U.S. patent application number 10/956828 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-16 for laundry bag.
Invention is credited to Sabounjian, Azad.
Application Number | 20050129337 10/956828 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36148752 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050129337 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sabounjian, Azad |
June 16, 2005 |
Laundry bag
Abstract
oiled garments are placed in a mesh laundry bag. Two holes in
the bag are placed over a spindle of a washing machine so the
spindle passes through the center of the bag. Releasable closures
around the holes prevent garments from slipping out of the bag
during washing. The bag allows delicate garments to be washed and
held separate from other garments in the washing machine.
Inventors: |
Sabounjian, Azad; (Newport
Beach, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STETINA BRUNDA GARRED & BRUCKER
75 ENTERPRISE, SUITE 250
ALISO VIEJO
CA
92656
US
|
Family ID: |
36148752 |
Appl. No.: |
10/956828 |
Filed: |
October 1, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60508814 |
Oct 3, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
383/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 95/006
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/117 |
International
Class: |
B65D 030/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A laundry bag for washing laundry in a washing machine having a
spindle with a base and a shaft perpendicular to the base, the
shaft having a diameter, comprising: a bag made of a porous
material, the bag having at least one spindle opening forming a
spindle passage that extends through opposing walls of the bag, the
spindle opening sized to allow the shaft to pass through the
opening during use of the bag in washing; an access opening sized
to allow laundry to be inserted into and removed from the bag; a
releasable closure around at least a portion of the access opening
to vary the size of the access opening.
2. The laundry bag of claim 1, wherein the bag has two spindle
openings on opposing sides of the bag, the spindle openings being
sized about the same diameter as the shaft adjacent the openings
during washing.
3. The laundry bag of claim 2, wherein at least one of the spindle
openings has a releasable closure around it.
4. The laundry bag of claim 1, further comprising a strengthening
member around the at least one spindle opening.
5. The laundry bag of claim 3, further comprising a strengthening
member around the at least one spindle opening.
6. The laundry bag of claim 2, wherein each of the spindle openings
has a releasable closure around it, and at least one of the spindle
openings has a lock to restrain the size of that at lest one
spindle opening.
7. The laundry bag of claim 1, wherein the bag has an annular shape
with the annular shape defining the spindle opening and spindle
passage.
8. The laundry bag of claim 7, wherein the access opening is on an
exterior surface of the annulus and further comprising a lock on
the closure to restrain the size of the access opening during
washing.
9. A laundry bag for washing clothes in a washing machine having a
spindle, comprising: a mesh bag having at least one spindle opening
defining the location of a spindle passageway through the bag at
about the center of the bag, the spindle opening being about the
same size as the spindle which is immediately adjacent the portions
of the bag defining the at least one spindle opening during washing
when the bag is placed on the spindle for washing; and an access
opening in the bag, the access opening having a releasable closure
to restrict the size of the access opening during washing.
10. The laundry bag of claim 9, further comprising an inner wall
defining the passageway through the bag and connecting to the
bag.
11. The laundry bag of claim 9, further comprising a lock on the
releasable closure.
12. The laundry bag of claim 9, wherein the passageway is defined
by two opposing spindle openings formed in walls of the bag, and
wherein the access opening also comprises one of the spindle
openings.
13. The laundry bag of claim 9, wherein the passageway is defined
by two opposing spindle openings formed in walls of the bag, with a
strengthening member around at least one of the spindle
openings.
14. The laundry bag of claim 13, wherein one of the two spindle
openings is weighted to better hold the adjacent portion of the bag
against the spindle during washing.
15. A laundry bag, comprising: a mesh bag having spindle opening
means for allowing passage of a spindle through the bag; and means
for releasably closing the spindle opening means.
16. The laundry bag of claim 15, further comprising lock means for
releasably locking the size of the spindle opening means.
17. The laundry bag of claim 15, further comprising means for
strengthening the spindle opening means.
18. The laundry bag of claim 15, wherein the spindle opening means
further comprises an inner, annular wall.
19. The laundry bag of claim 18, further comprising access means
for placing laundry into and removing laundry from the bag.
