Adjustable laundry basket

Abstract

A laundry basket system comprising a rectangular base with a plurality of wheels. The base has a vertical, U-shaped frame member supported thereon, a laundry basket capable of holding a full load of laundry in turn being coupled to the frame member. The vertical frame has a series of holes formed along its vertical length on both sides, serving as height adjustments to enable the user to deposit clothing into a washer or dryer. Adjustable lock pins built into the basket snaps into position into selected holes in the frames member to position the basket at a desired vertical height. The basket has the ability to rotate so that the contents of the basket could be deposited directly into a dryer, and, after the laundry is dry, onto a folding table.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a laundry basket positioned on a table, the basket being secured to a frame member which enables the basket to be raised and then tilted whereby laundry can be emptied in to a dryer/washer of various heights.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Laundry equipment such as washing machines and dryers in laundromats typically have receptacles, or openings, to receive laundry at a height that is uncomfortable for a user doing laundry in that the back muscles of the user is stressed as he/she leans over in order to use the washing machine or clothes dryer.

What is desired is to provide a basket that is capable of holding laundry at a height that would be comfortable for a person doing laundry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a basket capable of holding laundry at a height that would be comfortable for a person doing laundry with a washing machine. The height of the basket could be adjusted for any type of washing machine or clothes dryer eliminating stress to the user's back muscles by reducing the need to bend over in order to use the washing machine or clothes dryer.

The basket comprises a rectangular base with four wheels. The base supports a vertical, U-shaped frame, which supports a large rectangular laundry basket capable of holding a full load of laundry. The vertical frame has a series of holes formed along its vertical length on both sides, serving as height adjustments. Adjustable lock pins snap into position and form a rotating spring-lock hub built into the basket. The basket has the ability to rotate, or tilt, so that the contents of the basket could be tipped directly into the washing machine, clothes dryer or onto a folding table.

The adjustable laundry basket of the present invention is extremely easy to use. In particular, the user fills the basket with laundry such as clothing, bed linen and bathroom/kitchen towels, transports the basket to a washing machine and raises or lowers the basket as needed to put laundry into the dryer or washing machine. The user can adjust the basket to the needed height by adjusting the lock pins on the sides of the basket by pressing, moving, and snapping the lock pins into the next holes up or down along the length of the bar. After the washing cycle is completed, the clothes are put back into the basket, the basket is adjusted to suit the height of the clothes dryer's door, and the clothes moved into the clothes dryer. The clothes are then removed from the clothes dryer, tipped onto a folding table, folded and returned to the basket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing therein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the adjustable laundry basket system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the laundry basket system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the laundry basket system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the laundry basket of FIG. 1 is an elevated position;

FIG. 5 is a detail of the position locking mechanism utilized in the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along line 7-7 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a view along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, the adjustable laundry basket system 10 of the pesent invention is illustrated. System 10 comprises table 12 having a plurality of swivel wheels 14 (only three are illustrated) positioned at the bottom of table legs 16. A basket 18 is positioned on the surface 20 of table 12. A U-shaped frame member 22 comprises two vertical legs 24 and 26 and a base member 28. The bottom ends 30 and 32 of legs 24 and 26, respectively, are mounted to the edges 34 of table 12 as illustrated. Vertical legs 24 and 26 have a series of holes 36 formed their vertical lengths, the holes on leg 24 being coaligned with the corresponding holes on leg 26. Mounted on each side of basket 18 is adjustable locking mechanism 40 having a lockpin 42 mounted thereon, legs 24 and 26 extending through channels formed in mechanism 40. As will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 5-8, adjustable locking mechanism 40 enables basket 18 to move in a vertical direction and be fixed at a position corresponding to a selected hole 36 and, while at the selected vertical position, tilt up to 90° from the vertical in either direction.

FIG. 3 illustrates laundry basket 18 is a first position above surface 20 of table 12, lockpin 42 being inserted into a opening 36 which corresponds to the desired height of the basket 18. Basket 18 is capable of tilting, or rotating, to the position shown in phantom as screw 51 moves within actuate slot 53 in the direction illustrated by arrow 55 (90° in either direction), basket 18 tilts to a degree corresponding to the position of pin 51 within slot 53. FIG. 4 shows basket 18 moved further upward in a vertical direction such that lockpins 42 snap into the uppermost opening 36, basket 18 thus being positioned at the highest vertical position in system 10.

FIG. 5 shows a detail of locking mechanism 40 and FIG. 6 shows spring 44 secured around shaft 46 of a plunger type locking pin 42. This coupling enables a user to remove shaft 46 from a selected hole 36, move the basket 18 to a different vertical position and then release pin 42 so that shaft 46 enters into a hole 36 corresponding to a desired height for basket 18. Fasteners, or screws, 50 (two fasteners are provided although only one is illustrated) secure basket 18 to frame portion 52 of locking mechanism 40.

The adjustable laundry basket system 10 of the present invention is extremely easy to use. In particular, the user fills the basket 18 in the position shown in FIG. 1 with laundry such as clothing, bed linen and bathroom/kitchen towels, and transports the basket to a washing machine using swivel wheels 14. The user adjusts basket 18 to the vertical height needed to put laundry into the dryer or washing machine by adjusting lock pins 42 on both sides of the basket by pressing the lock pins 42 into the appropriate hole 36 along the length of vertical legs 24 and 26. After the washing cycle is completed, the clothes are put back into basket 18, the basket height is adjusted to correspond to the height of the clothes dryer's door by pulling lock pins 42 to remove shaft 46 from the current holes 36 in which they are located; when basket 18 reaches the proper height, lock pins 42 are released in a manner so that they enter the corresponding holes in legs 24 and 26. Basket 18 is rotated, or tilted, so that the laundry can fall by themselves into the dryer (note that the user can elect to manually move clothes into the dryer). The clothes are then removed from the clothes dryer into basket 18, the basket then being tipped so that the dry clothes fall onto a folding table. The clothes can then be folded and returned to basket 18.

It should be noted that the vertical height adjustment of basket 18 is dependent upon the height of the washer, dryer and folding table. In addition, whether the basket 18 needs to be tilted so that the laundry is deposited into the washer or dryer is dependent or whether the machines are top or front loaded.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show in more detail how the adjustable locking mechanism 40 enables basket 18 to be rotated. In particular, in the position illustrated in FIG. 8, basket 18 is secured in the horizontal position as guide screw 51 within slot 53 is tightened. Depending upon the direction of tilt required, the user moves the basket in either directional of arrow 55 and screw 51 moves, or slides, correspondingly within slot 53, enabling basket 18 to tilt in that direction. When screw 51 is tightened, basket 18 is secured in the selected position.

While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.

Claims

1. An adjustable laundry basket system comprising:

a laundry basket;

a movable support member;

a frame member having first and second vertically extending leg members, a plurality of holes being formed in said first and second leg members, said frame member being coupled to said laundry basket; and

front and second locking mechanisms coupled to said laundry basket, said locking mechanisms securing said laundry basket at a predetermined vertical position between said first and second leg members.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said frame member is mounted to said movable support member.

3. The system of claim 1 said first and second being members extend through channels formed in said first and second locking mechanisms, respectively.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second locking mechanisms include locking pins which extend into coaligned openings formed in said first and second leg members to hold said laundry basket at a predetermined height between said first and second leg members.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said first and second locking mechanisms further include a actuate slot and a guide member that moves within said slot whereby said laundry basket can be rotated.