Airing rod piece lifting device
By designing a sliding and swing mechanism lifting device in the clothes drying machine, the problem of inconvenient operation of the quilt rod is solved, the convenient hanging and beautiful design of the clothes hanger is realized, and the user experience is improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202421483078.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-26
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-10
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-06-26
AI Technical Summary
When hanging clothes by existing clothes dryers, the quilt tray needs to be unfolded or continuously picked up, which is inconvenient to operate and limited in design aesthetics, making it difficult to continuously support the hanger.
A drying rod lifting device including the main shell, the drying rod seat and the lifting structure is designed. Through the sliding and swinging mechanism, the second drying rod can be automatically lifted and reset, which is convenient for the hanger to be hung and hidden in the drying. The interior of the seat does not affect the appearance.
It facilitates hanging and removing clothes hangers, improves operation convenience, and maintains the aesthetics of the clothes dryer, simplifies the clothing hanging process.
Smart Images

Figure CN222332311U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model belongs to the field of clothes drying machines, and more specifically, relates to a clothes drying rod lifting device. Background Art
[0002] The clothes drying machine generally consists of a main unit fixed to the ceiling and a drying rod assembly. In order to increase the number of clothes to be dried, the drying rod assembly includes a clothes drying rod and a quilt drying rod. When the quilt drying rod is in use, the quilt drying rod is usually placed under the clothes drying rod. When the quilt drying rod is not in use, the quilt drying rod can also be flipped over the clothes drying rod for storage.
[0003] When the existing quilt drying rod is placed on the clothes drying rod, for aesthetic considerations and to prevent the gap between the clothes drying rod and the quilt drying rod from causing abnormal noise when lifting, the clothes drying rod and the quilt drying rod are generally placed in a seamless fit. Such a design generally covers the hanging holes or hanging grooves on the clothes drying rod, and it is difficult to hang clothes on the clothes drying rod in a covered state. At the same time, such a fit will make it necessary to unfold and hang the quilt drying rod when it is necessary to hang clothes on the clothes drying rod, or to continuously lift the quilt drying rod before the clothes hanger can be hung on the clothes drying rod, which is very inconvenient when hanging clothes, and is not easy to operate. Therefore, a drying rod lifting device is needed that can continuously support the clothes drying rod when it is necessary to hang clothes on the clothes drying rod, so as to facilitate hanging of clothes hangers. Utility Model Content
[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the utility model is to provide a drying rod lifting device, which can realize continuous support of the clothes drying rod, making it easy to hang the clothes hanger on the clothes drying rod without affecting the appearance.
[0005] The utility model discloses a drying rod lifting device, comprising: a main housing, the bottoms of the two ends of the main housing are respectively connected to drying rod seats through lifting devices, and a swingable second drying rod is arranged between the two drying rod seats;
[0006] A lifting structure is respectively arranged in the drying rod seats on both sides, and the lifting structure includes a starting end and a moving end; the starting end is slidably arranged in the drying rod seat, and the moving end is swingably arranged in the drying rod seat, and the starting end and the moving end are rotatably arranged, and the sliding of the starting end drives the swing of the moving end;
[0007] The second drying rod is arranged on the swing track of the moving end.
[0008] As a further improvement of the utility model, the starting end includes a sliding member, which is slidably arranged in the drying rod seat in the up-down direction, and a first spring is fixedly arranged at the bottom end of the sliding member, and the bottom end of the first spring is fixedly arranged with the bottom wall inside the drying rod seat;
[0009] Turning parts are respectively arranged at both ends of the sliding part, and the setting directions of the turning parts at both sides are respectively directed toward the second drying rods at both sides, and the turning parts at both sides are respectively arranged in contact with the moving ends at both sides.
[0010] As a further improvement of the utility model, two moving ends are provided, and the two moving ends are respectively provided on both sides of the starting end;
[0011] The two moving ends respectively include thrust pieces, which are slidably arranged in the drying rod seat in the up-and-down direction, and the two second drying rods are respectively arranged on the sliding tracks of the two thrust pieces;
[0012] One end of the thrust piece is arranged in contact with the flip pieces on both sides, and a second spring is fixedly arranged at the bottom end of the thrust piece.
