Clothes drying arrangement with a clothes airer, method of drying clothes on a clothes airer and building comprising a clothes drying arrangement

Abstract

Clothes drying arrangement comprising a clothes airer, a cover arranged over the clothes airer, and an air flow device, wherein the air flow device is arranged to the draw air from outside of the cover into the space within the cover and therethrough. A building comprising said clothes drying arrangement and a method of drying clothes in said drying arrangement are also disclosed.

Description

[0001] CLOTHES AIRER

[0002] Field

[0003] The present invention relates to clothes airers.

[0004] Background

[0005] Airers, also referred to as maidens, clothes racks or drying racks are well known as a way of allowing wet clothing to air dry, for example after the clothing has been laundered. The airer stands on the ground, and provides rails or similar features which the clothes can be draped over or hung from, with space around them for air to circulate. Evaporation carries away moisture, allowing the clothes to dry over time. Recently, electrically heated airers, for example those with heating elements in the rails, have been developed to speed up the drying process. For such electrically heated airers, a further development has been to provide a cover for the airer, which allows a degree of air circulation while retaining some of the heat from the heater around the clothes. The cover is typically closed at the top, with a gap at the bottom / adjacent the ground, and / or mesh or other openings provided. This arrangement aims to balance the heat retention function of the cover while still enabling moist air to escape so that drying is achieved. However, optimising the air flow and heat management for a covered heated airer is challenging, considering the amount of clothing and thus air flow space is not controlled by the designer and rather is determined by the way in which a user loads the rails and arranges the cover. Even if the rails are loaded and covered as intended, the amount of moisture in the clothing reduces over time, changing the parameters for the balance between heat retention and airflow. Therefore, energy efficiency in drying may not be as high as it could be. Also, care is needed to ensure electrical safety of the heating components, which are arranged close to wet clothing, and to reduce the risk of overheating / fire.

[0006] Example embodiments of the present invention aim to address one or more issues associated with the prior art.

[0007] Summary

[0008] In a first embodiment, there is provided a clothes drying arrangement comprising a clothes airer, a cover arranged over the clothes airer, and an air flow device, characterised in that the air flow device is arranged to the draw air from outside of the cover into the space within the cover and therethrough.

[0009] In one example, the air flow device is arranged to the draw air from outside of the cover into the space within the cover and downwardly therethrough. In one example, the air flow device is arranged to the draw air from outside of the cover into the space within the cover from one or more airs inlets located in the top of the cover, or located around an upper region of the cover. In one example, the air flow device is arranged to the draw air from outside of the cover into the space within the cover from an air inlet located above the cover.

[0010] Generally, for indoor use, there is a temperature gradient with warmer air higher up in the room toward the ceiling and lower air close to the floor being relatively cooler. By drawing air in from on top of / an upper region of / above the cover, relatively warmer air passes into the cover than if the air was drawn in from below. This enhances the drying effect of the air, without needing a separate heat source as part of the clothes drying arrangement.

[0011] In one example, the air flow device comprises a fan. In one example, the fan comprises no heating element. In one example, the fan is electrically operated. In one example, the fan is mains powered. In one example, the fan is battery powered. In one example, the airflow device comprises a plurality of fans. In one example, the air flow device comprises an array of fans.

[0012] In one example, the air flow device comprises one or more fans arranged at an upper region of the cover. In one example, the air flow device is mounted in the cover, for example in a ceiling thereof.

[0013] In one example, the air flow device comprises an axial fan, for example mounted to blow air downwardly from outside of the cover into the space within the cover.

[0014] In one example, the air flow device comprises an inlet conduit. In one example, the inlet conduit is arranged to extend upwardly above the clothes airer, for example upwardly above the cover.

[0015] In one example, the inlet conduit comprises an extendible pipe or hose. In one example, the air flow device comprises an upstand support, for supporting the inlet conduit above the cover. In one example, the upstand support comprises a frame, rod or similar structure. In one example, the upstand support supports the inlet conduit from below, such as by connection to or by resting on the cover or the clothes airer. In one example, the upstand support is a hanger, for example a cord or thread, for attachment to ceiling or other higher support structure. In one example, the air flow device comprises a fan arranged at an end of the inlet conduit.