20. The laundry bag of claim 15, further comprising access means
for placing laundry into and removing laundry from the bag.
21. A method of washing clothing in water in a washing machine
having a rotating spindle, comprising: placing laundry to be washed
in a bag made of mesh material with sufficient porosity to allow
the water to freely pass through the mesh during washing; placing
the bag over the spindle by passing the spindle through one or more
openings in the bag; washing the bag and the laundry within the bag
by rotating the spindle; removing the bag from the spindle.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising removing the laundry
from the bag.
23. The method of claim 21, further comprising restraining
enlargement of the at least one opening during rotation of the
spindle by placing a strengthening member around the opening.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein restraining enlargement of the
opening comprises attaching opposing sides of the bag with an
annular wall.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein restraining enlargement of the
opening comprises placing a strengthening member around two
opposing openings which surround the spindle to restrain the size
of the two openings during rotation.
26. The method of claim 23, wherein restraining enlargement of the
at least one opening comprises placing an elastic member around the
at least one opening to restrain the size of the opening during
rotation.
27. The method of claim 23, wherein restraining enlargement of the
at least one opening comprises placing a drawstring around the at
least one opening, tightening the drawstring and locking the
drawstring to define the size of the opening at least one opening
during rotation.
28. The method of claim 21, further comprising placing more than
one such bag containing laundry on the same spindle during
washing.
29. The method of claim 21, further comprising placing more than
one such bag containing laundry on the same spindle during washing
and placing indicia on each such bag that is associated with a
person whose laundry is in the bag.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(e) of provisional application Ser. No. 60/508,814, filed Oct.
3, 2003, the complete contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to laundry bags, including laundry
bags used for accumulating soiled laundry as well as for holding
laundry during washing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Laundry bags are used to hold soiled clothing and other
items and transport them to the Laundromat for washing. But when
the laundry is removed from the laundry bag it sometimes falls on
the floor of the Laundromat and acquires undesirable matter which
further contaminates laundry being washed. There is thus a need for
an improved way to transport soiled laundry to a washer while
minimizing the soiling of the laundry contained in the laundry
bag.
[0004] After being washed and/or dried, the cleaned laundry is
often placed back in to the same laundry bags in which the soiled
laundry was previously transported. The laundry bag may accumulate
dirt from the soiled laundry and redeposit it on the freshly
cleaned laundry. There is thus a need for a laundry bag that is as
clean as the clothes contained therein, or cleaner.
[0005] Small containers are sold so that delicate items which are
more easily damaged, such as nylon stockings, can be placed in the
containers for washing, with the small container protecting the
delicate item from damage during washing. These containers are
placed in the washer with the other clothing. But the small
containers can become entwined with larger items such as sheets,
and be inadequately washed or be damaged. There is a need for an
improved way to wash such delicate items, and to wash other
items.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Soiled laundry is placed in a bag. The bag is fastened to
the spindle of a washing machine so that the location of the bag is
restrained relative to the spindle. The spindle can be inserted
through the laundry bag by locating two openings on opposite walls
of the bag, preferably so the spindle passes through the center of
the bag, and through or close to the center of gravity of the
laundry in the bag.
[0007] The spinning causes these openings to enlarge, and it is
advantageous, but optional, to restrain them from enlarging enough
so that clothing can slip out of the bag between the opening and
the spindle. Releasable closures can be used to restrict the
openings from enlarging. A drawstring in a hem around the opening
is believed suitable, as is an elastic member around one or more of
the openings. Releasable locks or knots can be used to restrain
drawstrings from opening.
[0008] Access to the inside of the laundry bag can be through the
same openings which allow passage of the spindle. Alternatively, a
separate access opening could be provided to insert and remove
laundry.
[0009] In a further embodiment, the laundry bag has an annular
shape, like a donut, with the central opening fitting around the
spindle. In this, and the other configurations, more than one
laundry bag can be fastened to the spindle at the same time, and
other clothing can be placed loosely in the tub of the washing
machine along with the laundry bags.
