Laundry bag for shoelaces

Abstract

The present invention is a shoelaces laundry bag made of a net-like material, which protects shoelaces from entangling in the washing machine agitator. The shoelaces laundry bag is preferably of rectangular shape and comprises an opening at the top end, a compression-type fastening mechanism with a zipper-type handle that snaps in place to hold the shoelaces laundry bag closed. The shoelaces laundry bag is three-dimensional and has a side dimension with a supporting fabric. The shoelaces laundry bag can be made of natural or synthetic material, which is appropriate for washing and drying. The zipper and fasteners can be made of plastic or any synthetic material.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPPLICATION

None

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to laundry bags that can be used during washing and drying cycles, and more particularly to a laundry bag made of a net-like material, which protects shoelaces from entangling in the washing machine agitator.

Many garments requiring washing are of such delicate structure or fragile materials that they require protection during the washing operation, such as, for example, curtains, silk or lace garments, nylon stockings, and runners of various types. These garments are likely to become entwined or twisted among other articles being washed or in the agitator or other equipment of the washing machine itself.

A number of devices have been developed in the prior art for thorough machine laundering of such articles and mesh bags are an example of such a device. These mesh bags are conventionally constructed of mesh nylon or similar material. Moreover, factors such as bag capacity, handling efficiency, wear resistance, and ability to withstand frequent and repeated washing of the bag itself as well as adequate fastening means to securely retain articles therein without sustaining damage which might occur if the articles were caught by a zipper or snap type closure have been considered.

For example, U.S. Pub. No. 20030231810 to Durney et al. discloses a device for holding laundry, comprising a strap with two ends, a fastener for fastening the ends to each other, and a mesh bag having an adjustable opening connected to said strap. U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,464 to Miller is similar to Durney in that it discloses a laundry retention device comprising a strap, a fastener, and a mesh bag having a re-sealable cord-lock fastener. However, these devices are structurally different from the embodiments of the present invention wherein there are no straps. Moreover, the compression type-fastening device of the present invention is different from the fastening mechanisms adopted in the above devices.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,952 to Hsieh, a laundry net for washing machines is described. This device is in the shape of an orb, comprising support tubes inserted into two sewing seams of the net, and their ends are linked with connectors to form a space that accommodates laundry. This device is particularly suited to fabrics such as cotton and nylon to effectively prevent them from generating lint and being tangled. Although of a similar purpose, this device has structural distinctions compared to the device of the present invention and appears sufficiently different. U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,312 to Milstein discloses an article carrier for use in washing and drying machines to maintain delicate fabrics such as nylon hose and the like. It comprises a rectangular pocket of open mesh material, pleated where it joins a Velcro closure. However, the pleats and closure mechanism distinguish this device from the embodiments of the present invention.

Further, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,785 to Patik, a personal clothing bag for washing machines is disclosed, and includes front and rear mesh panel portions with an outward extension flap folded over the other side and sewn to the marginal edges of the bag. The central portion of the flap is free and serves to allow material to be inserted and removed from the bag. However, this device doesn't seal at the top, but rather relies on the tensile strength of the bag to keep it closed. U.S. Pat. No. 2,602,482 to Lyon discloses a bag similar to the above devices, but with a snap or zipper closure. However, this closure doesn't extend across the entire top surface of the bag, but rather occupies the central portion thereof. Moreover, this device is composed entirely of mesh material with the snaps or zipper affixed directly to the mesh.

Therefore, it is the principle object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings in the prior art and to provide a laundry bag made of a net-like material, which protects shoelaces from entangling in the washing machine agitator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry bag, wherein the closure mechanism consists of a compression closure with a zipper-type handle that snaps in place to hold the laundry bag closed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a laundry bag that has a side dimension with supporting fabric.

These and other objects will become apparent from the accompanying drawings, description, and appended claims which follow.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a laundry bag made of a net-like material, which protects shoelaces from entangling in the washing machine agitator. The closure mechanism consists of a compression closure with a zipper-type handle that snaps in place to hold the shoelaces laundry bag closed. The shoelaces laundry bag is three-dimensional and has a side dimension with a supporting fabric.

Dirty shoelaces are secured in the shoelaces laundry bag and can go through a washing cycle without the shoelaces entangling or winding underneath the washing machine agitator. Once the wash cycle is completed, the shoelaces can be removed and hung up to dry, or the laundry bag may be placed in a clothes dryer to dry the contents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front view of a shoelaces laundry bag in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the shoelaces laundry bag of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the shoelaces laundry bag of FIG. 1.