[0016] In one example, the inlet conduit comprises a rigid pipework arrangement. In one example, the inlet conduit extends above the cover and is supported by a building in which the clothes drying arrangement is located. In one example, the inlet conduit, in use extends beyond the room in which the cover is located. For example, the inlet conduit may extend through the ceiling of a room in which the cover is located. In one example, the inlet conduit in use extends into a higher part, for example an upper part of the building than the room in which the cover is located. In one example the inlet conduit may extend into a roof space. In one example the inlet conduit may extend into a ceiling void. In one example, the inlet conduit may extend into a loft. In one example, the inlet conduit may extend into an uninsulated space in the upper part of the building in which the cover is located. As will be appreciated, as generally heat rises, the higher parts of a building may be warmer, and as such provide a source of warmer air for drying clothes in the cover.

[0017] In one example, the air flow device comprises a fan arranged at an upper end of the inlet conduit. In one example, the air flow device comprises a fan arranged at a lower end of the inlet conduit. In one example, the air flow device comprises a fan arranged where the inlet conduit meets the cover, for example at, adjacent to, or bridging the area where inlet conduit and cover meet.

[0018] In one example, the inlet faces downwardly.

[0019] In one example, the inlet is arranged proximate to a ceiling in use.

[0020] In one example the inlet is arranged above the top of the clothes airer by a predetermined raise. In one example the inlet is arranged above the top of the cover by a predetermined raise. In one example the inlet is arranged above the fan by a predetermined raise. In one example the predetermined raise is greater than 30cm, for example greater than 60cm, for example greater than 90cm. In one example the inlet conduit comprises a length greater than 30cm, for example greater than 60cm, for example greater than 90cm.

[0021] In one example, the air flow device is arranged to move air within the cover from an upper region of the space within the cover to a lower region of the space within the cover. In one example, the air flow device is arranged to move air within the cover from the top of the space within the cover, to the bottom of the cover.

[0022] In one example, the inlet conduit comprises two branches. In one example, the inlet conduit comprises a two-way valve arrangement. In one example, the inlet conduit comprises a first branch, and a second branch. In one example, the inlet conduit comprises a two-way valve arrangement to selectively allow airflow from a first branch into the cover, and from a second branch into the cover, according to the setting of a two-way valve arrangement. In one example, the two-way valve arrangement is configured to selectively open one of the first and second branches of the inlet conduit, and correspondingly selectively close the other of the first and second branches of the inlet conduit. In one example, the two-way valve arrangement comprises an electrically switchable valve arrangement. In one example, the first and second branches of the inlet conduit share an airflow arrangement. In one example, the air flow device comprises a fan, e.g. a fan or fans as described above, arranged between the cover on one side, and the first and second branches of the inlet conduit on the other side.

[0023] In one example, a first branch of the inlet conduit comprises features as described for the inlet conduit described above. In one example, a second branch of the inlet conduit comprises features as described for the inlet conduit above described above.

[0024] In one example, the first and second branches of the inlet conduit each comprise an inlet, respectively as described above. In one example, the first and second branches of the inlet conduit respectively extend to a first inlet and a second inlet. In one example, the first inlet is located relatively higher than the second inlet.

[0025] In one example, the first branch of the inlet conduit extends to a first inlet outside of the room in which the cover is located, whereas the second branch of the inlet conduit extends to a second inlet in the room in which the cover is located. In one example, the first branch of the inlet conduit extends to a first inlet, for example in an upper part of a building in which the clothes drier is installed, and the second branch of the inlet conduit extends to a second inlet, for example in a relatively lower part of the building in which the clothes drier is installed. In one example, the first branch of the inlet conduit extends to a first inlet in a loft, and the second branch of the inlet conduit extends to a second inlet in the same room as which the clothes drier is installed.

