Flexible bags – Lifting or suspending element – Hanging element
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-11
2001-05-01
Pascua, Jes F. (Department: 3727)
Flexible bags
Lifting or suspending element
Hanging element
C383S002000, C383S016000, C383S033000, C383S072000, C383S074000, C383S117000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224259
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved laundry bag that can be used during washing and drying cycles. More specifically, the invention relates to a laundry bag that provides additional bag volume for expansion of wet clothing during the drying cycle.
2. The Prior Art
Generally, laundry bags have been used to store soiled or dirty clothing until it is time to do laundry. A laundry bag is helpful for carrying clothing to the machine. Once ready for washing, the user would remove the clothing from the bag and place the clothing into the washing machine and then the dryer. However, the loss of articles during washing created a need for a washable laundry bag. To alleviate this problem, there are laundry bags known in the prior art that store dirty laundry and can be washed therewith.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,514 to Orensten, discloses a spherical laundry bag that can be used during the washing cycle. This bag contains a closing means that allows the bag to maintain its spherical shape without interfering with the interior volume.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,967 to Tsuyoshi et al., shows a laundry net in the form of an octahedron. This construction permits water to uniformly flow through the bag, irrespective of its position with respect to the flow of water.
The disadvantage of these laundry bags is that the clothing inside the bag is not properly cleaned or dried. Additionally, there is a lack of excess space within the bag for when clothing expands during the drying cycle. The mentioned references do not provide adequate additional space for this expansion, and therefore, clothing will be wrinkled due to the inadequate excess volume within the laundry bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a laundry bag with sufficient excess volume to allow for the expansion of laundry during the drying cycle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a laundry bag that hangs in such a way as to permit only a designated portion of the bag to be filled with clothing.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a laundry bag that maintains its open position while placing dirty clothing therein.
These and other objects are accomplished by a laundry bag comprising an open end and a closed end. The laundry bag is preferably egg shaped and made from a perforated mesh material. This mesh material is similar to that of the lining of men's swimming trunks. The material is durable and light weight. It also dries quickly and therefore, does not add any appreciable time to the drying cycle. The laundry bag is constructed with many pleats and gathers so that it readily expands when clothing is added.
Two loops are attached to the laundry bag. These loops are made of a material that can withstand the force from the loaded hanging laundry bag. The loops are preferably of a soft material to avoid damage to the laundry bag or machines during the washing and drying cycles. It is also preferred that the loops are made of a heavy cotton jean-like material. This material is useful during the drying cycle. Dryers gauge the length of drying time by using two methods: one is to measure the heat inside the machine and the other is to measure the humidity inside the machine. Since the laundry bag material dries very quickly, either type of machine method will prematurely gauge that the clothing is dry. The heavy cotton type material dries very slowly and will prevent the machine from sensing that the clothing is dry when only the bag is dry.
The first loop is located adjacent to the closed end and the second loop is located adjacent to the open end. The second loop is preferably attached to a drawstring which is located at the open end. The second loop is preferably 3½ to 4 inches in length and the second loop is preferably at least 2 inches longer than the first loop. These measurements allow for a hand to slip through the loops, and the loops act as handles for transporting the laundry bag.
The drawstring is moveably coupled to the open end and contains a fastener for closing the laundry bag. The bag is also provided with sections of stiff material, attached to the open end of the laundry bag at the second loop and at the drawstring fastener. These sections of stiff material maintain the laundry bag in an open position while inserting laundry. The section of stiff material at the second loop prevents this loop from moving when the drawstring is pulled to close the laundry bag. The bag is further provided with an inside pocket, to hold detergent or change, and is located at the open end.
To assure that the proper amount of clothing is placed inside the bag, the laundry bag hangs from a supporting structure, by the provided loops, in a folded manner. Folding the bag creates a front compartment that receives laundry through the open end. This front compartment has a laundry receiving volume of about 15% to 45% of the total bag volume, so that the washed clothing can expand into the remaining bag volume during the drying cycle.
In another embodiment of the invention, the laundry bag contains a demarcation which visually indicates where the 15% to 45% laundry bag capacity is located. This line can be made of a indelible ink or material attached to the laundry bag. It is preferred that the demarcation line is made of the same heavy cotton material as the loops. The laundry bag hangs from a supporting structure by the loop attached at the open end. Laundry is filled to the demarcation line, allowing for excess bag volume, so laundry washed in the laundry bag expands into remaining bag volume during drying cycle. Another embodiment consists of a similar laundry bag but without the demarcation line. The user of this laundry bag estimates where the proper filling point is located.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1983452 (1934-12-01), Gwaltney
patent: 2015119 (1935-09-01), McEwen
patent: 2510186 (1950-06-01), Marisco et al.
patent: 2543299 (1951-02-01), Pritchard
patent: 2552443 (1951-05-01), Molinari
patent: 2761480 (1956-09-01), Tames
patent: 3483907 (1969-12-01), Corridon
patent: 4694503 (1987-09-01), Hydorn
patent: 4974967 (1990-12-01), Tsuyoshi et al.
patent: 4979833 (1990-12-01), Cook
patent: 5000582 (1991-03-01), Pierson
patent: 5100005 (1992-03-01), Noble et al.
patent: 5238305 (1993-08-01), Feller
patent: 5746514 (1998-05-01), Orensten
Collard & Roe P.C.
Pascua Jes F.
LandOfFree
Laundry bag does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Laundry bag, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Laundry bag will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2531004