U.S. patent application number 11/009722 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-01 for laundry basket with hip hugging feature.
This patent application is currently assigned to RUBBERMAID INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to Loucks, Brandi, Reber, Fred, Scherer, Thomas W..
Application Number | 20050189360 11/009722 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34890326 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050189360 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Loucks, Brandi ; et
al. |
September 1, 2005 |
Laundry basket with hip hugging feature
Abstract
A laundry basket has a bottom panel with a perimeter. A
contiguous side wall extends generally upward from the perimeter of
the bottom panel and terminates at an upper end. A basket interior
is defined above the bottom panel and bounded by the side wall. A
curved wall section of the side wall is curved concavely inward
toward the basket interior. The bottom panel and the contiguous
side wall, including the curved wall section, are formed of a
primary material. A cushion pad is positioned generally at the
upper end of the curved wall section and is formed from a secondary
material that is softer than the primary material of the curved
wall portion.
Inventors: |
Loucks, Brandi; (Copley,
OH) ; Scherer, Thomas W.; (Mansfield, OH) ;
Reber, Fred; (Shreve, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP
233 S. WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 6300
SEARS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
RUBBERMAID INCORPORATED
Fairlawn
OH
|
Family ID: |
34890326 |
Appl. No.: |
11/009722 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11009722 |
Dec 10, 2004 |
|
|
|
10773389 |
Feb 5, 2004 |
|
|
|
60445278 |
Feb 5, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/676 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 95/002
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/676 |
International
Class: |
D06F 029/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A laundry basket comprising: a bottom panel having a perimeter;
a contiguous side wall extending generally upward from the
perimeter of the bottom panel and terminating at an upper end; a
basket interior defined above the bottom panel and bounded by the
side wall; a curved wall section of the side wall that is curved
concavely inward toward the basket interior, the bottom panel and
contiguous side wall including the curved wall section being formed
of a primary material; and a cushion pad positioned generally at
the upper end of the curved wall section, the cushion pad being
formed from a secondary material that is softer than the primary
material of the curved wall portion.
2. A laundry basket according to claim 1, further comprising: a rim
provided along and extending outward from the upper end of the side
wall, the cushion pad being positioned on and covering outwardly
facing surfaces of a rim section that positionally coincide with
the curved wall section.
3. A laundry basket according to claim 1, wherein the secondary
material of the cushion pad has an exposed surface that has a
higher coefficient of friction that the primary material of the
basket.
4. A laundry basket according to claim 1, further comprising: at
least one handle provided near the upper end of the side wall and
positioned opposite the curved wall section.
5. A laundry basket according to claim 4, further comprising: a
handle grip formed on the handle from a material that is softer
than the primary material of the basket.
6. A laundry basket according to claim 2, further comprising: at
least one handle provided on the rim of the side wall and
positioned on the rim opposite the curved wall section; and a
handle grip formed covering a section of the rim that corresponds
with the position of the handle, the handle grip being formed from
a material that is softer than that primary material of the
basket.
7. A laundry basket according to claim 1, wherein the secondary
material is thermoplastic elastomer.
8. A laundry basket comprising: a bottom panel having a perimeter;
a contiguous side wall extending generally upward from the
perimeter of the bottom panel, the side wall terminating at an
upper end; a rim formed extending around and generally outwardly
from the upper end of the side wall; a basket interior defined
above the bottom panel and bounded by the side wall; a curved wall
section of the side wall that is curved concavely inward toward the
basket interior, the bottom panel and contiguous side wall
including the curved wall section being formed of a primary
material; a recess formed in the rim and positioned to coincide
with the curved wall section; at least one handle provided on the
side wall near the upper end and positioned opposite the curved
wall section; and a cushion pad positioned in the recess, the
cushion pad being formed from a secondary material that is softer
than the primary material of the curved wall portion.
9. A laundry basket according to claim 8, wherein the side wall has
a pair of opposed elongate side sections and a pair of opposed
shorter end sections, wherein the curved wall section is one of the
pair of side sections, and wherein the at least one handle is
provided on the other of the pair of side sections.
10. A laundry basket according to claim 9, further comprising: a
second inwardly curved wall section formed on one of the pair of
end sections.
11. A laundry basket according to claim 10, further comprising: at
least a second handle provided on the other of the pair of end
sections.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This patent is related to, claims priority from, and
incorporates herein by reference co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/445,278, which was filed on Feb. 5,
2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Disclosure
[0003] The present disclosure is generally directed to laundry
baskets, and more particularly to a laundry basket with a hip
hugging feature.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Laundry baskets are well known as aids for doing laundry,
and particularly for carrying and transporting either dirty laundry
items or already laundered items. A typical laundry basket is
somewhat rectangular and has a contiguous side wall with two
elongate walls and two shorter end walls. The basket also has a
bottom panel coupled to the contiguous side wall, an op en top, and
a basket interior. Laundry baskets are also known to have shapes
that are not rectangular, such as round or cylindrical laundry
baskets.