FIGURES—REFERENCE NUMERALS

• 10 . . . Shoelaces Laundry Bag
• 11 . . . Net-like Material
• 12A . . . Right-side Edge
• 12B . . . Left-side Edge
• 13 . . . Bottom End
• 14 . . . Top opening
• 15 . . . Zipper Mechanism
• 16 . . . Female Buckle
• 17 . . . Male Buckle
• 18 . . . Zipper-type Handle
• 19 . . . Fabric

DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the shoelaces laundry bag of the present invention, which protects shoelaces from entangling in the washing machine agitator, is illustrated and generally indicated as 10 in FIG. 1. The shoelaces laundry bag 10 comprises a net-like, mesh, or micro-fiber material 11 that is spread across the length and height of the laundry bag 10. The laundry bag 10 can also be made of screen, fabric, or similar materials known by an ordinarily skilled artisan to allow for the washing and drying of shoelaces placed inside the laundry bag 10. The laundry bag 10 is preferably of rectangular shape and has two edges 12A and 12B and a bottom 13.

The laundry bag 10 has an opening 14 at the top and a “zipper”-type fastening mechanism 15 that is used to close the opening 14. The closure mechanism, as seen in FIG. 2, consists of a compression closure comprising a conventional female buckle 16 secured to one end of the top portion of the laundry bag 10, and a mating, conventional, male buckle 17 secured to a zipper-type handle 18. The male buckle 17 is joined to the female buckle 16 with the help of the zipper-type handle 18 and snaps in place to hold the laundry bag 10 closed.

The dimensions of the laundry bag 10 are approximately six to seven inches in length, four to seven-and-three fourths inches in height, and half to three-fourths inches in width. Although these dimensions are preferred examples, other dimensions may be included as necessary without departing from the scope of the invention, and may depend on the volume of the material to be washed and dried.

As shown in FIG. 3, a supporting fabric 19 is provided along the width of the laundry bag 10. The supporting fabric helps the bag maintain a three-dimensional structure as it is being laundered. The laundry bag 10 can be made of natural or synthetic material, which is appropriate for washing and drying. While the zipper 15 and fasteners 16, 17, and 18 can be made of plastic or any synthetic material. Although these materials are preferred examples, other materials having similar properties and characteristics may be included as necessary.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.

All features 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.

While specific apparatus has been disclosed in the preceding description, it should be understood that these specifics have been given for the purpose of disclosing the principles of the present invention and that many variations thereof will become apparent to those who are versed in the art. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the appended claims.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6.

Claims

1. A laundry bag for washing and drying delicate structure or fragile material garments, comprising; a net-like or mesh material stitched into a three dimensionally rectangular shape, with a front and back main portion, and three side portions; an adjustably openable and closeable opening on the top side of the laundry bag; a fastening mechanism to secure said opening of the laundry bag closed; a locking mechanism to secure the fastening mechanism in a closed position; and a supporting fabric provided along either side of the laundry bag to maintain a three dimensional shape.

2. The laundry bag of claim 1, wherein said fastening mechanism is a compression type fastening made of a malleable material such as soft plastic.

3. The laundry bag of claim 1, wherein said fastening mechanism is a conventional zipper type fastening, made of a non-corrosive metal, or a firm synthetic material such as hard plastic.

4. The laundry bag of claim 1, wherein the fastening mechanism contains a zipper-type handle, and said handle operates in conjunction with a receptacle to lock the fastening mechanism in a closed position.

5. The laundry bag of claim 4, wherein the zipper-type handle comprises a conventional male buckle that snaps into place with a mating female buckle, which is secured to one end of the top portion of the laundry bag to hold the laundry bag closed.

6. The laundry bag of claim 1, wherein said laundry bag is a shoelaces laundry bag and protects shoelaces from entangling in the washing machine agitator.

7. The laundry bag of claim 1, whereby the laundry bag is three-dimensional and approximately has dimensions of 6 to 7 inches length, 4 to 7.75 inches height, and 0.5 to 0.75 inches width.

8. The laundry bag of claim 1, wherein said zipper and buckles are made of plastic or any synthetic material.

9. The laundry bag of claim 1, wherein said laundry bag is made of natural or synthetic material that is appropriate for washing and drying.

10. A method of cleaning shoelaces, or other similar materials using the laundry bag of claim 1, wherein said shoelaces or other similar materials are inserted into the bag, the bag is closed using a fastening mechanism, and the fastening mechanism is locked in position; the laundry bag is then washed, thereby cleaning the contents.