[0026] In this way, either warm air from higher rooms, or warm air from within the same room may be selectively supplied within the cover, according to whichever is better suited for drying clothes within the cover. For example, in summertime, when a loft space or other upper part of the building is relatively warm, the first inlet may be used. However, if in wintertime the loft space or other upper part of the building is unheated, then the second inlet may be used.

[0027] In one example, the air flow device is arranged to move air out of a lower region of the cover, for example out of the bottom of cover, for example out from under the cover. In one example, the cover is arranged to extend down to the floor.

[0028] In one example, the cover comprises a sheet material. In one example the cover comprises a flexible material. In one example the cover is provided as a cover support and a cover envelope supported by the cover support. In one example, the cover envelope comprises a sheet material, for example a flexible sheet material. In one example, the cover support is independent of the clothes airer, for example the cover support comprises a freestanding element. In one example, the cover support is attached to or integral with the clothes airer. In one example, the air flow device is in use supported by, attached to or integral with the cover support.

[0029] In one example, the cover comprises a rigid form. In one example, the cover comprises a cabinet. In one example, the cover comprises a built-in cupboard arrangement. In one example, the clothes airer is built-in to the cover.

[0030] In one example the cover comprises an opening by which the clothes airer is accessible, for example a door, or flap. In one example, the cover is closable around the clothes airer.

[0031] In one example, the cover comprises one or more air outlet openings at a lower part thereof, for example at one or more mesh regions. In one example, the cover comprises air outlet openings provided at or around, for example encircling, its lower region. In one example, the air outlet openings comprise a selectively-openable arrangement, such as a zip, or flap, to cover or uncover them and thereby regulate air flow. In one example, the cover comprises one or more air inlet openings at an upper part thereof, for example at one or more mesh regions. In one example, the cover comprises air inlet openings provided at or around, for example encircling, its upper region. In one example, the air inlet openings comprise a selectively- openable arrangement, such as a zip, or flap, to cover or uncover them and thereby regulate air flow.

[0032] In one example, the arrangement comprises a heater, for example the airer comprises a heated clothes airer. In one example, the fan comprises a heater.

[0033] In one embodiment, there is provided a cover as described herein. In one embodiment, there is provided an air flow device as described herein. In one example, there is provided a cover and associated airflow device as described herein, for example integral with one another.

[0034] In one embodiment, there is provided a method of drying clothes on a clothes airer, comprising covering the clothes airer with a cover, and drawing air from outside of the cover into the space within the cover, from an air inlet located above the cover. In one embodiment, the method is performed using a clothes drying arrangement as described herein.

[0035] In one example, the method comprises building the clothes airer into a cabinet, or a built- in cupboard.

[0036] In one example, the method comprises building the clothes airer into a building. In one embodiment, there is provided a building comprising a clothes drying arrangement as described herein. In one example, the air flow device comprises an inlet conduit. In one example, the inlet conduit is arranged to extend upwardly above the clothes airer, for example upwardly above the cover. In one example, the inlet conduit comprises a rigid pipework arrangement. In one example, the inlet conduit extends above the cover and is supported by a building in which the clothes drying arrangement is located.

[0037] In one example, the inlet conduit, in use extends beyond the room in which the cover is located. For example, the inlet conduit may extend through the ceiling of a room in which the cover is located. In one example, the inlet conduit in use extends into a higher part, for example an upper part of the building than the room in which the cover is located. In one example the inlet conduit may extend into a roof space. In one example the inlet conduit may extend into a ceiling void. In one example, the inlet conduit may extend into a loft. In one example, the inlet conduit may extend into an uninsulated space in the upper part of the building in which the cover is located.