[0006] A relatively recent improvement in laundry baskets is to
provide the basket in a kidney-shape, wherein one of the elongate
sides is slightly concavely curved inward toward the basket
interior and the opposite elongate side is outwardly or convexly
curved away from the basket interior. U.S. Design Pat. No. D416,116
(issued to Sofy) discloses an example of a laundry basket that is a
hybrid of a non-rectangular basket shape and one that has an
inwardly curved side.
[0007] The inwardly curved side of such a laundry basket is
typically used as an ergonomic tool to assist a user in carrying
the basket, especially when it is loaded with laundry items. A user
can rest the inwardly curved side of the basket against their hip,
so that the basket rests on their pelvic bone or against their skin
above the pelvic bone. The user can use their arm to grasp the
opposite side of the basket to support and hold the basket with
only one hand. Thus, the user has one hand free to open and close
doors or to perform other needed tasks while carrying a load of
laundry.
[0008] One problem with this type of laundry basket is that the
inwardly curved edge of the basket can dig into a user's hip which
can cause discomfort. Another problem is that the basket can slip
from their hip relatively easily while it is being carried. Laundry
baskets are typically made from a relatively smooth, shiny, and,
thus, relatively slippery plastic material. Further, a typical
laundry basket has an outwardly rolled rim at the top end of the
contiguous side wall. The exposed edge of the rolled rim typically
is the portion of the basket that bears against the user's side,
digging into the flesh of the user causing the discomfort.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent upon reading the following description in
conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one example of a laundry
basket with a hip hugging feature constructed in accordance with
the teachings of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the laundry basket shown in FIG.
1.
[0012] FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a handle of the laundry
basket shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and taken along line III-III in FIG.
1.
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the hip hugging feature
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and taken along line IV-IV of FIG.
1.
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of a
laundry basket with multiple hip hugging features constructed in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0015] The present invention is generally directed to improving
upon laundry baskets with a hip hugging feature. The problems
discussed above that relate to hip hugger type laundry baskets are
addressed herein by incorporating a cushion or padded element to
the laundry basket at each location on the laundry basket that is
curved for contact with a user's hip.
[0016] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a
laundry basket 10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of
the present invention. The basket 10 includes a bottom panel 12
having a perimeter 14 and a contiguous side wall 16 that extends
generally upward from the bottom panel perimeter. The bottom panel
12 and contiguous side wall 16 generally define a basket interior
above the bottom panel and bounded by the side wall.
[0017] As is known to those having ordinary skill in the art, the
bottom panel 12 can include ribs, ridges, and other suitable
formations in the panel to provide structural rigidity, resting
pads for the basket, and/or other features desired for a particular
laundry basket. Additionally, it is well known in the art to form
the bottom panel 12 and side wall 16 as an integral one-piece
plastic molded structure. Any number of materials are suitable for
forming such a laundry basket. These include, but are certainly not
limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, or the like.
The present invention is not intended to be limited to a particular
material for the laundry basket 10. Instead, hardness and surface
characteristics of the basket material in comparison to other parts
of the laundry basket come into play as discussed below. The
material of the bottom panel and side wall are hereinafter referred
to as the primary basket material.
[0018] Also as is well known to those having ordinary skill in the
art, the side wall 16 can include a plurality of perforations or
openings 20 passing through the wall to the interior 18. The plural
perforations 20 can be patterned, shaped, arranged, and configured
as desired. Typically, the perforations permit air to reach laundry
items held in the basket interior. The perforations 20 also aid in
reducing the weight and the amount of material necessary to form
the laundry basket 10. However, the particular shape and placement
of such perforations can be designed to provide a particular
aesthetic appearance while retaining its necessary degree of
structural rigidity.
[0019] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a lower end of the side
wall 16 transitions into the perimeter of the bottom panel and the
side wall terminates at an upper end 22. As illustrated in FIGS. 3
and 4, it is common for a laundry basket such as the basket 10 to
include an inverted rim 24 extending upward and outward from the
upper end 22 of the side wall 16. The rim 24 adds strength and
rigidity to the overall structure of the basket 10 and also
provides a smooth, blunt surface at the wall upper end 22. In this
example, the rim 24 is an arch with a concavely curved recessed
underside. Higher end laundry baskets can include a plurality of
ribs traversing across the underside of the rim structure for
additional support and rigidity, though such ribs are not shown
herein.