[0013] As a further improvement of the utility model, the sliding member includes a pressing head, the top end of the pressing head extends upward to the upper side of the drying rod seat, and a connecting shaft is fixedly arranged on one end surface of the pressing head;
[0014] A first slide groove is arranged in the drying rod seat, and the pressing head is slidably connected to the first slide groove.
[0015] As a further improvement of the present invention, the flip member includes a connecting slide groove, two connecting slide grooves are provided, and the two connecting slide grooves are respectively facing the moving ends on both sides, and the two connecting slide grooves are both slidably connected to the connecting shaft.
[0016] As a further improvement of the utility model, the flip part also includes a fixed shaft, two fixed shafts are provided and are fixedly arranged on the inner side wall of the drying rod seat, and swing plates are rotatably arranged on the two fixed shafts, and one end of the two swing plates is rotatably connected to the two connecting slide grooves respectively.
[0017] As a further improvement of the utility model, a "hook-shaped" protrusion is provided on one side of the swing plate, and the protrusion of the swing plate is arranged in contact with the thrust piece.
[0018] As a further improvement of the utility model, the thrust member includes a second slide groove, a push block is slidably arranged in the second slide groove, the bottom end of the push block is fixedly arranged with the top end of the second spring, and the bottom end of the second spring is fixedly arranged at the bottom end of the second slide groove; the bottom end portion of the push block is provided with a transverse protrusion, the bottom end of the protrusion portion of the push block is provided with an inclined surface, the top end is a plane, and the inclined surface of the push block faces one side of the swing plate;
[0019] The top of the raised part of the swing plate is provided with an inclined surface, the inclined surfaces of the swing plate and the push block are slidably arranged in cooperation with each other, and the bottom end of the raised part of the swing plate is a plane.
[0020] As a further improvement of the utility model, at least two adjustment holes are provided on the swing plate, and the plurality of adjustment holes are arranged in sequence along the up-down direction.
[0021] As a further improvement of the utility model, a tension spring is arranged in the drying rod seat, one end of the tension spring is fixed to the inner side wall of the drying rod seat, and the other end of the tension spring extends into an adjustment hole and is connected to the adjustment hole in the form of a hook.
[0022] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are:
[0023] (1) The present invention provides a lifting structure. When the pressing head is pressed manually, the push block can be ejected through the movement of the connecting slide and the swing plate to continuously lift the second drying rod, so that the user can hang clothes hangers on the first drying rod without having to specially place the second drying rod, which is convenient for the user to operate.
[0024] (2) The lifting structure of the present invention can simultaneously press down the second drying rod when the second drying rod is placed. After the second drying rod is pressed, it is automatically locked by sliding of the two inclined surfaces, thereby completing the reset of the second drying rod. The reset process is convenient and quick.
[0025] (3) The lifting structure of the present invention is concealed inside the drying stand and will not affect the aesthetics of the clothes drying machine. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the utility model;
[0027] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of the lifting assembly of the utility model;
[0028] Figure 3 for Figure 2 The main view of
[0029] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the motion state structure;
[0030] Figure 5 for Figure 1 Side view of
[0031] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the motion state structure;
[0032] Figure 7 It is a structural schematic diagram of some components of the utility model;
[0033] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the motion state structure;
[0034] Fig. 9 It is a structural schematic diagram of another part of the utility model;
[0035] Fig.10It is a structural schematic diagram of another part of the utility model.
