Drying device

Abstract

A hollow cylindrical bearing portion (20) is protrudingly provided inside a housing (10) of a drying device (1). A reel (40) on which a drying rope (41) is wound is supported on the bearing portion (20). A rotary damper (30) is housed inside the bearing portion (20). A brake shaft (33) of the damper (30) rotates integrally with the reel (40), thereby applying rotational resistance to the reel (40). Since the rotary damper (30) is built into the bearing portion (20), the depth of the drying device (1) can be reduced compared to a structure in which the rotary damper and the reel are arranged along the axial direction of the bearing portion (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a drying device of the type hung on a wall. Background Art

[0002] A drying device is known in the art, in which laundry can be hung on a drying rope provided between opposing walls of a room or the like.

[0003] As an existing drying device, as described in Patent Document 1, there is a drying device comprising: a housing having a pull-out port on the front and capable of being wall-mounted with the back thereof facing a wall in a room; a bearing portion protrudingly provided inside the housing with its axis aligned with the front and back directions of the housing; a reel supported on the bearing portion and capable of rotating forward and reverse around the bearing portion; and a drying rope wound around the reel and capable of being released and reeled in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotation of the reel.

[0004] In this drying device, a guide mechanism built into the housing deflects the drying rope relative to the direction in which it is unwound from the reel, allowing it to be drawn out through a draw-out opening on the front of the housing. A thin sheet-like locking portion is provided at the front end of the drying rope to lock the drawn-out drying rope against a wall in the room.

[0005] In addition, a spring is built into the housing to urge the drum in the winding direction of the drying rope, so that the rope is automatically wound when the rope is not in use.

[0006] On the other hand, if the winding speed is too fast, the end of the rope will swing around and hit people or objects in the room, which is quite dangerous. Therefore, a rotary damper that applies rotational resistance in the winding direction of the rope is provided on the front side of the drum to slow down the winding speed.

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 4741450

[0008] However, in the case of the drying device of patent document 1, since the reel and the rotary damper are arranged in the axial direction of the bearing part, the depth dimension of the drying device in the front and back directions becomes larger, and when not in use, it will also protrude from the wall surface, increasing the volume. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Therefore, a problem to be solved by the present invention is to reduce the depth dimension in the front and back directions of a so-called wall-mounted type drying device to achieve compactness.

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the drying device involved in the invention is constructed as follows: a shell having a pull-out port on the front side and capable of being installed on a wall surface in a room with its back side facing the wall surface; a hollow cylindrical bearing portion, which is protrudingly provided inside the above-mentioned shell with its axis aligned with the front and back directions of the above-mentioned shell; a reel, which is supported on the above-mentioned bearing portion and can rotate forward and reverse around the bearing portion; a drying rope, which is wound on the above-mentioned reel and can be unwound and wound up as the above-mentioned reel rotates forward and reverse; a guiding mechanism, which makes The above-mentioned drying rope is deflected in a direction relative to the release direction from the above-mentioned drum so that the above-mentioned drying rope can be pulled out through the pull-out opening on the front side of the above-mentioned shell; a locking portion is provided at the front end of the above-mentioned drying rope and can lock the pulled-out drying rope to the indoor wall surface; a spring applies force to the above-mentioned drum in the winding direction of the above-mentioned drying rope; and a rotary damper is accommodated in the interior of the above-mentioned bearing portion and rotates integrally with the above-mentioned drum through its brake shaft, thereby applying rotational resistance to the above-mentioned drum in the winding direction of the above-mentioned drying rope.

[0011] By constructing a wall-mounted drying device in which the rotary damper is built into the bearing portion supporting the reel, the depth dimension in the front and back directions can be reduced compared to the existing structure in which the rotary damper and the reel are arranged axially along the bearing portion, thereby achieving compactness.

[0012] The drying device of the present invention preferably has the following structure: the bearing portion is formed by recessing the back surface of the housing into a cylindrical shape, and the rotary damper is embedded in the bearing portion from the back surface of the housing.

[0013] If the bearing portion of the drying device is constructed as a recess provided on the outer surface of the shell, and the rotary damper is embedded in the recess, the rotary damper can be loaded and unloaded without disassembling the shell, thereby facilitating maintenance, inspection, or replacement of the rotary damper.

[0014] It is preferred that the following structure be adopted in the drying device involved in the invention, that is, the above-mentioned spring is a coil spring, and the above-mentioned drying device also has a cylindrical spring housing that rotates integrally with the above-mentioned reel in the above-mentioned housing and accommodates the above-mentioned coil spring, and the above-mentioned spring housing has a protrusion at its rotation center that axially penetrates the above-mentioned bearing portion and is connected to the brake shaft of the above-mentioned rotary damper.

