SPHERICAL SHAPED LAUNDRY HELPER
A flexible bag that can be formed in the shape of a spherical shaped container configured to contain large items for washing and large wet items for drying. The spherical shape of the container prevents the large items from becoming entangled during the process of washing or drying.
This invention is directed to mesh bags for wash or tumble dry large items that have a tendency to get wadded up or entangled preventing proper washing and/or drying and a method of using the mesh bags.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is well known that washing and drying linens can be problematic. Linens and blankets tend to get entangled during washing or drying leading to improper washing, drying and wrinkles. This results in multiple cycles being used in the attempt to properly launder linens and blankets.
Current products for washer/dryer laundry bags are often square and smaller in size, solely concentrating on the separation and protection of smaller items such as bras, hosiery, blouses and shoes. These laundry bags can also get wadded up in the wash/dry cycles due to their smaller sizes.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a washing or drying bag that improves the washing or drying of laundry items, especially large items. These items are cleaned more thoroughly throughout and secondarily come out of the mesh bags virtually free of wrinkles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA flexible bag that can be formed in the shape of a spherical shaped container configured to contain large items for washing and large wet items for drying, the spherical shape of the container prevents the large items from becoming entangled during the process of washing or drying.
The spherical shaped container is constructed from a flexible mesh material or breathable or porous fabric or material.
The spherical shaped container has a first opening on a top and a second opening on the bottom, the opening in the bottom having an expandable diameter with an elasticized opening allowing the spherical shaped container to achieve a spherical bottom when filled with the large items for washing or drying, the opening in the top opening has an adjustable diameter adjusted by the user by cinching a drawstring with a slidable adjustment piece.
The spherical shaped container can have varying sizes with a preferred diameter of at least 30 inches and may vary in size based on the size of the large items including linens, blankets, or other large bedding items placed in the spherical shaped container.
The spherical shaped container prevents straps or belts from getting entangled during washing or drying and may be used for items with hardware such as overalls and washable belts in both washing and drying preventing damage to the hardware as well as preventing damage to a washer or inside of a drying chamber.
The drawstring can be an elasticized cord wherein the second opening in the bottom of the bag has a fixed diameter when fully expanded, which when not fully expanded has a variable size diameter less than the fully expanded diameter controlled by an elasticized material encircling the second opening, the second opening is stretched by the large items and achieves a spherical bottom.
The shape of the spherical shaped container eliminates the possibility of becoming wadded up or entangled when two or more are used in the same washing or drying chamber.
The present invention allows for a unique way to wash or dry large items like bedding including fitted sheets, sheets and blankets. The method includes placing a flat sheet in a first spherical shaped container; placing a fitted sheet into a second spherical shaped container; inserting the first and second container in a washer or a dryer. The pillow cases or other small items remain loose outside of the spherical shaped containers; running the washer or dryer through a cycle; removing the spherical shaped containers and items from the washer or dryer; and taking the fitted sheet and flat sheet from the respective spherical shaped container.
These and other embodiments are described in more detail below.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the presently disclosed invention and, together with the description, disclose the principles of the invention.
This invention is directed to a spherically shaped container 100 in which to contain linens and prevent wadding and entanglement during washing or drying which will minimize added cycles to properly wash and dry larger items.
In one embodiment, the container 100 is spherical in shape and has one singular opening 2 that may be adjustable via a manual locking mechanism allowing the user to determine opening size for insertion of larger items. The user may then cinch the opening to the desired size for the washing and/or drying cycle of the items being laundered.
In another embodiment, the spherical container 100 may have two openings, one opening 2 at the top and another opening 8 at the bottom. One or both openings 2, 8 may be fixed dimensions, elasticized fixed dimensions or adjustable dimensions.
The spherical shaped container may be made of a supple material that may be a mesh material or other open porous fabric or material.