[0010] This laundry bag and its method of use allow delicate
garments to be washed safely. By placing garments from separate
persons in separate laundry bags, it also allows the laundry of
several persons to be simultaneous washed, while still keeping the
laundry separate during washing, and making for easier
identification after washing.
[0011] Thus, one embodiment of this invention includes a laundry
bag for washing laundry in a washing machine having a spindle with
a base and a shaft perpendicular to the base, the shaft having a
diameter. The bag is made of a porous material and has at least one
spindle opening forming a spindle passage that extends through
opposing walls of the bag. The spindle opening is sized to allow
the shaft to pass through the opening during use of the bag in
washing. The bag has an access opening sized to allow laundry to be
inserted into and removed from the bag. The bag has a releasable
closure around at least a portion of the access opening to vary the
size of the access opening.
[0012] Preferably, but optionally, the bag has two spindle openings
on opposing sides of the bag with the spindle openings being sized
about the same diameter as the shaft adjacent the material of the
bag defining the openings when the bag is mounted on the shaft.
Preferably, but optionally, at least one of the spindle openings
has a releasable closure around it. Preferably, but optionally, a
strengthening member extends around the at least one spindle
opening. Preferably, but optionally, each of the spindle openings
has a releasable closure around it, and at least one of the spindle
openings has a lock to restrain the size of that at lest one
spindle opening. Preferably, but optionally, the bag has an annular
shape with the annular shape defining the spindle opening and
spindle passage.
[0013] In a further embodiment, a laundry bag is provided for
washing clothes in a washing machine having a spindle. The bag is a
mesh bag having at least one spindle opening defining the location
of a spindle passageway through the bag at about the center of the
bag. The spindle opening is about the same size as the spindle
which is immediately adjacent the portions of the bag defining the
at least one spindle opening during washing when the bag is placed
on the spindle for washing. The bag preferably, but optionally has
an access opening in the bag, preferably with a releasable closure
to restrict the size of the access opening during washing. In one
embodiment the passageway is defined by an inner wall of an
annulus. In another embodiment, the passageway is defined by two
opposing spindle openings formed in walls of the bag. In a
variation of this embodiment, one of the two spindle openings is
weighted to better hold the adjacent portion of the bag against the
spindle during washing. A strengthening member is preferably placed
around at least one of the spindle openings.
[0014] In a further embodiment a laundry bag is provided formed of
a mesh bag having spindle opening means for allowing passage of a
spindle through the bag. The bag also has means for releasably
closing the spindle opening means. The bag can optionally have lock
means for releasably locking the size of the spindle opening means.
The bag also optionally has means for strengthening the spindle
opening means. The bag can further optionally have access means for
placing laundry into and removing laundry from the bag.
[0015] There is also advantageously provided a method of washing
clothing in water in a washing machine having a rotating spindle.
The method includes placing laundry to be washed in a bag made of
mesh material with sufficient porosity to allow the water to freely
pass through the mesh during washing. The bag is placed over the
spindle by passing the spindle through one or more openings in the
bag. The bag and the laundry within the bag are washed by rotating
the spindle. After washing the bag is removed from the spindle.
[0016] The method further optionally includes removing the laundry
from the bag and drying the laundry out of the bag (or in the bag).
The method also optionally includes restraining enlargement of the
at least one opening during rotation of the spindle by placing a
strengthening member around the opening. Restraining enlargement of
the opening can include attaching opposing sides of the bag with an
annular wall, or placing a strengthening member around two opposing
openings which surround the spindle to restrain the size of the two
openings during rotation, or placing an elastic member around the
at least one opening to restrain the size of the opening during
rotation, or placing a drawstring around the at least one opening,
tightening the drawstring and locking the drawstring to define the
size of the opening at least one opening during rotation. In a
further embodiment, the method can also optionally include placing
more than one such bag containing laundry on the same spindle
during washing. In a still further embodiment the method can
include placing more than one such bag containing laundry on the
same spindle during washing and placing indicia on each such bag
that is associated with a person whose laundry is in the bag.
