Semi-automatic airing rod assembly and electric clothes airing machine thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a semi-automatic airing rod assembly. The semi-automatic airing rod assembly comprises two airing rods arranged in parallel and two brackets connected between the two airing rods; movable rods are movably arranged at the two ends of the airing rod in a telescopic mode. At least one elastic piece is arranged in the airing rod so that the movable rods at the two ends can stretch out or retract under the elastic effect, a locking device is arranged on the airing rod and / or the bracket, when the locking device is locked, the movable rods are in an elastic energy storage state, and when the locking device is unlocked, the movable rods stretch out or retract due to elastic release. A buffering device for preventing elastic impact of the movable rod is further arranged on the airing rod, the elastic telescopic movable rod is arranged, the locking device is arranged on the airing rod and / or the bracket to lock and unlock the movable rod, and the buffering device is arranged, so that semi-automatic pulling and retracting of the movable rod are achieved, and the use experience of a user for collecting and airing clothes is improved; and by utilizing the structural characteristics of the airing rod assembly, the occupied volume is small, and the structure is firm. The invention further discloses an electric clothes airing machine adopting the semi-automatic airing rod assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to clothes drying equipment, and more particularly to a semi-automatic clothes drying rod assembly and its electric clothes drying machine. Background Technology

[0002] Most electric clothes drying racks currently feature telescopic rods, meeting users' needs for extended drying and also offering a concealed design that enhances the overall aesthetics of the machine. However, this telescopic rod structure is still relatively simple, requiring users to manually pull it out and retract it, which is inconvenient. Existing technology discloses an electric telescopic structure that uses a motor and is controlled by a main unit, allowing for automatic or intelligent extension and retraction. However, this structure is expensive, and because the drying rod must be moved away from the main unit when lowered, power supply and safety issues are prominent, resulting in limited practicality.

[0003] In summary, this invention was developed to meet this need. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a semi-automatic clothes drying rod assembly. By setting an elastic telescopic movable rod, and providing a locking device on the drying rod and / or bracket to lock and unlock the movable rod, as well as a buffer device, the semi-automatic pulling and retraction of the movable rod is realized, which improves the user's experience in taking clothes out to dry. Moreover, by utilizing the structural characteristics of the drying rod assembly itself, it occupies a small volume and has a robust structure.

[0005] This invention is achieved through the following technical solution: A semi-automatic drying rack assembly, characterized in that it comprises: Two parallel drying rods and two brackets connecting the two drying rods; The drying rod has movable rods at both ends; the drying rod is provided with at least one elastic element so that the movable rods at both ends can extend or retract under elastic action; the drying rod and / or the bracket are provided with a locking device; when the locking device is locked, the movable rod is in an elastic energy storage state; when the locking device is unlocked, the movable rod extends or retracts due to elastic release. The drying rack is also equipped with a buffer device to prevent the elastic impact of the movable rod.

[0006] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly described above is characterized in that a tension spring or elastic rope is connected between the two movable rods at both ends, and when the locking device is unlocked, the two movable rods at both ends can retract into the drying rack.

[0007] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly as described above is characterized in that the locking device is disposed on the end side of the bracket to lock or unlock the movable rod, and a folding frame is movably connected to the two brackets, wherein at least one folding frame can trigger the locking device to unlock when it is folded.

[0008] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly described above is characterized in that two sliders are provided at one end of the folding frame that is movably connected to the bracket, and at least one of the sliders can trigger the locking device to unlock when the bracket slides, with the main body of the slider and the locking device spaced apart in the vertical direction of the bracket.

[0009] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly described above is characterized in that a sliding groove is provided at the bottom of the bracket, at least one layer of sliding rail is provided on the side wall of the bracket, a locking device is located at the end of the sliding groove, the main body of the slider moves on the sliding rail, and a trigger part extends downward from the main body of the slider to trigger the locking device to unlock, the trigger part being located on the side of the slider away from the locking device.

[0010] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly described above is characterized in that the bracket has bracket end caps adapted to the drying rack at both ends, the locking device includes a bolt movably passing through the bracket end cap and a lever movably connected to the bolt, the lever is hinged to the bracket end cap and can be triggered to unlock by the slider, the drying rack has a through hole at the bracket end cap, and the movable rod has a locking hole at the corresponding location, the locking device is in the locked state, the bolt extends out of the bracket end cap, passes through the through hole and inserts into the locking hole, and the bracket end cap is also provided with a reset member to keep the bolt in the locked state.

[0011] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly described above is characterized in that the lever has an abutting section that movably abuts against the locking bolt and a triggering section that can be abutted by the slider, the abutting section and the triggering section are respectively located on both sides of the hinge point, and the length of the abutting section is greater than the length of the triggering section.