[0038] In one example, the inlet conduit comprises two branches. In one example, the inlet conduit comprises a two-way valve arrangement. In one example, the inlet conduit comprises a first branch, and a second branch. In one example, the inlet conduit comprises a two-way valve arrangement to selectively allow airflow from a first branch into the cover, and from a second branch into the cover, according to the setting of a two-way valve arrangement. In one example, the two-way valve arrangement is configured to selectively open one of the first and second branches of the inlet conduit, and correspondingly selectively close the other of the first and second branches of the inlet conduit. In one example, the two-way valve arrangement comprises an electrically switchable valve arrangement. In one example, the first and second branches of the inlet conduit share an airflow arrangement. In one example, the air flow device comprises a fan, e.g. a fan or fans as described above, arranged between the cover on one side, and the first and second branches of the inlet conduit on the other side.

[0039] In one example, a first branch of the inlet conduit comprises features as described for the inlet conduit described above. In one example, a second branch of the inlet conduit comprises features as described for the inlet conduit above described above.

[0040] In one example, the first and second branches of the inlet conduit each comprise an inlet, respectively as described above. In one example, the first and second branches of the inlet conduit respectively extend to a first inlet and a second inlet. In one example, the first inlet is located relatively higher than the second inlet. In one example, the first branch of the inlet conduit extends to a first inlet outside of the room in which the cover is located, whereas the second branch of the inlet conduit extends to a second inlet in the room in which the cover is located. In one example, the first branch of the inlet conduit extends to a first inlet, for example in an upper part of a building in which the clothes drier is installed, and the second branch of the inlet conduit extends to a second inlet, for example in a relatively lower part of the building in which the clothes drier is installed. In one example, the first branch of the inlet conduit extends to a first inlet in a loft, and the second branch of the inlet conduit extends to a second inlet in the same room as which the clothes drier is installed.

[0041] Introduction to drawings

[0042] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

[0043] Figure 1 shows, schematically, a side sectional view of a clothes drying arrangement comprising a clothes airer, a cover arranged over the clothes airer, and an air flow device; and

[0044] Figure 2 shows steps in a method of drying clothes; and

[0045] Figure 3 shows, schematically, a side sectional view of a building comprising a clothes drying arrangement as described herein.

[0046] Description of example embodiments

[0047] Figure 1 is a side sectional view of a clothes drying arrangement comprising a clothes airer, a cover arranged over the clothes airer, and an air flow device. These elements are illustrated schematically. The clothes airer is an arrangement of frame elements mounted in scissors arrangements, with rails over which clothes are draped to dry, such as after being laundered. The cover is made up of a cover frame that stands on the floor around the clothes airer, and a cover envelope of flexible sheet material supported by the frame. In other embodiments, the clothes airer itself may perform the function of the cover support.

[0048] A fan, which is electrically powered, is provided in the clothes drying arrangement. In the embodiment shown, the fan plugs into a mains electrical socket, however a battery fan is envisaged in other embodiments so that there is no need for access to mains electricity. The fan is part of an air flow device arranged to the draw air from outside of the cover into the space within the cover, from an air inlet located above the cover. Between the fan and the air inlet is an inlet conduit. The inlet conduit comprises an extendible hose, supported by an upstand support in the form of a thread. The upstand support includes an attachment to couple the upstand to a ceiling.

[0049] As shown in Figure 1 , the air inlet is arranged proximate to a ceiling in use. The air inlet is at the end of the inlet conduit, proximate to a ceiling in use. In other embodiments, the air inlet can be provided by openings in the top and / or upper regions of the cover. The air inlet faces downwardly, i.e. away from the ceiling, to avoid collection of dust or other debris therein. The air inlet therefore takes warmer air from higher up in the room into the cover. By drawing air in from above the cover or generally its upper region or top, relatively warmer air passes into the cover than if the air was drawn in from below. This enhances the drying effect of the air, without needing a separate heat source as part of the clothes drying arrangement. In other embodiments, a heat source may still be provided for a dual drying effect.

[0050] Air under the cover is moved by the fan from an upper region of the space within the cover to a lower region of the space within the cover. The air is blown out from under the cover proximate to the floor. The relatively moist expelled air is thus delivered out of the cover as far as possible from the inlet.