With reference to
As shown in
The top opening 2 has a channel 3 through which a cord 4 of an elastic or other material passes which will gather up closing the top opening 2 as the cord 4 is pulled on both ends to adjust the size of the top opening 2. This channel 3 is constructed by folding over the top edge of the body 1 in preassembly, as shown in
The channel ends 3A will remain open to allow the cord 4 to pass through leaving each end 6 of the cord 4 hanging out evenly of the channel ends 3A as shown in
A slidable locking adjustment piece 5 is utilized to secure the cord 4 after adjusting to a desired length as shown in
The cord ends 6 can have knots 7 or other hardware placed on the cord ends 6, which prevents adjustment piece 5 from sliding off the cord ends 6 at the location 6A.
The bottom opening 8 of spherical shaped container 100 is shown in
In
The cord ends 6 are then passed through the adjustment piece 5 pulling the cord 4 evenly so cord ends 6 extend a sufficient length to adequately open and close the spherical shaped container 100 after being filled with linens, blankets, etc.
A knot 7 or similar hardware is placed at each cord end 6 to prevent the adjustment piece 5 from coming off of the cord 4.
The same procedure can be used for bottom opening 8 to create an adjustable, expandable, stretchable opening. For a fixed dimension opening 8, pass the cord 10 through channel 9 permanently securing the ends of the cord 10 by sewing these ends together with a very strong stitch pattern or by attaching plastic or other hardware.
With reference to
With reference to
As shown in
The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.
Variations in the present invention are possible in light of the description of it provided herein. While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the subject invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the subject invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that changes can be made in the particular embodiments described which will be within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.
Claims
1. A flexible bag that can be formed in the shape of a spherical shaped container configured to contain large items for washing and large wet items for drying, the spherical shape of the container prevents the large items from becoming entangled during the process of washing or drying.
2. The spherical shaped container of claim 1 is constructed from a flexible mesh material or breathable or porous fabric or material.
3. The spherical shaped container of claim 2 has a first opening on a top and a second opening on the bottom, the opening in the bottom having an expandable diameter with an elasticized opening allowing the spherical shaped container to achieve a spherical bottom when filled with the large items for washing or drying, the opening in the top opening has an adjustable diameter adjusted by the user by cinching a drawstring with a slidable adjustment piece.
4. The spherical shaped container of claim 1 has varying sizes with a diameter of at least 30 inches.
5. The spherical shaped container of claim 4 may vary in size based on the size of the large items including linens, blankets, or other large bedding items.
6. The spherical shaped container of claim 1 prevents straps or belts from getting entangled during washing or drying.
7. The spherical shaped container of claim 1 may be used for items with hardware such as overalls and washable belts in both washing and drying preventing damage to the hardware.
8. The spherical shaped container of claim 1 may be used for items with hardware such as overalls and washable belts in both washing and drying preventing damage to a washer or inside of a drying chamber.
9. The spherical shaped container of claim 3 wherein the drawstring is an elasticized cord wherein the second opening in the bottom of the bag has a fixed diameter which when not fully expanded has a variable size diameter less than the fully expanded diameter controlled by an elasticized material encircling the second opening, the second opening is stretched by the large items and achieves a spherical bottom.
10. The spherical shaped container of claim 1 wherein the shape of the spherical shaped container eliminates the possibility of becoming wadded up or entangled when two or more are used in the same washing or drying chamber.
11. The present invention allows for a unique way to wash or dry large items like bedding including fitted sheets, sheets and blankets, the method comprises the steps of:
- placing a flat sheet in a first spherical shaped container;
- placing a fitted sheet into a second spherical shaped container;
- inserting the first and second container in a washer or a dryer;
- placing pillow cases or other small items loose outside of the spherical shaped containers; running the washer or dryer through a cycle;
- removing the spherical shaped containers and items from the washer or dryer; and
- taking the fitted sheet and flat sheet from the respective spherical shaped container.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 23, 2022
Publication Date: Sep 28, 2023
Inventor: Sherry Green Mullins (Jasper, GA)
Application Number: 17/702,081