[0015] By providing a spring housing for the coil spring used to wind up the drying rope in the drying device, it is possible to prevent the coil spring from interfering with other components and causing malfunctions. By providing a protrusion in the spring housing and combining it with the brake shaft of the rotary damper, the brake shaft and the reel can be rotated integrally through the spring housing with a simple structure.

[0016] It is preferred that the following structure be adopted in the drying device involved in the invention, that is, the drying device further comprises: a gear, which rotates integrally with the reel in the housing; and a locking member, which can move forward and backward along the radial direction of the gear between a locking position engaged with the gear and a locking release position where the engagement with the gear is released.

[0017] Here, it is more preferable to adopt the following structure, that is, each tooth of the above-mentioned gear is inclined in a manner that the tooth top is toward the winding direction of the above-mentioned drying rope, and when the front end portion of the above-mentioned locking member moves toward the above-mentioned locking position while contacting the gear from the tooth top side of the above-mentioned gear to the tooth root side, a pulling force of the above-mentioned drying rope in the winding direction is generated on the above-mentioned drum.

[0018] By providing a locking piece on the drying device, when the drying device is used, if the locking piece is operated to the locking position to lock the reel with the drying rope stretched between the wall surfaces, the drying rope can be prevented from being accidentally wound up due to the force of the spring.

[0019] After the drying device is used, if the locking member is operated to the unlocking position, the lock of the winding drum is unlocked, and the drying rope is automatically wound up by the force of the spring.

[0020] Furthermore, by tilting the teeth of the gear of the drying device as described above, as the lock piece is operated toward the locked position, a force is generated that slightly rotates the reel in the winding direction by a distance between adjacent teeth of the gear.

[0021] Since tension is applied to the drying rope spanned between the wall surfaces as the reel rotates slightly, slack or deflection of the drying rope can be prevented.

[0022] Since the wall-mounted type drying device according to the present invention is constructed as described above, the depth in the front and back directions can be reduced, and compactness can be achieved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1A It is a three-dimensional diagram of a drying device.

[0024] Figure 1B It is a side view showing the drying device in use.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the drying device from the back.

[0026] Figure 3 It is an exploded perspective view of the drying device.

[0027] Figure 4A yes Figure 1A A-A cross-sectional view.

[0028] Figure 4B yes Figure 1A BB section view.

[0029] Figure 5A This is a perspective view showing the mounted state of the rotary damper.

[0030] Figure 5B This is a perspective view showing the mounted state of the rotary damper.

[0031] Figure 6 It is a three-dimensional view of the drying device with the cover removed.

[0032] Figure 7 It is a perspective view showing the meshing between the lock member and the gear.

[0033] Figure 8A It is a top view showing the meshing of the lock member and the gear.

[0034] Figure 8B It is a top view showing the meshing of the lock member and the gear.

[0035] Figure 9A It is a top view showing the meshing of the lock member and the gear.

[0036] Figure 9B It is a top view showing the meshing of the lock member and the gear.

[0037] Figure 10A It is a top view showing the meshing of the lock member and the gear.

[0038] Figure 10B It is a top view showing the meshing of the lock member and the gear. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0040] Figures 1A to 4B The drying device 1 of the illustrated embodiment is mounted on a wall surface W of a room or the like. When in use, a drying line 41 is set up on the wall surface W and a clothes drying rack h is hung on the drying line 41 to dry laundry. When not in use, the drying line 41 is stored in the housing 10 to avoid being an obstruction.

[0041] like Figure 3 As shown, the drying device 1 of the embodiment has a bearing portion 20, a rotary damper 30, a reel 40 for winding a drying rope 41 and attached with a gear 42, a spring housing 50 that accommodates a coil spring 53, a guide mechanism 60 for the drying rope 41, and a locking mechanism 70 for the gear 42 housed in the outer casing 10.

[0042] like Figure 3As shown, the housing 10 is composed of a cover 11 on the front side and a base 12 on the back side covered by the cover 11. The cover 11 is composed of a front panel, left and right side panels, and upper and lower end panels. It is open on the back side, and a pull-out port 11a and a turntable hole 11b are formed in the lower part of the front panel in a row on the left and right sides.

[0043] like Figure 3 As shown, the base 12 has a flat cylindrical storage recess 12a formed on the upper portion of the front side, and a guide mechanism support portion 12b with an opening and a locking mechanism support portion 12c with a vertical shaft formed in parallel on the left and right sides at the lower portion of the front side.