[0012] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly described above is characterized in that the slider extends downward from its main body and has two triggering portions, the two triggering portions being located on both sides of the slider sliding path, and the triggering segments being higher than the abutting segments in the vertical direction.

[0013] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly described above is characterized in that the locking bolt has an abutting part on the side opposite to its protruding end that abuts against the lever; the bracket end cap has a clearance groove on the moving path of the abutting part that allows the abutting part to move and avoid the lever; the bracket end cap has a fixing part on the side of the clearance groove away from the abutting part; and the reset member is connected to the abutting part from the fixing part along the clearance groove, avoiding the lever.

[0014] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly described above is characterized in that the bracket end cap is provided with a receiving groove adapted to the locking bolt on the insertion path of the locking bolt, the receiving groove is provided with a plurality of protruding ribs on its inner wall along the insertion direction of the locking bolt, and a limiting part is provided on the locking bolt near the lever but away from the abutment part, and the limiting part protrudes out of the groove opening of the receiving groove on the insertion path of the locking bolt.

[0015] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly described above is characterized in that the movable rod of each drying rack extends or retracts in conjunction with a gear and rack assembly, and only one of the two brackets is provided with the locking device on both sides; or, the two brackets are provided with the locking device on their respective opposite sides.

[0016] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly described above is characterized in that the movable rods on the same side of the two drying racks are fixedly connected by a connecting rod, and the two brackets are respectively provided with the locking device on at least the same side; or, the two brackets are respectively provided with the locking device on their respective opposite sides.

[0017] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly described above is characterized in that the movable rod of each drying rack extends or retracts in conjunction with a gear and rack assembly, and only one of the two brackets is provided with the locking device on one side.

[0018] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly described above is characterized in that the drying rack and the bracket are respectively provided with locking devices and the two locking devices can be unlocked in conjunction, wherein the locking device located on the bracket is automatically unlocked by folding the folding frame, and the locking device on the drying rack is unlocked manually.

[0019] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly described above is characterized in that the locking device on the drying rack includes a linkage member and two driven members that cooperate with it. The linkage member is connected to an operating part. The locking device on the bracket includes a bolt or bolt with a guide part and a guide member that is linked with it. The end of the driven member can cooperate with the bolt to complete the linkage unlocking.

[0020] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly described above is characterized in that the movable rod extends or retracts in conjunction with a gear and rack assembly, a linkage gear is fixed in the middle of the drying rack, the linkage gear is connected to the locking device, the locking device includes a locking button and a return spring, in the locked state, the locking button locks the linkage gear, and the return spring is used to keep the locking button in the locked state.

[0021] A semi-automatic drying rack assembly, characterized in that it comprises: Two parallel drying rods and two brackets connecting the two drying rods; The drying rod has movable rods at both ends; the drying rod contains at least one elastic element so that the movable rods at both ends can extend or retract under elastic action; the drying rod and / or the bracket are provided with a locking device. When the locking device is locked, the movable rod is in an elastic energy storage state; when the locking device is unlocked, the movable rod extends or retracts due to elastic release; the movable rod extends or retracts in conjunction with a gear and rack assembly; a linkage gear is fixed in the middle of the drying rod, and the linkage gear is connected to the locking device; the locking device includes a locking button and a return spring; when the locking device is locked, the locking button locks the linkage gear, and the return spring is used to keep the locking button in the locked state.

[0022] The semi-automatic drying rack assembly described above is characterized in that the locking button is provided with locking teeth adapted to the linkage gear, and when the locking button is in the pressed state, the locking teeth disengage from the linkage gear. The locking device further includes a fixed base, and the fixed base is provided with a guide post in the stroke direction of the locking button, and the locking button is provided with a guide groove accordingly.

[0023] An electric clothes drying rack is characterized by including a semi-automatic drying rod assembly as described above.

[0024] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: 1) The semi-automatic clothes drying rod assembly of the present invention, by setting an elastic telescopic movable rod, and setting a locking device on the drying rod and / or bracket to lock and unlock the movable rod, as well as setting a buffer device, realizes the semi-automatic pulling and retraction of the movable rod, improves the user's experience of taking clothes out to dry, and utilizes the structural characteristics of the drying rod assembly itself, which occupies a small volume and has a sturdy structure.

[0025] 2) The semi-automatic clothes drying rod assembly of the present invention adopts a gear and rack linkage structure for extending or retracting movable rods and a locking device for locking and unlocking the linkage gears, which realizes one-click unlocking of the movable rods at both ends without any extra actions, greatly improving the user's experience in taking in and drying clothes.