[0051] Suitably, the cover support is independent of the clothes airer. This means that, if desired, the clothes airer can be used in an uncovered arrangement, e.g. if airing clothes outside. Similarly, it will be appreciated that the cover and airflow device can be used with a variety of clothes airers, such as those already owned by a user.

[0052] Figure 2 shows steps S10, S20 in a method of drying clothes on a clothes airer, in an arrangement such as shown in Figure 1 . The method comprises covering the clothes airer with a cover at step S10. At step S20 the method comprises drawing air from outside of the cover into the space within the cover, from an air inlet located above the cover.

[0053] Figure 3 shows, schematically, a side sectional view of a building comprising a clothes drying arrangement as described herein. The clothes drying arrangement is provided as a built in cupboard, with a clothes airer inside, and an array of battery powered fans in an upper part of the cover as part of the air flow device. The air flow device is coupled, through a two-way valve to a first air inlet conduit that presents an air inlet in the loft of the loft of the building, which is above the room in which the cover is present. A second air inlet conduit presents an air inlet in the same room as the cover, close to the ceiling. The air inlet arrangement is arranged so that the two way valve can be switched, so use either the loft space, or the ceiling area in the same room as the cover as the source of inlet air. In summer, the loft space is likely to be warm, meaning that this is good option to help drying clothes. In winter, the room itself may be relatively warmer due to central or other space heating in the habitable area of the building. This, in either case a suitable source of relatively warm air is provided, to help dry the clothes within the cover, such as without the use of an additional heater element.

[0054] Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0055] All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and / or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive.

[0056] Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0057] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A clothes drying arrangement comprising a clothes airer, a cover arranged over the clothes airer, and an air flow device, characterised in that the air flow device is arranged to the draw air from outside of the cover into the space within the cover and therethrough.

2. The clothes drying arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the air flow device is arranged to the draw air from outside of the cover into the space within the cover and downwardly therethrough.

3. The clothes drying arrangement of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the air flow device is arranged to the draw air from outside of the cover into the space within the cover from one or more air inlets located above the cover.

4. The clothes drying arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the air flow device comprises a fan or a plurality of fans.

5. The clothes drying arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the air flow device is mounted in the cover, for example in a ceiling thereof.

6. The clothes drying arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the air flow device comprises an inlet conduit arranged to extend upwardly above the clothes airer.

7. The clothes drying arrangement of claim 6, wherein the inlet conduit comprises an extendible pipe, or a hose and an upstand support for supporting the inlet conduit above the cover.

8. The clothes drying arrangement of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the inlet conduit, in use extends beyond the room in which the cover is located.

9. The clothes drying arrangement of claim 8, wherein the inlet conduit extends into a loft, in the upper part of the building in which the cover is located.

10. The clothes drying arrangement of any one of claims 6 through 9, wherein the inlet conduit comprises an inlet that is arranged proximate to a ceiling in use.

11. The clothes drying arrangement of any one of claims 6 through 10, wherein the inlet conduit comprises two branches, with a two-way valve arrangement therebetween.

12. The clothes drying arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the cover comprises a sheet material.

13. The clothes drying arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the cover comprises a built-in cupboard arrangement, with the clothes airer is built-in to the cover.

14. A method of drying clothes on a clothes airer, comprising covering the clothes airer with a cover, and drawing air from outside of the cover into the space within the cover, from an air inlet located above the cover.

15. The method of claim 14, performed using a clothes drying arrangement as set out in any one of claims 1 to 13.

16. A building comprising a clothes drying arrangement as described in any one of claim 1 to 13.

17. The building of claim 16, wherein the air flow device comprises an inlet conduit arranged to extend upwardly above the clothes airer, above the cover, and either: to locate an inlet for the inlet conduit close to the ceiling of the room in which the clothes drying arrangement is provided, or which use extends beyond the room in which the cover is located into a higher part of the building than the room in which the cover is located.

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