[0044] like Figure 2 As shown, hooks 12d are formed on the upper and lower sides of the back side of the base 12. The housing 10 can be attached to the wall surface W by hooking the hooks 12d into the hook holes H of the plate P fixed to the wall surface W with the truss screws b.

[0045] like Figures 3 to 5B As shown, the bearing portion 20 is formed integrally with the base 12 by being recessed in a cylindrical shape from the back surface of the base 12 toward the housing recess 12 a on the front side.

[0046] The bearing portion 20 includes a large diameter portion 21 and a small diameter portion 22. A step portion 23 is formed at the base of the large diameter portion 21. A guide claw 21a is formed on the outer periphery of the large diameter portion 21. An insertion opening 22a is formed at the front end of the small diameter portion 22, and a slit 22b is formed on the outer periphery of the small diameter portion 22.

[0047] like Figures 3 to 5B As shown, the rotary damper 30 is fitted into the bearing portion 20 from the back side of the base 12 and fixed using appropriate means such as screws.

[0048] The rotary damper 30 includes a cylindrical damper body 31, flanges 32 extending leftward and rightward from the damper body 31, and a brake shaft 33 extending from the axis of the damper body 31. When fitted into the bearing 20, the flange 32 abuts against the step 23 for positioning.

[0049] The damper body 31 is filled with a fluid such as oil, and the viscous resistance of the fluid is used to apply rotational resistance to the brake shaft 33 during rotation. Figure 3 As shown, the portion of the brake shaft 33 protruding from the damper body 31 is formed into a non-circular cross-section.

[0050] like Figure 3 and Figure 4A 、 Figure 4BAs shown, the cylindrical spool 40 is housed in the housing recess 12a of the base 12 and supported on the large diameter portion 21 of the bearing 20 so as to be rotatable about the large diameter portion 21. The guide claws 21a of the large diameter portion 21 engage with the inner circumference of the spool 40 and slide as the spool 40 rotates.

[0051] like Figures 3 to 5B As shown, the drum 40 (and the drum coupling portion 51a described later) has a drying rope 41 made of a steel wire wound around its outer periphery. In addition, one end of the drum 40 is formed into a gear 42 with an enlarged diameter and teeth 42a arranged on its outer periphery.

[0052] like Figures 8A to 10B As shown, the teeth 42 a of the gear 42 attached to the drum 40 are inclined so that the tooth tops fall toward the winding direction of the drying line 41 of the drum 40 .

[0053] One end of the drying rope 41 is fixed to the fixing groove 44 of the reel 40 , and the drying rope 41 can be wound on or unwound from the reel 40 as the reel 40 rotates.

[0054] like Figure 1A 、 Figure 1B 、 Figures 3 to 5B As shown, a thin piece 43 as a locking portion is installed at the other end of the drying rope 41. The thin piece 43 passes through the pull-out port 11a of the cover 11 and protrudes to the outside of the drying device 1. When the drying device 1 is used, as shown in FIG. Figure 1A 、 Figure 1B As shown, the drying rope 41 can be erected between the wall surfaces W by pinching the sheet 43 to pull out the drying rope 41 and hooking it on the sheet fixing piece T fixed to the wall surface W.

[0055] like Figure 3 As shown, the sheet 43 is composed of a cylindrical sheet body 43a, a string fixing portion 43b inserted into the sheet body 43a, and a cover 43c that closes the end surface of the sheet body 43a.

[0056] The end of the drying rope 41 is fixed to the rope fixing portion 43b. A locking groove 43d is formed on the outer periphery of the sheet body 43a, and the sheet fixing tool T can be engaged through the locking groove 43d.

[0057] like Figure 3 and Figure 4A 、 Figure 4B As shown, the cylindrical spring case 50 and the spool 40 are housed side by side in the housing recess 12 a of the base 12 .

[0058] The spring case 50 is supported by the small diameter portion 22 of the bearing 20 and is rotatable integrally with the spool 40 about the small diameter portion 22 .

[0059] The spring housing 50 is composed of a housing body 51 and a cover 52, and contains a coil spring 53. Figure 5B As shown, the housing body 51 has a cylindrical reel coupling portion 51a, on which coupling claws 51b are formed along the circumferential direction. The reel coupling portion 51a is covered by the reel 40 and coupled to the reel 40 by engagement of the coupling claws 51b.

[0060] The inner end of the coil spring 53 is inserted into the slit 22b of the bearing portion 20 and folded back to be fixed, and the outer end thereof is fixed to the housing body 51 by appropriate means. When the reel 40 rotates in the direction of unwinding the drying line 41, elastic force is accumulated in the coil spring 53, thereby applying a rotational force to the reel 40 in the direction of winding the drying line 41.