[0026] 3) The electric clothes drying rack of the present invention, by adopting the above-mentioned semi-automatic drying rod assembly, realizes the semi-automatic retraction function of the drying rod telescopic rod, which greatly meets the user's needs.

[0027] To better understand and implement this invention, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the semi-automatic drying rack assembly in its unfolded state according to the present invention; Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the bracket of the semi-automatic drying rack assembly described in this invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the semi-automatic drying rack assembly described in this invention, after the bracket end cap is concealed. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the semi-automatic drying rack assembly of the present invention after the bracket body is hidden. Figure 5 This is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the semi-automatic drying rack assembly of the present invention after the bracket body is concealed. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the bracket end cap and locking device assembly of the semi-automatic drying rack assembly described in this invention. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the semi-automatic drying rack assembly of the present invention with the hidden connecting rod in the unfolded state; Figure 8 yes Figure 7 Enlarged view of section A; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the gear and rack structure of the semi-automatic drying rack assembly described in this invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the semi-automatic drying rack assembly of the present invention using another locking device; Figure 11 yes Figure 10 Explosion state diagram; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the locking device of the present invention in the locked state; Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the locking device of the present invention in the unlocked state; In the diagram, the components are: drying rod 10, movable rod 11, locking hole 111, through hole 12, connecting rod 13, linkage gear 14, rack 15, bracket 20, bracket body 201, folding frame 21, slider 22, main body 220, triggering part 221, slide groove 23, slide rail 24, bracket end cap 25, clearance groove 251, fixing part 252, receiving groove 253, protruding rib 254, locking device 30, bolt 31, abutting part 311, limiting part 312, snap-fitting part 313, lever 32, abutting section 321, triggering section 322, tension spring 33, locking button 34, locking tooth 341, guide groove 342, return spring 35, fixing seat 36, guide post 361, buffer device 40, damper 41, and damping ring 42. Detailed Implementation

[0029] This section will describe in detail specific embodiments of the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. The purpose of the drawings is to supplement the textual description with graphics, so that people can intuitively and vividly understand each technical feature and overall technical solution of the present invention, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "set up," "install," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0031] Most electric clothes drying racks currently feature telescopic rods, meeting users' needs for extended drying and also offering a concealed design that enhances the overall aesthetics of the machine. However, this telescopic rod structure is still relatively simple, requiring users to manually pull it out and retract it, which is inconvenient. Existing technology discloses an electric telescopic structure that uses a motor and is controlled by a main unit, allowing for automatic or intelligent extension and retraction. However, this structure is expensive, and because the drying rod must be moved away from the main unit when lowered, power supply and safety issues are prominent, resulting in limited practicality.

[0032] Reference Figures 1 to 13 A preferred embodiment of the semi-automatic drying rack assembly of the present invention includes: Two parallel drying rods 10 and two brackets 20 connected between the two drying rods; The drying rod 10 has movable rods 11 at both ends that can extend and retract. At least one elastic element is provided within the drying rod 10, allowing the movable rods 11 to extend or retract under elastic action. A locking device 30 is provided on the drying rod 10 and / or the bracket 20. When the locking device 30 is locked, the movable rod 11 is in an elastic energy storage state; when the locking device 30 is unlocked, the movable rod 11 extends or retracts due to elastic release. A buffer device 40 is also provided on the drying rod 10 to prevent elastic impact from the movable rod. By setting the elastically extendable movable rods 11, and by providing the locking device 30 and buffer device 40 on the drying rod 10 and / or bracket 20 to lock and unlock the movable rods, semi-automatic pulling and retraction of the movable rods is achieved, improving the user experience of taking in and drying clothes. Furthermore, by utilizing the structural characteristics of the drying rod assembly itself, it occupies a small volume and has a robust structure.

[0033] For details, see Figures 1 to 4In the semi-automatic drying rack assembly described in this invention, the drying rack 10 adopts a telescopic rod structure with both ends extendable. This telescopic drying rack structure is compact, and the entire drying rack assembly has good integration when retracted, without occupying too much balcony space. When the locking device 30 is unlocked, the movable rod 11 extends or retracts due to elastic release, which can effectively reduce unnecessary operations for the user and improve their user experience. When the movable rod extends elastically, a compression spring is provided between the movable rod and the drying rack or between the two movable rods. When the user needs to use the movable rod, they only need to simply operate to unlock the locking device, but when not in use, it needs to be retracted so that it is locked again by the locking device.

[0034] Furthermore, a tension spring or elastic rope connects the two movable rods at both ends, allowing the movable rods to retract into the drying rack when the locking device is unlocked. Specifically, this embodiment involves the elastic retraction of the movable rods (not shown in the figure). When the user needs to use the movable rod, it must be pulled out until it is locked by the locking device, but when not in use, the locking device can be easily unlocked.

