material of the foot 6 are selected to provide the necessary weight to full fill this function, whilst making the basket 1 as light as possible.

As can be best seen in Figs 3 and 4, members 3A, 3B of the frame 3 are formed with a channel 3E sized to retain top members 5. The base of the channel 3E comprises an aperture 3F. The walls of each channel 3E are formed from flanges 3G, 3H, 31 moulded integrally with the frame and which extend downwardly from the frame 3.

The inner wall 3H is shorter that walls 3G, 3! in order to allow legs 2 to pivot freely to and from a stowed position. Outer wall 3G defines an aperture 3J. End walls 3! each define a longitudinal slot 3K.

The top member 5 houses part of a latch mechanism and button 7. Extending from the ends of the top member 5 are trunnion pins 20, which sit in and can move along slot 3k, thereby retaining the top member 5 to the frame 1, and providing means for the top member 5 to pivot between a seated position within channel 3E illustrated in Fig 1 and 3, to the stowed position illustrated in Figs 2 and 4.

Figure 1 illustrates the top member 5 seated within channel 3E with operating button 7 extending through aperture 3F. The top member 5 is held seated within the channel 3E by an interference fit. To extend the legs 2 to the arrangement of Fig 3, the basket 1 is held with feet 6 above the ground, and button 7 is depressed. The button 7 releases a latch allowing the telescopic legs 2 to extend.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a possible latch mechanism in more detail for a leg having three nested elongate members. It will be clear to the person skilled in the art that the mechanism can be easily adapted for use with four or another number of elongate members.

Button 7 forms part of a press bar 8 which indwells top member 5. Extending longitudinally though upper leg members 2A are rods 9, which have feet 9A.

Positioned below foot 9A is a pin 10, which extends into and is supported by a housing 11 at the base of upper leg member 2A. A lower portion of pin 10 is provided with a bevelled surface 1OA and sits above a stud block 12 having a stud portion 12A and a block portion 12B. The block portion 12B is has an upper surface bevelled to correspond with the bevelled surface 1OA of pin 10.

As shown in Fig 5, a spring 13, interposed between the stud block 12 and the housing 11, biases the block portion 12B into a position in which it is laterally displaced below pin 10, such that stud 12A protrudes through apertures 15, 16 in outer wails of legs 2A 2B. Pin 10 is biased upwardly against foot 9A by spring 14.

Leg portion 2B is provided with a similar arrangement of housing 11', pin 10' and stud block 12'. Stud 12A' is biased by spring 13' such that it protrudes through apertures 17, 18 in outer walls of legs 2B, 2C.

The legs 2 are retained in the extended position by the locking effect of studs 12A, 12A' within apertures 15,16; 17,18.

To retract the legs 2 into the arrangement of Figure 6, the operator depresses button 7.

This movement is transmitted by the push bar 8 to rods 9. Foot 9A presses against pin 10 forcing it downwardly, against the resistance of spring 14, onto stud block 12B.

The bevelled surfaces of pin 10 and stud block 12, and their relative arrangement is such that to cause the stud block 12B to be laterally displaced, retracting stud 12A towards the housing 11 and out of aperture 16.

This allows upper leg member 2A to move downwardly into leg member 2B under the weight of the basket 1. Housing 11 moves towards and impinges pin 10' which similarly acts to retract stud 12A' in towards housing 11' out of aperture 18 in leg 2C.

Leg member 2B, with member 2A nested therein, is then free to move downwardly until the legs 2 are fully retracted. At this point an aperture 19 in leg 2C is in alignment with an aperture 20 in leg 2B, aperture 15 in leg member 2A and stud 12A.

Upon release of button 7, spring 14 moves the stud block, such that the stud 12A passes through apertures 15, 19, 20 in legs 2A, 2B and 2C thereby retaining the legs 2A, 2B, 2C in a nested arrangement as illustrated in Fig 6.

Stud blocks 12 and 12' are orientated differently with respect one another such that stud 12A' cannot align with locking aperture 15 in leg 2C, as this would hinder retraction of the legs.

To stow the legs 2; i.e. collapsing the basket 1 into a flat pack arrangement, the top members 5 are drawn outwardly from channel 3E so that trunnions 20 slide along grooves 3K. This provides sufficient clearance for the members 5 to then rotate about the trunnions 20 so that legs 2 move inwardly towards one another as illustrated in Fig 4, and with button 7 seated through aperture 3J. To advance the legs 2 out from the stowed position, the procedure is conducted in reverse.

To extend the legs 2 from the retracted position illustrated in Fig 6 to the position in Fig 5, the legs 2 are held above the ground and button 7 is depressed. This causes stud 12 to withdraw into housing 11 such that it no long protmdes through apertures 15 and 16. The weight of the leg portions 2B, 2C and feet 6 draw the lower leg portions downwardly extending the leg to the arrangement illustrated in Fig 5, until studs blocks 12, 12' align with apertures 16, 18 whereupon studs 12A, 12A' are biased into said apertures by springs 13 13'.

It will be appreciated that the above description is merely an embodiment of the invention and that various variations are possible. For example, although the frame 3 is generally rectangular, it will be appreciated that the shape of the frame is not important and that other shapes could be used, by a circular or square.

The bag 4 may, instead of fabric, be replaced with flexible sheet material, e.g. sheet PVC.

The legs may be formed from a fewer or greater number of leg portions than four.

Claims

Claims 1. A laundry basket having a telescopic leg, a latch to retain the telescopic leg in either a refracted or extended position; the leg comprising multiple members which are nested when the leg is retracted, and the leg having a biasing mass sufficient to overcome resistance between nested members, so that when the latch is opened, the telescopic leg cxtends to an extended position.
2. A laundry basket according to claim 1 wherein the telescopic leg does not comprise a spring to bias the leg towards an extended position.
3. A laundry basket according to claim or 2 wherein the basket comprises a frame supporting a collapsible bag.
4. A laundry basket according to any previous claim wherein the telescopic leg is pivotally mounted to a frame of the basket and moveable between an operational position and a stowed position.
5. A laundry basket according to claim 4 comprising means to hold the telescopic leg in the operational position.
6. A laundry basket according to claim 4 or S wherein the basket comprises a top member from which the leg is supported; the top member houses a means to actuate the latch; and that the top member is pivotally mounted to the frame.
7 A laundry basket according to claim 6 wherein the frame comprises slots into which trunnions associated with the top member sit so as to allow the top member to pivot with respect to the frame; and wherein the trunnions can slide within the slots.
8. A laundry basket according to claim 6 or 7 comprising two legs supported from the top member, and the latch acts to retain both legs in either a retracted or extended position.