[0061] like Figure 4A 、 Figure 4B and Figure 5A 、 Figure 5B As shown, a protrusion 52a is formed at the center of the cover 52 of the spring housing 50, and an axial hole with a special-shaped cross section is provided at the center thereof.

[0062] The protrusion 52 a is inserted into the insertion port 22 a at the front end of the bearing 20 and is fitted and coupled to the brake shaft 33 of the rotary damper 30 .

[0063] Therefore, when the spool 40 and the spring case 50 rotate integrally, the brake shaft 33 of the rotary damper 30 rotates together, and rotation resistance is applied by the rotary damper 30 .

[0064] Therefore, when the drum 40 rotates due to the force of the coil spring 53 and the drying line 41 pulled out from the housing 10 is reeled in, the rotation speed of the drum 40 is reduced by the rotary damper 30 .

[0065] like Figure 3 、 Figure 4A 、 Figure 4B and Figure 6 As shown, the guide mechanism 60 is mounted on the guide mechanism support portion 12 b of the base 12 .

[0066] The guide mechanism 60 consists of a guide body 61, a reel 62, and a guide cover 63. The guide body 61 has opposing support plates 61a on the front side, between which the reel 62 is rotatably supported. The guide body 61 has an engaging piece 61b on the back side, which engages with the opening edge of the guide mechanism support portion 12b.

[0067] The winding shaft 62 is adjacent to the outer periphery of the reel 40 , and the rotation axis of the winding shaft 62 is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the reel 40 .

[0068] The guide cover 63 has a delivery port 63a and covers the guide body 61. The delivery port 63a faces the pull-out port 11a of the housing 10.

[0069] The drying line 41 is in contact with the reel 62 and is inserted through the delivery port 63 a of the guide cover 63 .

[0070] Therefore, the drying line 41 passes through the guide mechanism 60 between the reel 40 and the pull-out opening 11a of the cover 11 and is deflected by the reel 62 from the feeding direction from the reel 40 toward the pull-out opening 11a of the cover 11, thereby being easily pulled out from the pull-out opening 11a of the housing 10.

[0071] like Figure 3 As shown, the locking mechanism 70 is mounted on the locking mechanism support portion 12c of the base 12. Figure 6 As shown, the locking mechanism 70 is composed of a locking member 71 , a conversion shaft 72 and a rotary disk 73 .

[0072] A plate-shaped lock piece 71 is fitted into the lock mechanism support portion 12 c so as to be slidable in directions toward and away from the gear 42 .

[0073] The front end portion 71a of the locking member 71 forms a complementary shape with the teeth 42a of the gear 42 so as to be meshed with the teeth 42a in a locking position close to the gear 42 and is disengaged from the teeth 42a in a lock release position away from the gear 42.

[0074] The locking member 71 also has a triangular window 71b extending through its side surfaces, and a spring piece 71c protruding from the side surfaces between the front end 71a and the window 71b. The spring piece 71c is fixed to the base 12, and the amount of deflection of the spring piece 71c increases as the locking member 71 and the gear 42 approach each other.

[0075] Therefore, the lock member 71 is always urged toward the unlocked position by the restoring elasticity of the spring piece 71 c.

[0076] The conversion shaft 72 is inserted into a shaft erected on the lock mechanism support portion 12 c and is rotatable about the shaft. One end of the conversion shaft 72 forms an elliptical cylindrical cam portion 72 a that fits into the window 71 b of the lock member 71 .

[0077] The other end of the conversion shaft 72 is covered with a turntable 73, and the turntable 73 passes through the turntable hole 11b of the cover 11 and protrudes to the outside of the drying device 1. By turning the turntable 73, the conversion shaft 72 can be rotated.

[0078] When the conversion shaft 72 rotates in one direction, the cam portion 72 a presses the edge of the window 71 b of the lock member 71 , whereby the lock member 71 approaches the gear 42 toward the locked position.

[0079] When the conversion shaft 72 rotates in the other direction, the cam portion 72a separates from the edge of the window 71b of the lock member 71 and is released from the pressing force. The lock member 71 moves away from the gear 42 toward the unlocked position due to the restoring force of the spring piece 71c.

[0080] Therefore, by rotating the dial 73 coupled to the conversion shaft 72 , the lock member 71 can be slid between the locked position and the unlocked position.

[0081] like Figure 8A 、 Figure 8B As shown, when the locking member 71 is located at the unlocking position, since the gear 42 is not locked, the reel 40 can rotate and the pulled-out length of the drying rope 41 can be freely adjusted.

[0082] When the user releases his hand after the drying rope 41 is pulled out to a desired length, the winding drum 40 rotates in the winding direction under the action of the coil spring 53 , so that the drying rope 41 is automatically wound.