[0035] Furthermore, the locking device 30 is disposed on the end side of the bracket 20 to lock or unlock the movable rod 11. Folding frames 21 are movably connected to both brackets 20, and at least one folding frame 21 can trigger the locking device 30 to unlock when it is folded. See details below. Figures 1 to 6 The locking device 30 of this invention is located at four end positions of the bracket 20, as shown in the figure: the front side of the left bracket, the rear side of the left bracket, the front side of the right bracket, and the rear side of the right bracket. Locking devices can be installed at all four positions and can be triggered and unlocked by the folding frame 21. When the movable rods on the same side of two drying rods are fixedly connected, the two movable rods on that side can move synchronously. In this case, only one movable rod needs to be locked and unlocked by the locking device. To improve the structural reliability of the product in actual use, locking devices are installed at all four positions and are linked to the folding frame. Furthermore, when the movable rods on both sides of each drying rod are linked by a gear and rack assembly, the movable rods on the left and right sides of each drying rod can extend and retract synchronously. In this case, only one movable rod needs to be locked and unlocked by the locking device.

[0036] Furthermore, the folding frame 21 is movably connected to one end of the bracket 20 and is provided with two sliders 22. At least one slider 22 can trigger the locking device 30 to unlock when the bracket 20 slides. The main body 220 of the slider 22 and the locking device 30 are spaced apart in the vertical direction of the bracket 20, that is, staggered. For details, see Figures 3 to 6The bracket 20 has a bracket body 201, which is a U-shaped guide rail. By staggering the main body 220 of the slider 22 with the locking device 30, the length of the bracket body can be effectively utilized. Within a predetermined distance between the two drying rods, the folding stroke of the folding rack can be maximized. The length of the bracket body determines the distance between the two drying rods, which indirectly affects the width of the electric clothes drying rack's main unit. Therefore, staggering the main body 220 of the slider 22 with the locking device 30 makes the overall structure more compact. Of course, it is understandable that the main body 220 of the slider 22 and the locking device 30 could also be arranged on the same level, i.e., the locking device 30 is located on the sliding path of the main body 220 of the slider 22. In this case, although unlocking and releasing the movable rod can still be achieved, some of the folding rack's stroke will be sacrificed.

[0037] Furthermore, the bracket 20 has a groove 23 at its bottom and at least one slide rail 24 on its sidewall. A locking device 30 is located at the end of the groove 23. The main body 220 of the slider 22 moves along the slide rail 24. A trigger part 221 extends downward from the main body of the slider 22 to unlock the locking device. The trigger part 221 is located on the side of the slider 22 away from the locking device 30. See details... Figures 3 to 6 The locking device 30 is placed in the slide groove 23, below the slider body 220, which better conceals the locking device and also adapts to the position of the drying rod body, facilitating its storage on top of the drying rod and improving the overall integrity of the drying rod assembly. The slide rail 24 has two layers, and the slider body 220 slides within the two layers of slide rails, preventing it from detaching from the bracket while improving the smoothness of the slide. To maximize the folding stroke of the folding frame, the trigger part 221 is located on the side of the slider 22 away from the locking device 30. Of course, it can be understood that the slider 22 can also be slidably connected to the slide groove 23, in which case the trigger part 221 will extend upward.

[0038] Furthermore, the bracket 20 is provided with bracket end caps 25 at both ends, which are adapted to the drying rod 10. The locking device 30 includes a bolt 31 that is movably inserted through the bracket end cap 25 and a lever 32 that is movably connected to the bolt 31. The lever 32 is hinged to the bracket end cap 25 and can be triggered to unlock by the slider 22. The drying rod 10 has a through hole 12 at the bracket end cap 25, and the movable rod has a locking hole 111 at the corresponding position. In the locked state, the bolt 31 extends out of the bracket end cap 25, passes through the through hole 12, and inserts into the locking hole 111. The bracket end cap 25 is also provided with a reset member to keep the bolt 31 in the locked state. As one embodiment of the locking device of the present invention, the locking device adopts a lever locking structure. For details, see [link to documentation]. Figures 3 to 68. The locking device 30 includes a bolt 31 that movably passes through the bracket end cover 25. A lever 32 has a lever head and movably abuts against the bolt 31. The lever 32 is hinged to the bracket end cover 25, allowing the lever 32 to rotate within a certain angle range to drive the bolt 31 to slide within the bracket end cover 25. During the unlocking action, the trigger part 221 of the slider abuts against the lever 32, causing it to rotate and retract the bolt 31 back to the bracket end cover 25. The reset element is a tension spring 33. In the locked state, the bolt 31 can be maintained in the state of extending out of the bracket end cover 25 under the action of the tension spring 33 to lock the movable rod 11.