[0036] Description of the numbers in the figure:
[0037] 11. Main shell; 12. First drying rod; 13. Drying rod seat; 14. Second drying rod; 15. Rotating pin; 200. Lifting structure; 21. Pressing head; 22. Connecting shaft; 23. First slide groove; 24. First spring; 25. Swinging plate; 26. Fixed shaft; 27. Tension spring; 28. Connecting slide groove; 29. Second slide groove; 30. Second spring; 31. Push block; 32. Adjusting hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0039] Specific embodiment 1: Please refer to Figure 1-10 A drying rod lifting device comprises: a main housing 11, the bottoms of both ends of the main housing 11 are respectively connected to drying rod seats 13 through lifting devices, and a swingable second drying rod 14 is arranged between the drying rod seats 13 on both sides;
[0040] Lifting structures 200 are respectively provided in the drying rod seats 13 on both sides, and the lifting structures 200 include a starting end and a moving end; the starting end is slidably provided in the drying rod seat 13, and the moving end is swingably provided in the drying rod seat 13, and the starting end and the moving end are rotatably provided, and the sliding of the starting end drives the swing of the moving end;
[0041] The second drying rod 14 is arranged on the swing track of the moving end.
[0042] It can be understood that the main housing 11 is the main power component of the clothes drying machine, which is generally arranged on the indoor ceiling. Conventional drive motors, lamps and other components are arranged inside the main housing 11, and the lifting device can be a wire rope, a scissor rack or a combination of the two. The first drying rod 12 and the second drying rod 14 for hanging clothes and bedding are fixedly arranged on the drying rod seat 13, wherein the first drying rod 12 is a fixed drying rod, which is generally used for hanging clothes; the second drying rod 14 is a reversible drying rod, which can be used to hang clothes or bedding.
[0043] It can be understood that the above-mentioned starting end and the moving end are connected through the following: when the starting end slides, the moving end is synchronously driven to flip, and since the second drying rod 14 is arranged on the motion trajectory of the moving end, the flipping movement of the moving end will push the second drying rod 14 to lift up.
[0044] It is worth mentioning that the rotation center of the second drying rod 14 includes a slidable and rotatable rotating pin 15 set on the drying rod seat 13, and a total of four rotating pins 15 are set on the drying rod seat 13. The four rotating pins 15 are respectively distributed on the left and right sides of the drying rod seat 13, and each drying rod seat 13 is provided with two, and the two ends of the front and rear second drying rods 14 are respectively rotatably connected to the rotating pins 15 on their own side.
[0045] The starting end includes a sliding member, which is slidably arranged in the drying rod seat 13 in the up and down directions, and a first spring 24 is fixedly arranged at the bottom end of the sliding member, and the bottom end of the first spring 24 is fixedly arranged on the bottom wall inside the drying rod seat 13; flipping members are respectively arranged at both ends of the sliding member, and the setting directions of the flipping members on both sides are respectively facing the second drying rods 14 on both sides, and the flipping members on both sides are respectively arranged in contact with the moving ends on both sides.
[0046] The sliding part includes a pressing head 21, the top of which extends upward to the upper side of the drying rod seat 13, and a connecting shaft 22 is fixedly provided on one end surface of the pressing head 21; a first sliding groove 23 is provided in the drying rod seat 13, and the pressing head 21 and the first sliding groove 23 are slidably connected.
[0047] It can be understood that the sliding part includes a pressing head 21 and a connecting shaft 22. The connecting shaft 22 is fixedly arranged on the side end surface of the pressing head 21, and the flipping parts on both sides are slidably connected to the connecting shaft 22. The top of the pressing head 21 extends to the upper side of the drying rod seat 13. Therefore, the top of the drying rod seat 13 is a pressing or triggering position. When the pressing head 21 is pressed downward, the connecting shaft 22 moves downward synchronously, thereby driving the flipping parts on both sides to flip and swing.
[0048] There are two motion ends, which are respectively arranged on both sides of the starting end;
[0049] The two moving ends respectively include thrust pieces, which are slidably arranged in the drying rod seat 13 in the up-down direction, and the two second drying rods 14 are respectively arranged on the sliding tracks of the two thrust pieces;
[0050] One end of the thrust piece is arranged in contact with the flip pieces on both sides, and a second spring 30 is fixedly arranged at the bottom end of the thrust piece.
[0051] It can be understood that the thrust members on both sides are respectively arranged at the front and rear sides of the pressing head 21, and the two thrust members slide in the up and down directions. Moreover, since the two second drying rods 14 are respectively arranged on the sliding tracks of the two thrust members, when the four thrust members at the front and rear ends slide to the upper limit position, the two second drying rods 14 are pushed to be lifted upward at an angle of twenty to sixty degrees. Moreover, through the setting of the second spring 30, the elastic force of the second spring 30 can maintain the second drying rod 14 in the upward lifted state.