[0083] In order to prevent this, the turntable 73 is rotated as shown in FIG. Figure 9A 、 Figure 9B As shown, the locking member 71 is slid to the locking position. When the locking member 71 is in the locking position, the front end 71a of the locking member 71 meshes with the teeth 42a of the gear 42, and the gear 42 is locked. Therefore, the reel 40 cannot rotate and the length of the drying line 41 cannot be fixed.

[0084] Here, as Figure 9A 、 Figure 9B As shown, when the front end portion 71a of the locking member 71 is in a shallow engagement with the teeth 42a of the gear 42 and the drying rope 41 is loosened, as shown in FIG. Figure 10A 、 Figure 10B As shown, the rotary disk 73 is further rotated to move the locking member 71 forward.

[0085] Then, as described above, since the tooth 42a of the gear 42 is tilted in a manner that its tooth tip falls in the winding direction of the drying rope 41, as the locking member 71 advances, a pulling force is generated on the gear 42 in the winding direction. Figures 9B to 10B As shown, the gear 42 rotates slightly in the winding direction. Figure 10A 、 Figure 10B As shown, tension is applied to the drying rope 41, making it easy to hang up laundry and the like.

[0086] The embodiments disclosed herein are by way of illustration in all respects and are not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims and is intended to encompass all modifications and variations within the meaning of the claims and their equivalents.

[0087] Description of reference numerals:

[0088] 1…drying device; 10…housing; 11…cover; 11a…pull-out port; 11b…turntable hole; 12…base; 12a…storage recess; 12b…guide mechanism support portion; 12c…locking mechanism support portion; 12d…hook; 20…bearing portion; 21…large diameter portion; 21a…guide claw; 22…small diameter portion; 22a…insertion port; 22b…slit; 23…stepped portion; 30…rotary damper; 31…damper body; 32…flange; 33…brake shaft; 40…reel; 41…drying rope; 42…gear; 42a…tooth; 43…sheet; 43a…sheet body; 43b…rope fixing portion; 43c…cover ; 43d…locking groove; 44…fixing groove; 50…spring housing; 51…housing body; 51a…reel coupling portion; 51b…coupling claw; 52…cover; 52a…protrusion; 53…coil spring; 60…guide mechanism; 61…guide body; 61a…support plate; 61b…engaging piece; 62…reel; 63…guide cover; 63a…delivery outlet; 70…locking mechanism; 71…locking member; 71a…front end portion; 71b…window; 71c…spring piece; 72…conversion axis; 72a…cam portion; 73…turntable; W…wall surface; h…clothes drying rack; P…board; b…truss screw; H…hook hole; T…sheet fixing member.

Claims

1. A drying device, wherein: have: The housing has a pull-out opening on the front and can be mounted on a wall surface in a room with its back surface facing the wall surface; A hollow cylindrical bearing portion is protrudingly provided inside the housing so that its axis is aligned with the front and back sides of the housing; a reel supported on the bearing portion and capable of rotating forward and reverse around the bearing portion; A drying rope, which is wound on the drum and can be released and wound up as the drum rotates forward and backward; a guide mechanism for deflecting the direction of the drying rope relative to the direction in which the drying rope is released from the drum, so that the drying rope can be pulled out through the pull-out opening on the front side of the housing; A locking portion is provided at the front end of the drying rope and can lock the pulled-out drying rope to the indoor wall surface; a spring, which applies force to the drum in the winding direction of the drying rope; as well as The rotary damper is accommodated in the bearing portion and rotates integrally with the drum via its brake shaft, thereby applying a rotational resistance to the drum in the winding direction of the drying rope.

2. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein: The bearing portion is formed by the back side of the housing being recessed inward into a cylindrical shape. The rotary damper is fitted into the bearing portion from the rear surface of the housing.

3. The drying device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The spring is a coil spring, The drying device further includes a cylindrical spring housing that rotates integrally with the drum within the housing and accommodates the coil spring. The spring housing has a protrusion at its rotation center that axially penetrates the bearing portion and is coupled to the brake shaft of the rotary damper.

4. The drying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The drying device further comprises: a gear that rotates integrally with the spool within the housing; and a locking member capable of advancing and retracting in the radial direction of the gear between a locking position in which the locking member is engaged with the gear and a lock releasing position in which the locking member is released from engagement with the gear; The teeth of the gear are inclined in such a way that the top of the teeth face the winding direction of the drying rope. When the front end portion of the locking member moves toward the locking position while contacting the gear from the tooth tip side to the tooth root side of the gear, a pulling force in the winding direction of the drying rope is generated on the reel.

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