[0020] In this disclosed example, the arched rim 24 includes a
curved rim wall 26 that extends upward from the upper end 22 of the
side wall 16 and gradually curves outwardly from the side wall and
back down in the general direction of the bottom panel. A terminal
edge of the rim wall 26 can include an enlarged thickness, integral
plastic bead 30, which can be rounded to reduce the sharpness of
the exposed edge. The bead 30 can also add limited structural
rigidity to the rim 24 and, hence to the basket 10.
[0021] As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, the laundry basket 10 can also
include one or more handles 32 provided at strategic locations on
the side wall 16 near the upper end 22. The structure of the
handles 32 can vary considerably and yet fall within the spirit and
scope of the invention. In the disclosed example, the handles 32
are formed by providing a grip opening 34 through the side wall 16
near the upper end 22 but below the rim 24 at each desired location
for a handle. Thus, a user can firmly grip the basket by wrapping
their hands around the rim 24 at one or two handle locations and by
passing their fingers and/or thumb through the grip opening 34.
[0022] As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the
art, handles need not be provided on a given laundry basket 10. A
user could simply grip the rim to carry such a basket.
Alternatively, handles can be provided simply by adding surface
contours, depressions, and/or the like to the rim 24 at desired
handle locations. Such contours can be provided to identify handle
locations to the user and to provide a comfortable grip on the rim
24 without actually providing grip openings 34 through the side
wall of the basket.
[0023] As an option, one or more of the handles 32 can be formed
herein having a padded handle cover. This option is described in
greater detail below.
[0024] Returning again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the side wall 16 in the
disclosed example has a plurality of interconnected side wall
sections. A pair of elongate side walls sections 40 and 42 are
positioned opposite one another across the basket interior 18 and a
pair of shorter end wall sections 44 and 46 are positioned opposite
one another across the basket interior. In this disclosed example,
the elongate side walls sections 40 and 42 are longer than the end
wall sections 44 and 46, thus, giving the laundry basket 10 an
overall generally rectangular shape. However, the side wall
sections are slightly curved as are the end wall sections providing
a more or less kidney-shaped basket.
[0025] Specifically, the side wall section 40 is concavely curved
inward into the basket interior 18 to provide a hip hugging
feature. Though not necessary, the side wall section 42 is convexly
curved outward away from the basket interior. In this example, the
side wall sections 40 and 42 generally follow the same contour,
although this is also not necessary. The contour of the curvature
or non-curvature of the side walls can be different between the two
sections 40 and 42, if desired.
[0026] In this example, the end wall sections 44 and 46 each are
convexly curved slightly outward away from the basket interior 18
giving the basket 10 rounded ends. The corners of the basket 10
where side wall sections 40 and 42 transition to end wall sections
44 and 46 are rounded in this example as well. As will be evident
to those having ordinary skill in the art, the contiguous side wall
16 could take on any number of different configurations and
constructions and need not have a kidney shape or a rectangular
shape. However, in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention, the side wall 16 must have at least one side wall
section or region that is inwardly curved like the side wall 40 to
provide a hip hugging feature.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a portion of the rim wall 26 of
the rim 24 that corresponds the position of the inwardly curved
side wall section 40 includes what is described herein as a cushion
pad 50. In the disclosed example, as best illustrated in FIG. 4,
the cushion pad 50 is formed from a secondary material that is
different from the primary material used to manufacture bottom
panel 12, side wall 16, and the rim 24 of the laundry basket 10.
The secondary material of the cushion pad 50 is softer than the
primary material and, thus, provides a cushioned area on the curved
hip contacting portion of the basket 10. In one example, the
cushion pad 50 is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer material
(TPE) or other such relatively soft, resilient, and durable
material. In another example, the cushion pad 50 can also be formed
from a durable open cell foam with or without a skin layer, or can
be formed from a closed cell foam material if desired.
[0028] Preferably, the secondary material of the cushion pad 50 has
a lower Shore hardness, and thus is a less hard material as
compared to the primary plastic material of the basket. The Shore
hardness can be measured using any suitable Durometer apparatus and
under either a Shore A or Shore D scale, for example. The thickness
of the cushion pad 50 can also vary as desired for a particular
basket application. As shown in FIG. 4, however, the cushion pad 50
preferably covers a good portion of the rim wall 26 in the hip
hugging region of the wall section 40. In this example, the cushion
pad 50 has a lower edge 52 that extends downward to cover at least
most of the terminal end, which is the bead 30 in this example, of
the rim 24. Also in this example, the pad 50 has an upper edge 53
that extends upward along the rim wall 26 far enough to at least
completely cover the outer facing side of the rim wall 26. In this
manner, the cushion pad 50 will be the only material part that
contacts a users hip during use. For the wall section 40 in this
example, only the material of the cushion pad 50 is exposed and can
contact the user's hip.
