Clothes Line Assemblies

Abstract

A clothes line assembly including: a support; a line carrier which is adapted to have attached thereto a plurality of lines to which clothing or other articles can be secured, the line carrier being operatively mounted to the support for movement between an in-use position in which it extends laterally from the support and a non-use position; the support including a support frame which is mountable to a wall or similar structure, the line carrier being pivotally mounted to the support frame for pivotal movement between the in-use and non-use positions; and a cover arranged so that when the line carrier is in the non-use position the cover and line carrier can adopt a stowed position in which the cover can conceal the line carrier from view, and in which the cover substantially abuts the lines and/or the line carrier, wherein the cover includes a panel operatively connected to the line carrier so that in an operative position with the line carrier in the in-use position the cover is disposed above and in spaced relation from the lines on the line carrier.

1 . A clothes line assembly including: a support; a first line carrier which is adapted to have attached thereto a plurality of lines to which clothing or other articles can be secured, the first line carrier being operatively mounted to the support for movement between an in-use position in which it extends laterally from the support, and a non-use position; the support including a support frame which is mountable to a wall or similar structure, the first line carrier being pivotally mounted to the support frame for pivotal movement between the in-use and non-use positions; and a cover arranged so that when the first line carrier is in the non-use position the cover and first line carrier can adopt a stowed position in which the cover can conceal the first line carrier from view, and in which stowed position the cover substantially abuts the lines and/or the first line carrier, wherein the cover is detachably or otherwise connected to the first line carrier or support so that in an operative position with the first line carrier in the in-use position, a substantial portion of the cover may be moved to a position distal the line first carrier. 
   
   
       2 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A clothes line assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the first line carrier is pivotally mounted to the support frame for pivotal movement between the in-use and non-use positions. 
   
   
       16 . A clothes line assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the cover is operatively connected to the first line carrier or support housing so as to be adapted to pivot about a pivoting axis during the movement to the operative position. 
   
   
       17 . A clothes line assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the cover is operatively connected to the first line carrier or support housing so as to be adapted to slide along a slide axis during the movement to the operative position. 
   
   
       18 . A clothes line assembly in accordance with  claim 16  wherein the pivoting axis is a vertical or horizontal axis disposed at one edge of the first line carrier or housing. 
   
   
       19 . A clothes line assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the cover is operatively connected to the first line carrier or support housing so as to be disposed to one side of the first line carrier or support housing when the first line carrier is in the in-use position. 
   
   
       20 . A clothes line assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the cover is operatively connected to the first line carrier or support housing so as to be disposed substantially parallel to the wall when the first line carrier is in the in-use position. 
   
   
       21 . A clothes line assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the cover is operatively connected to the first line carrier or support housing so as to be disposed underneath the first line carrier or support housing when the first line carrier is in the in-use position. 
   
   
       22 . A clothes line assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the cover is operatively connected to the first line carrier or support housing so as to be disposed above the first line carrier or support housing when the first line carrier is in the in-use position. 
   
   
       23 . A clothes line assembly in accordance with claim I wherein telescopic links are provided which are operatively connected to the support and/or first line carrier so that the height of the line carriers may be adjusted. 
   
   
       24 . A clothes line assembly in accordance with  claim 1  further including an additional line carrier which is operatively connected to the support for movement between the in-use and the non-use positions. 
   
   
       25 . A clothes line assembly in accordance with  claim 24  wherein when the first and additional line carriers are in the in-use position they extend laterally from the support frame in spaced relation from one another, and when in the non-use position the first and additional line carriers overlie one another and the support frame. 
   
   
       26 . A clothes line assembly in accordance with  claim 24  wherein the first line carrier is disposed above the additional line carrier when in the in-use position. 
   
   
       27 . A clothes line assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the cover includes a casing within which the first line carrier is adapted to be stored when in the non-use position. 
   
   
       28 . A clothes line assembly according to  claim 24  wherein the additional line carrier is pivotally mounted to the support frame for pivotal movement between the in-use and the non-use positions. 
   
   
       29 . A clothes line assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the cover is operatively mounted to the first line carrier by connecting links which are pivotable for enabling the cover to move between the deployed position and the stowed position in which the cover is adjacent to and overlies the first line carrier. 
   
   
       30 . A clothes line assembly according to  claim 29  wherein the links are mounted in a spaced-apart arrangement so that the cover extends to a selected distance from the first line carrier while remaining substantially parallel to the first line carrier throughout the extension movement and when in the in-use position. 
   
   
       31 . A clothesline assembly according to  claim 29  wherein stops are provided to inhibit rotation of the links past a selected point, so that in the deployed position, the cover is disposed to a selected, repeatable height above the first line carrier. 
   
   
       32 . A clothesline assembly according to  claim 31  wherein the selected point of rotation of the links is slightly after they rotate past a vertical or perpendicular position during deployment, so the weight of the cover may lean against the stops when in the in-use position, retaining the cover at the selected height above the first line carrier. 
   
   
       33 . A clothesline assembly in accordance with  claim 24  wherein additional line carrier has a peripheral dimension smaller than that of the first line carrier so the additional line carrier can rest within the first line carrier when in the non-use position.