[0039] Furthermore, the lever 32 has an abutting section 321 that movably abuts against the bolt 31 and a triggering section 322 that can be abutted against by the slider 22. The abutting section 321 and the triggering section 322 are located on both sides of the hinge point, and the length of the abutting section 321 is greater than the length of the triggering section 322. See details. Figures 5 to 6 By setting the length of the abutment section 321 to be greater than the length of the trigger section 322, a smaller sliding distance of the slider 22 can be achieved to obtain a larger sliding distance of the locking bolt 31. Through the principle of the lever, the locking device can be unlocked quickly. The folding frame can be triggered to unlock with a small portion of the stroke at the end of the folding process. This allows the clothes drying rod assembly to unlock in a short period of time when it rises from the drying rack (usually the factory-preset clothes drying position; when the movable rod is unfolded, it may continue to rise beyond this position, which can easily damage the clothes drying rod assembly in models with embedded or hidden frames) to the upper limit position. Furthermore, the length of the abutment section 321 is set to L1, and the length of the trigger section 322 is set to L2, where L1 and L2 satisfy: 2L2≤L1≤3L2. This design can better balance the load-bearing capacity of the clothes drying rod and the power of the motor. The implementation of the lever successfully utilizes the mechanism that the work done by the motor when the folding frame is folded (clothes drying rod rises) is much greater than the work done by the motor when the folding frame is unfolded (clothes drying rod descends).

[0040] Furthermore, the slider 22 has two trigger portions 221 extending downward from its main body 220. The two trigger portions 221 are located on both sides of the slider 22's sliding path, and the trigger segment 322 is vertically higher than the abutment segment 321. See details... Figures 4 to 6The trigger segment 322 is located on the hinged side opposite to the abutment segment 321, and their movement directions are opposite. When the slider 22 slides close to the trigger segment 322, its main body 220 can slide and pass over the trigger segment 322 to approach the abutment bracket end cover 25 due to the staggered arrangement. During this process, the slider trigger segment 221 presses against the trigger segment 322 to cause it to rotate. The slider 22 is provided with two trigger segments 221, both located on the side of the slider 22 away from the locking device 30 and respectively arranged on both sides of the slider 22's sliding path. This arrangement allows the two sliders 22 to be shared, avoiding reverse assembly. Similarly, the parts of the two locking devices 30 can also be shared, which will be further described below in conjunction with the structural features of the bracket end cover 25. Here, the vertical height of the trigger segment 322 of the lever 32 is higher than the height of the abutment segment 321, so that the abutment segment 321 can avoid the trigger segment 221 on the other side, thus generating rotation.

[0041] Furthermore, the bolt 31 has an abutment portion 311 on the side opposite to its protruding end, which abuts against the lever 32. The bracket end cap 25 has a clearance groove 251 on the movement path of the abutment portion 311, allowing the abutment portion 311 to move and avoid the lever 32. The bracket end cap 25 has a fixing portion 252 on the side of the clearance groove 251 away from the abutment portion 311. The reset member connects to the abutment portion 311 from the fixing portion 252 along the clearance groove 251, avoiding the lever 32. For details, see [link to details]. Figures 4 to 6 The main body of the bolt 31 and its abutment portion 311 are L-shaped, with the abutment portion 311 located on the short side of the L-shape. It has locking portions 313 extending vertically upwards and downwards respectively. The clearance groove 251 avoids the lever 32, allowing the tension spring to pass through the lever 32 and engage with the locking portion 313. Since the abutment portion 311 requires a certain amount of space to move within the bracket end cover 25, the clearance groove 251 can also accommodate the locking portion 313, allowing it to move within it. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the parts of the locking devices 30 at both ends can be shared. The clearance groove 251 cleverly solves the assembly adaptability of the bolt 31 at both ends, and the lever 32 and tension spring 33 can also be shared. In addition, the abutment part 311 also avoids the sliding path of the slider. Specifically, it avoids the trigger part 221 on the corresponding side. In the vertical direction, the height of the locking pin body (the long side of the L-shape) is also lower than the height of the trigger section 322, thereby avoiding the trigger part 221 of the slider.

[0042] Furthermore, the bracket end cap 25 is provided with a receiving groove 253 adapted to the bolt 31 along the insertion path of the bolt 31. The receiving groove 253 has several protruding ribs 254 on its inner wall along the insertion direction of the bolt 31. A limiting part 312 protrudes from the opening of the receiving groove 253 along the insertion path of the bolt 31, near the lever 32 but away from the abutment part 311. For details, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figures 4 to 6 The protruding rib 254 significantly reduces the frictional force of the locking bolt 31. The limiting part 312, the abutting part 311, and the main body of the locking pin are generally F-shaped, with the limiting part 312 located at the second horizontal bar below the F. The limiting part 312 limits the length of the locking bolt 31 extending out of the bracket end cover 25 and also prevents the lever 32 from disengaging from the locking bolt 31 during assembly, facilitating positioning during assembly. In addition, the length of the limiting part 312 is also shorter than that of the abutting part 311 to avoid the tension spring 33 and prevent interference.