[0017] These and other objects and features of the invention will
become apparent from consideration of the following description
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like
numbers refer to like parts throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a
laundry bag of this invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a washing machine partially
cut away to show the spindle and laundry bag of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along 3-3 of FIG. 2;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a sectional view as in FIG. 3, showing a further
embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the
laundry bag on a spindle;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the
laundry bag on a spindle;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along 7-7 of FIG. 8, but
showing a spindle;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the
laundry bag of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a laundry bag 10 is provided. The
bag is preferably, but optionally made of a flexible material. The
material is preferably a mesh material through which water or other
cleaning fluids can freely flow to wash the items in the bag 10.
The term mesh includes spaced-apart strands defining openings
between the strands that are larger than the size of the strand,
perforated materials, and cloth woven to form openings between
adjacent strands which form the cloth. By making the mesh smaller
or finer, water still flows freely through the bag during washing
but at a slower rate with less agitation of the items 30 in the bag
10, so that more delicate items can be washed more gently. A bag 10
has a body 12 made of flexible fabric mesh or nylon mesh is
believed suitable. The mesh is advantageously small enough to
prevent the items contained in the bag 10 from falling out and from
protruding outside the bag 10 where the items could be snagged or
damaged. A mesh with open spaces of about 0.1 inches or smaller
between the strands forming the openings is believed preferable for
clothing, but larger and smaller open spaces could be used. An
elastic or stretchable material such as Lycra could be used for the
bag 10. The laundry bag 10 can vary in size and shape. A bag about
24-36 inches high with a bottom 14 and a first spindle opening 16
opposite the bottom 14 is believed suitable. Soiled laundry and
other items 30 can be placed into the bag 10 through the spindle
opening 16, in which case the opening 16 also functions as an
access opening.
[0027] A first releasable closure device 18 such as a drawstring,
zipper, snaps, toggles, zip-locks, elastic member or other
releasable closures are preferably provided around the spindle
opening 16. The closure device 18 allows the size of the opening 16
to vary, but does not completely close the opening as a washing
machine spindle extends through the opening as described later.
FIG. 1 shows the closure device as comprising a drawstring 18. The
spindle opening 16 is advantageously, but optionally, strengthened
by a strengthening member 20 such as a hem or collar to which the
material forming the bag 10 is fastened. In the illustrated
embodiment the drawstring is also placed within a hem which
comprises the strengthening member 20.
[0028] Opposite the spindle opening 16 is a second spindle opening
22, preferably defined by a second strengthening member 24. A
second releasable closure device 26 is preferably, but optionally
located on or around the second spindle opening 22. The second
closure 26 can comprise a drawstring, zipper, snaps, toggles,
zip-locks, elastic member or other releasable closures. FIG. 1
shows the second closure 26 as comprising a drawstring 26. The
drawstrings 18, 26 could be of cord, or of elastic material. Soiled
laundry can be placed into the bag 10 through the spindle opening
22, in which case the opening 22 also functions as an access
opening. Preferably, the opening 22 located on the bottom of the
bag 10 has a diameter that is fixed to correspond to the diameter
of shaft 44 of spindle 32 which is engaged by the opening during
washing. The opening 22 thus preferably, but optionally, has a
maximum size smaller than the opening 16. That makes it easier to
close off the bottom of the bag either by a smaller diameter
opening or by using a smaller closure 26, such as a smaller elastic
member or drawstring, and it makes it easier to prevent items 30
from falling out the bottom opening 22.
[0029] Preferably, but optionally, a locking device 28 is on one or
more of the closures 18, 26. A cord lock device is believed
suitable for the locking device 28 when drawstrings are used for
the closure. When drawstrings are used, the drawstring could be
knotted to form the locking device. Preferably though, a device
that clamps the drawstring to prevent movement of the drawstring
relative to the clamp is preferred, and a variety of such clamping
devices are known and available.