[0052] The flipping member includes a connecting slide 28, two of which are provided, and the two connecting slides 28 are respectively oriented toward the moving ends on both sides, and the two connecting slides 28 are both slidably connected to the connecting shaft 22. The flipping member also includes a fixed shaft 26, two of which are provided and fixedly provided on the inner side wall of the drying rod seat 13, and swing plates 25 are respectively rotatably provided on the two fixed shafts 26, and one end of the two swing plates 25 is respectively rotatably connected to the two connecting slides 28. A tension spring 27 is provided in the drying rod seat 13, one end of the tension spring 27 is fixedly provided on the inner side wall of the drying rod seat 13, and the other end of the tension spring 27 extends into an adjustment hole 32 and is connected to the adjustment hole 32 in a hooked manner.
[0053] It can be understood that the flipping parts in the drying rod seats 13 on the left and right sides each include two swing plates 25, two tension springs 27 and two connecting chutes 28, wherein the two connecting chutes 28 are in a "runway" shape and are slidably connected to the connecting shaft 22 at one end close to each other, and the two connecting chutes 28 are slidably connected to the two swing plates 25 at one end away from each other. And because the two swing plates 25 are both rotatably connected around the fixed shaft 26 at one end of each, when the connecting shaft 22 moves up and down, it will drive the connecting chutes 28 on both sides to flip and swing, and then drive the swing plates 25 on both sides to flip around the fixed shaft 26 toward the side close to each other. After the swing plates 25 on both sides flip, the push block 31 is pushed upward by the second spring 30 so that it is no longer in contact with the swing plates 25. At this time, the tension springs 27 on both sides pull the swing plates 25 to flip and reset through elastic tension.
[0054] The thrust member includes a second slide groove 29, in which a push block 31 is slidably arranged up and down, the bottom end of the push block 31 is fixedly arranged with the top end of the second spring 30, and the bottom end of the second spring 30 is fixedly arranged at the bottom end of the second slide groove 29; the bottom end portion of the push block 31 is provided with a transverse protrusion, the bottom end of the protrusion portion of the push block 31 is provided with an inclined surface, the top end is a plane, and the inclined surface of the push block 31 faces one side of the swing plate 25;
[0055] A "hook-shaped" protrusion is provided on one side of the swing plate 25, and the protrusion of the swing plate 25 is arranged in contact with the thrust member. An inclined surface is provided at the top of the protrusion of the swing plate 25, and the inclined surfaces of the swing plate 25 and the push block 31 are arranged to slide with each other, and the bottom end of the protrusion of the swing plate 25 is a plane.
[0056] It can be understood that the above-mentioned "hook-shaped" protrusion is arranged at the top of the swing plate 25 and is close to the protrusion shape of one side of the push block 31. When the bottom end of the "hook-shaped" protrusion is pressed and abutted against the push block 31, the bottom end plane of the "hook-shaped" protrusion contacts the top end plane of the push block 31, and the "hook-shaped" protrusion limits the push block 31 to the lower position. When the push block 31 is pressed down by the second air-drying rod 14 and moves downward, the inclined surface of the protrusion bottom of the push block 31 and the inclined surface of the "hook-shaped" protrusion slide against each other, and the push block 31 moves downward and pushes the "hook-shaped" protrusion to flip the swing plate 25 against the tension of the tension spring 27, so that the push block 31 moves to the position below the swing plate 25, and then the swing plate 25 is not subjected to force, and the tension of the tension spring 27 resets the push block 31 to limit the position.
[0057] It is worth noting that the elastic tension of the tension spring 27 is greater than the elastic thrust of the second spring 30 , thereby ensuring the limiting force of the swing plate 25 on the push block 31 .
[0058] At least two adjustment holes 32 are formed on the swing plate 25 , and the plurality of adjustment holes 32 are arranged in sequence along the up-down direction.