[0043] Furthermore, the movable rod of each drying rod 10 extends or retracts in conjunction with a gear and rack assembly, and only one of the two brackets 20 is provided with the locking device 30 on both sides; or, the two brackets 20 are provided with the locking device 30 on their respective opposite sides. For details, see [link to documentation]. Figures 7 to 9 As mentioned above, there are four locations for the locking device 30: the front side of the left bracket, the rear side of the left bracket, the front side of the right bracket, and the rear side of the right bracket. When the movable rod extends or retracts using a gear and rack linkage, two locking devices can be installed on one bracket, or two locking devices can be installed on opposite sides of the two brackets, such as the front side of the left bracket and the rear side of the right bracket. Both of these installation methods can achieve linkage of the four movable rods. Furthermore, it should be further explained that in this invention, the two movable rods are elastically retracted by generating tension using a tension spring or elastic rope. However, when the movable rods are linked by a gear and rack linkage, a coil spring can be used instead of a tension spring or elastic rope to generate tension. For example, a coil spring integrated with a linkage gear can replace the tensile elastic potential energy with rotational elastic potential energy.

[0044] Furthermore, the movable rods 11 on the same side of the two drying rods 10 are fixedly connected by a connecting rod 13, and the two brackets 20 are respectively provided with the locking device 30 on at least the same side; or, the two brackets 30 are respectively provided with the locking device 30 on their respective opposite sides. For details, see [link to documentation]. Figure 1 , 7 As mentioned above, when the movable rods 11 on the same side of the two drying rods are fixed together by the connecting rod 13, they can extend or retract synchronously. At this time, the two brackets only need to be equipped with two locking devices on the same side or opposite side, such as the front side of the left bracket and the front side of the right bracket, or the front side of the left bracket and the rear side of the right bracket. Both of these arrangements can achieve the linkage of the four movable rods.

[0045] Furthermore, the movable rod of each drying rod 10 extends or retracts in linkage via a gear and rack assembly, and only one of the two brackets 20 has the locking device 30 on one side. Specifically, not shown in the figure, but as can be understood from the above description, the movable rods 11 on the same side of the two drying rods 10 are fixedly connected by a connecting rod 13 to achieve linkage, and the movable rods 13 at both ends of each drying rod 10 are also linked by a gear and rack assembly. This implementation method can achieve linkage of four movable rods with only one locking device.

[0046] Furthermore, both the drying rod and the bracket are equipped with locking devices, and the two locking devices can be unlocked in conjunction. The locking device on the bracket is automatically unlocked by folding the folding frame, while the locking device on the drying rod is unlocked manually. Specifically, although not shown in the figure, it can be understood from the preceding description that locking devices are installed on both the drying rod and the bracket, one automatically and one manually, providing greater flexibility for the user. The specific placement can be varied; for example, a locking device could be placed in the middle of each drying rod, and the locking devices on the brackets at both ends of the drying rod could be unlocked simultaneously using a linkage mechanism.

[0047] Furthermore, the locking device on the drying rod includes a linkage component and two driven components that cooperate with it. The linkage component is connected to an operating part. The locking device on the bracket includes a bolt or bolt with a guide portion and a guide component that is linked with it. The end of the driven component can cooperate with the bolt to complete the linkage unlocking. Specifically, it is not shown in the figure, but it can be understood from the above description that this implementation can meet the functional requirements of automatic and manual operation. Specifically, a gear and rack assembly is used as a brief description. Other similar structures, such as crank connecting rods and reversing connecting rods, are equivalent implementations. The linkage component is a linkage gear, and the driven component is a rack. The linkage gear is fixedly connected to a knob so that turning the knob can rotate the gear and then drive the rack to move. The end of the rack presses the bolt with a guide slope, causing it to retract to the bracket end cover, thereby completing the unlocking.

[0048] Furthermore, the movable rod 11 extends or retracts in conjunction with a gear and rack assembly. A linkage gear 14 is fixed in the middle of the drying rod, and the linkage gear 14 is connected to the locking device 30. The locking device 30 includes a locking button 34 and a return spring 35. In the locked state, the locking button 34 locks the linkage gear 14, and the return spring 35 keeps the locking button 34 in the locked state. For details, see [link to documentation]. Figures 9 to 13This implementation method involves a locking device separately installed on the clothesline, providing a manual unlocking mechanism. It's also a semi-automatic telescopic rod structure. By employing a gear and rack linkage to extend or retract the rod, and a locking device to lock and unlock the linkage gears, one-button unlocking of both ends of the rod is achieved, eliminating the need for additional actions and greatly improving the user experience when taking in and drying clothes. Using a locking button to lock the linkage gears eliminates the need for holes in the clothesline and the rods themselves, improving the usability of the parts and assembly efficiency. Users only need to press a button to unlock, making it very convenient.