[0030] The spindle openings 16, 22 define a spindle passageway
through the bag 10. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in use an item 30
to be cleaned, such as soiled laundry, clothing, undergarments,
nylons, silks, knitted sweaters, shirts, pants, towels, fabrics,
etc. are placed in the bag 10 through one or more of the access
openings 16, 22. Preferably the items 30 are placed in the bag
using only one of the openings 16, 22, preferably the spindle
opening 16 in the top of the bag 10. The bag 10 containing the
items 30 is then fitted onto a spindle 32 inside a wash tub 34 of a
washing machine 36. The spindle 32 is rotated by a motor 38. The
spindle openings 16, 22 allow the spindle 32 to pass through the
bag 10 along the spindle passageway, shown by line 39. The spindle
passageway through the bag 10 coincides with the spindle rotational
axis during washing when the bag is place don the spindle 32.
[0031] By moving the bag 10 and items 30 as the spindle 32 is
inserted into the bag, the items 30 will move aside and allow
passage of the spindle through the items contained in the bag. The
washing machine is then activated and the entire bag 30 and its
contents such as items 30 are washed, preferably going through a
rinse, spin, wash, spin, rinse and spin-dry cycle, or combinations
thereof. The bag 10 and its contents may be washed alone, or washed
with other items in the washing machine. When the wash cycle is
completed, the bag 10 and items within the bag are removed by
pulling the bag off the spindle 32. The items in the bag 10 can
then be removed for drying, or the entire bag 10 and some or all of
its contents can be placed in a dryer. To allow such drying, the
material from which the bag 10 is made must be suitable for
repeated placement in a dryer without harming the garments or items
10 inside the bag 10.
[0032] The strengthening members 20, 24 encircle the spindle 32 and
help keep the bag 10 on the spindle 32. Fixing the bag 10 around
the spindle 32 helps prevent the weight in the bag 10 centered
around the spindle, and helps prevent the tub 34 from becoming
off-centered as the spindle rotates during spin cycles. The
strengthening members 20, 24 also preferably help keep the spindle
openings 16, 22 from tearing or breaking during rotation of the
spindle 32. The closure member 18, 26 also preferably, but
optionally helps keep the bag on the spindle 32. Advantageously the
spindle openings 16, 22 are centered on a symmetrical axis of the
bag 10 so the bag 10 and its contained items 30 are centered and
distributed evenly around the spindle 32. But the spindle openings
16, 22 need not be symmetrically located and need not be
diametrically opposite one another. Advantageously the openings 16,
22 in the bag 10 are located so that the spindle passes close
enough to the center of gravity of the bag, and presumably of the
bag when filled with laundry, that the spinning of the spindle does
not create an unbalance sufficient to cause the washing machine to
shut off.
[0033] Advantageously one or more of the closures 18, 24 are
cinched snugly around the spindle 32 and fastened by lock(s) 28.
The spindle openings 16, 22 could be tight around the spindle so as
to cause the edge of the bag defining the openings 16, 22 to move
with the spindle as it oscillates during wash cycles. But
preferably the edges of the openings are slightly away from the
spindle a distance such that items 30 in the bag 10 do not readily
leave the bag through the openings 26, 22 during washing and
rinsing in the washing machine. As the spindle 32 rotates the bag
10 and items 30 within the bag will move away from the spindle
because of centrifugal force, and that will cause the spindle
openings 16, 22 to want to enlarge. If the spindle opening 16
enlarge sufficiently items 30 could leave the bag partially or
entirely or become lodged between the spindle and the bag. All of
these various relative dimensions that prevent damage to the
laundry are best described by describing the openings 16, 22 as
preferably being about the same size as the diameter of the spindle
which is immediately adjacent the portions of the bag 10 defining
the openings during washing.
