Retaining apparatus used to prevent bed sheets entanglement during tumble drying
An anti-entanglement apparatus that is intended to prevent bed sheet entanglement during machine tumble drying, is provided and includes a hub with at least four radially extended arms attached. The distal end of each arm is permanently attached to a readily releasable holding device. To utilize the apparatus the operable portion of a said holding device is attached to a bed sheet at, or near, the center of one edge. The remaining edges of a said bed sheet are connected to the hub using the same method. The apparatus thereby holds the center of the four bed sheet edges in close proximity to one another during a tumble drying cycle. This arrangement prevents a bed sheet from enveloping other laundry during the drying cycle. No tangles equate to a shorter drying time and reduced power requirements. The end user saves money while producing a smaller carbon foot print.
Not Applicable
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNot Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAMNot Applicable
BACKGROUND1. Field
The present invention relates to laundry drying and more specifically to bed sheet tumble drying.
2. Objects and Advantages
The task of machine tumble drying bed sheets is a problem, the sheets get tangled with each other or with other laundry. The tangles can be described as the envelopment of adjacent laundry by a bed sheet. The probability of laundry encapsulation is increased when drying, now the standard, fitted bottom bed sheets. The drying cycle ends with wet laundry enveloped by a bed sheet. More time and labor are required by the homemaker to remove sheets from dryer and shake loose encapsulated laundry. The dryer load is then placed back into the machine and an additional drying cycle is started. The extra drying cycle wastes time and money.
Extra drying cycles also have a negative impact on the environment do to the additional electricity or natural gas consumed. The apparatus disclosed eliminates tangles. The apparatus saves time and money while helping the environment. The apparatus is simple to operate and inexpensive to manufacture.
SUMMARYAn objective of the present invention is to provide a readily removable apparatus to grasp and hold a point at or near the center of each of the four edges on a bed sheet and to hold those points in close proximity to one another during a machine tumble drying cycle. To achieve this objective several separate embodiments, of a retaining apparatus, consisting of a hub with at least four radially extending arms ending in a holding device, will be disclosed.
The first embodiment of the device, at present, I believe operates the most efficiently but other embodiments are also satisfactory. Referring now to the drawings. The first embodiment is illustrated in
With respect to the manner of usage of this first embodiment
A first alternative embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the first embodiment. The modification involves only the replacement of the perforated ball insert 21 with any of three similar sized inserts. The replacement inserts are shown in
The next alternative embodiment of the present invention is another modification of the first embodiment. The modification calls for the replacement of the flexible elastic cord arm 20 in the first embodiment with the arm assembly
The next alternative embodiment generally depicted in
In this embodiment four of the flat polyester elastic flexible material arms 28 are sewn together at one end to form a hub with four radially extending arms. The distal end of each arm is permanently attached to a holding clip 29
OperationWith respect to the manner of usage of this embodiment
The next alternative embodiment generally depicted in
With respect to the manner of usage of the embodiment
The next alternative embodiment of the invention generally depicted in the arm assembly
With respect to the manner of the usage of
The plastic toggle clamp 31, located at the end of one arm, is inserted through the eyelet 32 located in one sheet edge. The retaining of all the edges is completed by inserting the other three toggle clamps 31 through the remaining eyelets 32. The center of each edge will now be held in close proximity to one another.
Description of Another Alternative EmbodimentThe next alternative embodiment of the invention generally depicted in arm assembly
With respect to the manner of the usage of
The present invention is designed to hold a bed sheet's edges in close proximity to one another during tumble drying, making the bed sheet react as if it had a continuous surface, thereby repelling the intrusion and envelopment of other laundry in the same dryer load. The apparatus in these embodiments is inexpensive and easy to install and to store when not in use.
Although there are several descriptions contained in the stated embodiments, these should not be constructed as limiting the scope of the invention but merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the flexible material arms may vary in design and material. The method of attachment to the sheet also could vary. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples, that were given.
Claims
1. A readily removable apparatus for retaining a point on each edge of a bed sheet and holding these points in close proximity to one another during the tumble drying of a said bed sheet comprising:
- a central support member made from a material that can be manufactured to the size and shape required
- at least four means of attachment to a said bed sheet edge either as an integral part or permanently attached to a said support member
2. the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least four short lengths of material are joined at one end to form a hub with radially extending arms further including at the distal ends of said arms a readily releasable means for retaining the edge of a bed sheet
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 17, 2009
Publication Date: Aug 19, 2010
Inventor: Patrick Anthony Remmert (Carlsbad, CA)
Application Number: 12/378,506