[0049] Another preferred embodiment of the semi-automatic drying rack assembly of the present invention includes: Two parallel drying rods 10 and two brackets 20 connected between the two drying rods 10; The drying rod 10 has movable rods 11 at both ends; the drying rod 10 has at least one elastic element so that the movable rods 11 at both ends can extend or retract under elastic action. The drying rod 10 and / or the bracket 20 are provided with a locking device 30. When the locking device 30 is locked, the movable rods 11 are in an elastic energy storage state. When the locking device 30 is unlocked, the movable rods 11 extend or retract due to elastic release. The movable rods 11 extend or retract in conjunction with a gear and rack assembly. A linkage gear 14 is fixed in the middle of the drying rod 10. The linkage gear 14 is connected to the locking device 30. The locking device 30 includes a locking button 34 and a return spring 35. When the locking device 30 is locked, the locking button 34 locks the linkage gear 14, and the return spring 35 is used to keep the locking button 34 in the locked state. For details, see Figures 9 to 13 As mentioned above, the semi-automatic clothes drying rod assembly of the present invention achieves one-click unlocking of the two ends of the movable rod by adopting a gear and rack linkage structure for extending or retracting the movable rod and a locking device for locking and unlocking the linkage gear, without the need for extra actions, which greatly improves the user's experience in taking in and drying clothes.

[0050] Furthermore, the locking button 34 is provided with locking teeth 341 adapted to the linkage gear 14. When the locking button 34 is in the pressed state, the locking teeth 341 disengage from the linkage gear 14. The locking device 30 also includes a fixing base 36, and the fixing base 36 is provided with a guide post 361 in the stroke direction of the locking button 34. The locking button 34 is correspondingly provided with a guide groove 342. For details, see [link to documentation]. Figures 11 to 13The locking tooth 341 is located on the side of the locking button 34 furthest from the user's operating end and close to the linkage gear 14. The locking button 34 has a certain degree of freedom of movement within the drying rod. The locking tooth 341 is kept engaged with the linkage gear 14 by a return spring 35. When the locking button 34 is pressed, the locking tooth 341 disengages from the linkage gear 14, allowing the linkage gear 14 to rotate freely to unlock. The cooperation between the guide post 361 and the guide groove 342 effectively prevents the locking button 34 from deflecting, improving the smoothness of button operation.

[0051] Furthermore, the buffer device 40 includes a damper 41 disposed on the end side of the drying rod. The damper 41 is specifically disposed near the extension position of the movable rod 10, to prevent the movable rod from rapidly retracting due to the release of elastic potential energy, causing the connecting rod to impact the end of the drying rod 10 and resulting in abnormal noise or damage to parts. Furthermore, a damping ring 42 is also disposed on the section of the movable rod 11 that is fixed to the connecting rod 13, and its function is the same as above. The dampers 41 and damping rings 42 are respectively combined, with a total of 4 locations, which together play a role in buffering and shock absorption.

[0052] The electric clothes drying rack of the present invention includes the aforementioned semi-automatic drying rod assembly, which realizes the semi-automatic retraction function of the drying rod telescopic rod, greatly satisfying the user's needs.

[0053] The above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. Any non-substantial changes and substitutions made by those skilled in the art based on the present invention shall fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A semi-automatic drying rack assembly, characterized in that, include: Two parallel drying rods and two brackets connecting the two drying rods; The drying rod has movable rods at both ends; the drying rod is provided with at least one elastic element so that the movable rods at both ends can extend or retract under elastic action; the drying rod and / or the bracket are provided with a locking device; when the locking device is locked, the movable rod is in an elastic energy storage state; when the locking device is unlocked, the movable rod extends or retracts due to elastic release. The drying rack is also equipped with a buffer device to prevent the elastic impact of the movable rod.

2. The semi-automatic drying rack assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, A tension spring or elastic rope is connected between the two movable rods at both ends. When the locking device is unlocked, the movable rods at both ends can retract into the drying rod.

3. The semi-automatic drying rack assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The locking device is disposed on the end side of the bracket to lock or unlock the movable rod. A folding frame is movably connected to the two brackets. At least one folding frame can trigger the locking device to unlock when it is folded. Two sliders are disposed at one end of the folding frame that is movably connected to the bracket. At least one slider can trigger the locking device to unlock when the bracket is slid. The main body of the slider and the locking device are spaced apart in the vertical direction of the bracket.