[0034] Preferably, but optionally, at least one of the closures 18,
26 and the strengthening members 20, 24 helps restrain the size of
the spindle openings 16, 22 from enlarging during the various wash
cycles. Advantageously the spindle openings 16, 22 are restrained
sufficiently so that the items 30 do not pass through the spindle
openings 16, 22 during the wash cycles. Forming the closure members
18, 26 of a drawstring with a lock 28 is one way of restraining
this enlargement of spindle openings 16, 22. Surrounding one or
both spindle openings 16, 22 with an elastic member is also
believed suitable. Making the closure member 18, 22 or the
strengthening member 20, 24 of elastic material is believed
possible as the elastic members will expand as the bag 10 is placed
on the spindle 32.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 4, it is preferable, but optional to have
a restraint 40 on the spindle 32 in order to help ensure the bag 10
does not come off the spindle during washing while allowing the bag
to be placed on the spindle during loading of the washing machine
36. The spindle 32 typically has a large diameter, disc shaped
bottom or base 42 and a cylindrical shaft 44 extending vertically
from the base. The spindle 32 has a distal end or top 46 opposite
the base. The restraint 40 is preferably placed adjacent the top
46.
[0036] The restraint 32 can take various forms such as a collar on
the spindle 32 or a flange mounted to the distal end 46 of the
spindle. A resilient ring (e.g., an O ring) made of elastomeric
material cold be fit over the distal end 46 of the spindle 32 and
resiliently engage the spindle to form the restraint 32. The
restraint could comprise one or more discrete projections or posts
extending radially outward from the spindle 32 and configured to
engage the edge of the opening 16 or engage the strengthening
member 18 to limit movement of the bag 10 along the spindle 32.
[0037] In order to help restrain movement of the bag 10 along the
spindle 32, the bottom spindle opening 22 could be weighted, as by
using a heavy, resilient material in the bottom strengthening
member 24 to form a weighted ring that would rest against the base
42 of the spindle. Various versions of the restraint 40 could be
used together. These restraints 40 are preferred, but optional. The
restraints 40 are preferably removable from spindle 32, but could
be permanently attached to the spindle.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, further embodiments are shown
having more than two openings. In these further embodiments the bag
10 takes the form of an elongated cylinder (FIG. 5) and a thick
disk or short, fat cylinder (FIG. 6). The first, top spindle
opening 16 is shown along with strengthening member 20, but the
second, bottom spindle opening 22 and its strengthening member 24
are not shown in the illustrated views as they are concealed from
view. The spindle 32 fits through these openings. A third opening
48 is provided in the bag 30, preferably, but optionally on a
radially outward facing side of the bag 30. A closure member 18
surrounds the opening 48 to open and close the opening, and
preferably a lock 28 is provided on the closure member to limit the
size of the opening 48. In these embodiments the strengthening
members 20, 24 are not required, but could be provided if
desired.
[0039] The third opening 48 allows items 30 to be inserted into and
removed from bag 30, while the first and second openings 16, 20
allow the spindle 24 to pass through the bag 10. In these
embodiments the first and second openings 16, 20 are preferably
surrounded by an elastic material so that the openings are
generally closed so that soiled laundry or items 30 do not fall out
of the bag 10 when the bag is not on the spindle 32. The third
opening 48 forms the preferred access opening through which items
30 are place into and removed from the bag 10.
[0040] The embodiment of FIG. 5 resembles an elongated duffle bag
in shape, with spindle openings 16, 22 located at about the middle
of the bag 10, where the center of gravity would be if items 30
were evenly distributed within the bag 10. The bag of FIG. 5 has
the items 30 distributed along a line along the longitudinal axis
of the elongated bag 10 because of the elongated shape of the bag
10. The embodiment of FIG. 6 has the spindle openings 16, 22 near
the center of the disk shaped bag 10, so that items 30 are
generally evenly dispersed entirely about the rotational axis of
the spindle 32 extending through the spindle openings 16, 22. The
spindle openings 16, 22 are preferably at or near the center of
gravity of the bag 10 when the bag 10 is placed on the spindle and
items 30 evenly dispersed within the bag. Because the spindle 32
rotates during washing, the center of gravity should be centered
about the spindle and thus the first and second spindle openings
16, 22 are located at or near the envisioned center of gravity of
the bag. The location will vary with the shape of the bag 10.
[0041] A further embodiment is shown in FIGS. 7-8 in which the bag
10 comprises an annular body which resembles a short cylinder
having a central, cylindrical opening 54. It resembles a donut. The
single opening 54 fits over the spindle 32, preferably snuggly and
is thus sized about the same size as a washing machine spindle.