[0029] In one example, the cushion pad 50 is also formed from a
material that has a friction enhancing surface 54. The friction
enhancing surface preferably provides a higher coefficient of
friction than the primary material of the laundry basket adjacent
the cushion pad 50. The friction enhancing surface can help to
inhibit the laundry basket from sliding down the hip of a user
while carrying a loaded basket 10.
[0030] The friction enhancing surface 54 can be formed on the pad
in any suitable manner. For example, the surface can be inherently
formed as a part of the cushion pad 50 by utilizing a elastomer,
rubber, or other suitable material that has an inherently tacky
surface. In one alternative, the surface of the cushion pad 50 can
be treated during its formation to provide the friction enhancing
characteristic. In another alternative, a surface treatment can be
added to or performed on the surface of the pad 50 to increase its
tackiness. As a further alternative, an additional layer (not
shown) can be added to define the surface 54 of the cushion pad in
order to render the surface more tacky. It is intended only that
the friction enhancing surface 54, if present, increase the
coefficient of friction of the cushion pad 50, as compared to the
remaining exposed primary material of the laundry basket 10.
[0031] A number of methods and constructions can be employed to
provide or create the cushion pad 50 on the inwardly curved
elongate side wall section 40 of the laundry basket 10 disclosed
herein. As represented in FIG. 4, a recess or pocket 60 can
effectively be formed, depending upon the manufacturing process
utilized, in a hip hugging region 62 of the rim 24 on the basket
10. In one example, the basket 10 including the recess 60 can be
formed from the primary material in a basket mold by a suitable
process, such as by injection molding. A separate process can be
undertaken to form the cushion pad 50 from the secondary material
to have a shape such that it can fit in and seat within the recess
60. The pad 50 can subsequently be adhered within the recess 60. In
such a process, the cushion pad 50 can be adhered using an
adhesive, heat welding, molecular bonding, or other like means.
[0032] In another alternative example, the cushion pad 50 can be
formed from the secondary material during an initial molding,
extrusion, or other suitable process. The preformed pad 50 can then
be placed as an insert into and held within a larger mold cavity
configured to mold the laundry basket 10. The laundry basket
primary material can then be shot into the mold cavity to
subsequently form the basket 10 around the pad 50 insert. The
primary material of the laundry basket 10 would flow around the
pad, form the shape of the recess 60, and encompass the pad
material other than the surfaces borne against the basket mold
cavity. A recess 60 would be effectively formed in this example as
well. The resulting basket and pad structure would be essentially
the same as that shown in FIG. 4 and described in the first
example.
[0033] The molding processes, bulk materials, and material
temperatures can be manipulated such that, during an insert or
in-molding process, the secondary material of the cushion pad 50
and the primary material of the basket 10 become bonded with one
another. Alternatively, an active adhesive layer can be added to
the appropriate surfaces of the cushion pad 50 prior to being
inserted into the basket mold cavity. The basket can then be molded
around the pad 50. The adhesive layer will activate to bond the
cushion pad 50 to the primary material of the basket 10.
[0034] In another alternative, though not shown, a basket can be
formed having a uniform rim surface on the rim 24 with no recess
60. An add-on cushion pad or cushion layer can simply be secured,
adhered, molded onto, or otherwise attached to the uniform surface
of the rim 24. The effect would be the same in that a cushion pad
would still be positioned in the hip hugging region 62 of the
concavely curved side wall section 40.
[0035] In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, a second
hip hugging region can be added to another section of the basket
side wall. A basket 100 is illustrated in FIG. 5 and has a first
elongate inwardly curved side wall section 102 providing a first
hip hugging rim region 104. The basket 100 also has an inwardly
curved end wall section 106 defining a second hip hugging rim
region 108. A user can hold the basket 100 with either the elongate
side wall section 102 or the shorter end wall section 106 born
against their hip as desired.
[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 3, each handle can also have a grip
pad 110 that is constructed and formed in the same manner as the
cushion pad 50. The grip pad 110 can, if desired, also interact
with a recess 112 effectively formed in the rim 24 of the basket
10. Thus, each handle 32 can provide a comfortable grip that
eliminates any sharp edges of the handle or rim at a handle
location. The grip pad 110 can be formed from the same secondary
material as the cushion pad, or some other material that is softer
than the primary material of the basket.
[0037] Although certain laundry basket examples have been described
herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure,
the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the
contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of
the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible
equivalents.
* * * * *