4. The semi-automatic drying rack assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bracket has a sliding groove at its bottom and at least one layer of sliding rails on its side wall. The locking device is located at the end of the sliding groove. The main body of the slider moves on the sliding rail. The slider has a trigger part extending downward from its main body to trigger the locking device to unlock. The trigger part is located on the side of the slider away from the locking device.

5. The semi-automatic drying rack assembly according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The bracket has end caps at both ends that are adapted to the drying rod. The locking device includes a bolt that is movably inserted through the end cap and a lever that is movably connected to the bolt. The lever is hinged to the end cap and can be triggered to unlock by the slider. The drying rod has a through hole at the end cap, and the movable rod has a locking hole at the corresponding location. In the locked state, the bolt extends out of the end cap, passes through the through hole, and inserts into the locking hole. The end cap also has a reset member that keeps the bolt in the locked state.

6. The semi-automatic drying rack assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The lever has an abutting section that movably abuts against the bolt and a triggering section that can be abutted by the slider. The abutting section and the triggering section are located on both sides of the hinge point, and the length of the abutting section is greater than the length of the triggering section.

7. The semi-automatic drying rack assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The slider has two trigger sections extending downwards from its main body. These two trigger sections are located on either side of the slider's sliding path, and the trigger sections are vertically higher than the abutment sections; or... The bolt has an abutment portion on the side opposite to its protruding end that abuts against the lever. The bracket end cap has a clearance groove on the moving path of the abutment portion, allowing the abutment portion to move and avoid the lever. The bracket end cap has a fixing portion on the side of the clearance groove away from the abutment portion. The reset member connects to the abutment portion from the fixing portion along the clearance groove, avoiding the lever; or... The bracket end cap is provided with a receiving groove adapted to the bolt on the insertion path of the bolt. The receiving groove has several protruding ribs on its inner wall along the insertion direction of the bolt. A limiting part is provided on the bolt near the lever but away from the abutment part. The limiting part protrudes from the groove opening of the receiving groove on the insertion path of the bolt.

8. The semi-automatic drying rack assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The movable rods on the same side of the two drying rods are fixedly connected by a connecting rod, and the locking device is provided on at least one side of each of the two brackets; or, the locking device is provided on the opposite side of each of the two brackets.

9. The semi-automatic drying rack assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, The movable rod of each drying rack extends or retracts in conjunction with a gear and rack assembly, and only one of the two brackets has the locking device on one side.

10. The semi-automatic drying rack assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The drying rod and the bracket are respectively equipped with locking devices, and the two locking devices can be unlocked in conjunction. The locking device on the bracket is automatically unlocked by folding the folding frame, while the locking device on the drying rod is unlocked manually.

11. The semi-automatic drying rack assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that, The locking device on the drying rod includes a linkage member and two driven members that cooperate with it. The linkage member is connected to an operating part. The locking device on the bracket includes a bolt or bolt with a guide part and a guide member that is linked with it. The end of the driven member can cooperate with the bolt to complete the linkage unlocking.

12. The semi-automatic drying rack assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The movable rod extends or retracts in conjunction with a gear and rack assembly. A linkage gear is fixed in the middle of the drying rod. The linkage gear is connected to the locking device. The locking device includes a locking button and a return spring. In the locked state, the locking button locks the linkage gear, and the return spring is used to keep the locking button in the locked state.

13. A semi-automatic drying rack assembly, characterized in that, include: Two parallel drying rods and two brackets connecting the two drying rods; The drying rod has movable rods at both ends; the drying rod contains at least one elastic element so that the movable rods at both ends can extend or retract under elastic action; the drying rod and / or the bracket are provided with a locking device. When the locking device is locked, the movable rod is in an elastic energy storage state; when the locking device is unlocked, the movable rod extends or retracts due to elastic release; the movable rod extends or retracts in conjunction with a gear and rack assembly; a linkage gear is fixed in the middle of the drying rod, and the linkage gear is connected to the locking device; the locking device includes a locking button and a return spring; when the locking device is locked, the locking button locks the linkage gear, and the return spring is used to keep the locking button in the locked state.

14. The semi-automatic drying rack assembly according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The locking button is provided with locking teeth that are adapted to the linkage gear. When the locking button is in the pressed state, the locking teeth disengage from the linkage gear. The locking device also includes a fixed base. The fixed base is provided with a guide post in the stroke direction of the locking button, and the locking button is provided with a guide groove accordingly.

15. An electric clothes drying rack, characterized in that, Includes the semi-automatic drying rack assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 14.

Images