[0059] It can be understood that the above-mentioned multiple adjustment holes 32 are arranged in a vertical direction, that is, arranged in sequence along the up and down direction. The positions of the multiple adjustment holes 32 are different, so the tension spring 27 can be connected to different adjustment holes 32 respectively, thereby changing the tension of the tension spring 27, and then adjusting the preset elastic tension of the tension spring 27.
[0060] Working principle: In the static state, the main housing 11 is fixedly arranged on the ceiling or suspended ceiling of the room, and the main housing 11 is provided with conventional drive motors, lamps and other components. The drive motor controls the scissor frame to maintain the contracted state, so that the drying rod seat 13 is close to the main housing 11, and the second drying rod 14 is placed on the first drying rod 12. When it is necessary to hang clothes on the first drying rod 12, the drive motor controls the scissor frame to unfold, so that the drying rod seat 13 is lowered. When the drying rod seat 13 is lowered to a suitable height and clothes can be hung, if the second drying rod 14 is not needed at this time, the second drying rod 14 needs to be manually removed from the first drying rod 12 and hung under the first drying rod 12, so as to prevent the second drying rod 14 from covering the first drying rod 12. Since the current clothes drying machines are all designed in a hidden form, the first drying rod 12 and the second drying rod 14 are generally in a seamless fit state, so it is difficult to hang clothes on the first drying rod 12 when the second drying rod 14 is placed on the first drying rod 12. At this time, the pressing head 21 can be pressed downward manually, thereby overcoming the thrust of the first spring 24 and driving the pressing head 21 to slide downward. After the pressing head 21 slides downward, it drives the connecting shaft 22 to move downward, thereby pulling the ends of the connecting slides 28 on both sides that are close to each other to move downward, and then the connecting slides 28 on both sides are flipped. After the connecting slides 28 on both sides are flipped, the swing plates 25 on both sides are driven to flip around the fixed shafts 26 connected to them respectively. After the swing plates 25 are flipped, they no longer limit the push block 31. After the push block 31 is no longer limited, the second spring 30 is released. The push blocks 31 are released, thereby pushing the push blocks 31 to move upward. At this point, the two push blocks 31 in the left and right drying rod seats 13, a total of four push blocks 31, push the left and right end positions of the front and rear second drying rods 14 respectively, thereby pushing the second drying rods 14 on both sides to lift upward. At this time, after the push blocks 31 are pushed upward, they no longer contact the swing plate 25. Therefore, the push force of the second spring 30 keeps the push blocks 31 at the upper limit position at all times, thereby supporting the second drying rod 14 all the time, so that the user can continue to hang clothes on the first drying rod 12.
[0061] When the user has finished hanging the clothes, he manually places the second drying rod 14 back on the first drying rod 12, and then manually presses down the second drying rod 14 to push the push block 31 to slide downward through the second drying rod 14. While the push block 31 slides downward, the inclined surface contacts the top of the "hook-shaped" protrusion of the swing plate 25, thereby pushing the swing plate 25 to overcome the pulling force of the tension spring 27 and flipping, thereby causing the push block 31 to return to the bottom of the swing plate 25, and is pressed by the swing plate 25 and no longer pushes the second drying rod 14, so that the drying rod seat 13 can be moved upward for storage.
[0062] It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present application is not limited to the details of the above exemplary embodiments, and that the present application can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or basic features of the present application. Therefore, from any point of view, the embodiments should be regarded as exemplary and non-restrictive, and the scope of the present application is limited by the attached claims rather than the above description, so it is intended to include all changes that fall within the meaning and scope of the equivalent elements of the claims in the present application. Any figure mark in the claims should not be regarded as limiting the claims involved. In addition, it is obvious that the word "comprising" does not exclude other units or steps, and the singular does not exclude the plural. Multiple units or devices stated in the device claim can also be implemented by one unit or device through software or hardware. The words first, second, etc. are used to indicate names, and do not indicate any particular order.