Such spindles typically have diameters of about 3-5, and preferably
about 3-5 inches, so the axial hole or opening 54 is similarly
sized. The diameter of the opening 54 may be slightly smaller if
the material used to make the bag 10 is elastic. One or more access
openings 48 are provided on one or more sides of the bag 10. The
access opening 48 is shown on a radially outward side of the
annular bag 10, but it could be located on the top side of the bag,
or elsewhere. The depicted access opening 48 is not located or
configured to engage the spindle 32, and is only an access
opening.
[0042] In the annular or disc configurations of FIGS. 6 and 7-8,
the bags 10 have opposing top and bottom panels 54 that are
generally planar. During the spin portion of the wash cycle the bag
10 rotates about spindle 10 and the top and bottom panels 54 must
restrain the centrifugal force seeking to enlarge the diameter of
the bag 10. Thus, the panels 54 are preferably, but optionally,
strengthened by using a heaver material than the other portions of
the bag 10. An inner, cylindrical wall 58 (FIGS. 7-8) can be
provided to help restrain radially outward movement of the bag 10
by centering the bag on the spindle 32 during rotation. Preferably,
but optionally, the inner wall 58 is of a strong material to resist
enlarging the opening 54 during rotation of the bag 10 during the
spin portions of the washing cycle. The inner wall 58 can be viewed
as the strengthening member 20, whether of stronger material than
the other portions of the bag, because it defines the opening 54
and restrains enlargement of that opening.
[0043] The bag 10 thus provides a means for containing items 30 to
be washed within a washing machine 36. The spindle openings 16, 22,
54 provide means for allowing a spindle 32 to pass through the bag
10 to mount the bag on the spindle. Means for restraining the
spindle openings 16, 22 are provided by the strengthening members
20, 24 and inner wall 58. Access opening means are provided by the
first, second and third spindle openings 16, 22 and 48. When the
bag 10 has access spindle openings 16, 22 opposite each other, the
openings allow easy removal of the items 30 from the bag 10 by
opening whichever opening is lowest so gravity urges the items out
of the bag. Otherwise, the bag 10 can be inverted to place the
selected opening downward so items 30 may be urged by gravity out
of the bag, or a person can reach inside the bag 10 with hands or
other grasping instruments to remove the items from the bag 10.
[0044] The bags 10 may be of various sizes and shapes. Thus, more
than one bag 10 may be placed on a spindle 32 and washed at the
same time. This allows simultaneous washing of several bags 10 of
laundry in the same washing machine 36. That makes it easier to
sort the laundry associated with each person. For example, a son's
garments may be placed in one bag 10, a daughter's laundry placed
in a second bag 10, and a father's laundry placed in yet a third
bag 10, all of which are placed on the same spindle 32 and all of
which are washed simultaneously. The bags can be color coded with a
different color or color pattern or otherwise marked with visible
indicia to help associate the laundry within a particular bag with
the person whose laundry is in each bag 10.
[0045] Moreover, the use of plural bags 10 allows easy separation
of various garments for commercial cleaning. Thus, for example, the
washable items for a single customer or person could be placed in a
separate bag 30 marked or otherwise identified with indicia
associated with the customer whose clothes are in the bag. Bar
codes that are electronically scan able could be placed on the bags
for repeated use and association with a plurality of different
persons on successive uses. The bag and its garments can thus be
separately washed along with other bags of garments, making it
easier to sort the laundry and associate it with appropriate
customer or owner.
[0046] There are thus provide a method and apparatus for washing
delicate laundry in a washing machine, while maintaining the
balance of the washing machine, and while separating the delicate
laundry from other items in the washing machine.
[0047] The above description is given by way of example, and not
limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art
could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the
invention. Thus, for example, while the embodiments are described
for washing laundry, the construction is not so limited and the
apparatus and method could be used with non-laundry items. Further,
the various features of this invention can be used alone, or in
varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be
limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the
invention is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments but
is to be defined by the following claims when read in the broadest
reasonable manner to preserve the validity of the claims.
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