Claims
1. A drying rod lifting device, characterized in that: include: A main housing (11), the bottoms of both ends of the main housing (11) are respectively connected to air-drying rod seats (13) via lifting devices, and a swingable second air-drying rod (14) is arranged between the air-drying rod seats (13) on both sides; Lifting structures (200) are respectively arranged in the drying rod seats (13) on both sides, and the lifting structures (200) include a starting end and a moving end; The start end is slidably arranged in the drying rod seat (13), and the moving end is swingably arranged in the drying rod seat (13). The start end and the moving end are rotatably arranged between them, and the sliding of the start end drives the swing of the moving end. The second drying rod (14) is arranged on the swing track of the moving end.
2. A drying rod lifting device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The starting end comprises a sliding member, which is slidably arranged in the drying rod seat (13) in the up-down direction, and a first spring (24) is fixedly arranged at the bottom end of the sliding member, and the bottom end of the first spring (24) is fixedly arranged on the bottom wall inside the drying rod seat (13); Turning parts are respectively arranged at both ends of the sliding part, and the setting directions of the turning parts on both sides are respectively oriented toward the second drying rods (14) on both sides, and the turning parts on both sides are respectively arranged in contact with the moving ends on both sides.
3. A drying rod lifting device according to claim 2, characterized in that: There are two motion ends, which are respectively arranged on both sides of the starting end; The two moving ends respectively include thrust pieces, which are slidably arranged in the drying rod seat (13) in the up-down direction, and the two second drying rods (14) are respectively arranged on the sliding tracks of the two thrust pieces; One end of the thrust piece is arranged in contact with the flip pieces on both sides, and a second spring (30) is fixedly arranged at the bottom end of the thrust piece.
4. A drying rod lifting device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sliding member comprises a pressing head (21), the top end of the pressing head (21) extends upward to the upper side of the drying rod seat (13), and a connecting shaft (22) is fixedly arranged on one end surface of the pressing head (21); A first slide groove (23) is arranged in the drying rod seat (13), and the pressing head (21) is slidably connected to the first slide groove (23).
5. A drying rod lifting device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The flipping member comprises a connecting slide groove (28), two connecting slide grooves (28) are provided, and the two connecting slide grooves (28) are respectively oriented towards the moving ends on both sides, and the two connecting slide grooves (28) are both slidably connected to the connecting shaft (22).
6. A drying rod lifting device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The flip member also includes a fixed shaft (26), two fixed shafts (26) are provided and are fixedly arranged on the inner side wall of the drying rod seat (13), and swing plates (25) are rotatably arranged on the two fixed shafts (26), and one end of the two swing plates (25) is rotatably connected to the two connecting slide grooves (28) respectively.
7. A drying rod lifting device according to claim 6, characterized in that: A "hook-shaped" protrusion is provided on one side of the swing plate (25), and the protrusion of the swing plate (25) is arranged in contact with the thrust piece.
8. The drying rod lifting device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The thrust member comprises a second slide groove (29), a push block (31) is slidably arranged in the second slide groove (29), the bottom end of the push block (31) is fixedly arranged with the top end of the second spring (30), and the bottom end of the second spring (30) is fixedly arranged at the bottom end of the second slide groove (29); a transverse protrusion is arranged at the bottom end of the push block (31), an inclined surface is arranged at the bottom end of the protrusion part of the push block (31), and the top end is a plane, and the inclined surface of the push block (31) faces one side of the swing plate (25); The top of the raised portion of the swing plate (25) is provided with an inclined surface, the inclined surfaces of the swing plate (25) and the push block (31) are slidably arranged in cooperation with each other, and the bottom end of the raised portion of the swing plate (25) is a plane.
9. The drying rod lifting device according to claim 7, characterized in that: At least two adjustment holes (32) are provided on the swing plate (25), and the plurality of adjustment holes (32) are arranged in sequence along the up-down direction.
10. A drying rod lifting device according to claim 9, characterized in that: A tension spring (27) is arranged in the drying rod seat (13), one end of the tension spring (27) is fixedly arranged on the inner side wall of the drying rod seat (13), and the other end of the tension spring (27) extends into an adjustment hole (32) and is connected to the adjustment hole (32) in the form of a hook.