U.S. patent application number 11/936490 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-08 for spring-loaded, multi-compartment, clothes hamper.
Invention is credited to Pamela L. Cox.
Application Number | 20080105686 11/936490 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39358883 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080105686 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cox; Pamela L. |
May 8, 2008 |
Spring-Loaded, Multi-Compartment, Clothes Hamper
Abstract
A spring-loaded, multi-compartment, clothes hamper, with one or
more compartments that have a spring-loaded base that is urged
downward by the weight of clothing placed thereon.
Inventors: |
Cox; Pamela L.;
(Christiansted, VI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SYNNESTVEDT & LECHNER, LLP
1101 MARKET STREET
26TH FLOOR
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19107-2950
US
|
Family ID: |
39358883 |
Appl. No.: |
11/936490 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60857273 |
Nov 7, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/523 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 95/004
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/523 |
International
Class: |
A45C 11/00 20060101
A45C011/00 |
Claims
1. A clothes hamper comprising: a. a handle connected to a lid and
a housing body; b. a lid connected to a housing body; c. rotating
wheels connected to a housing body; d. springs within the housing
body, wherein the springs are linked to flat plates; and e.
compartments within the housing body, wherein clothes can be
sorted.
2. A clothes hamper, comprising: a housing body having a base and
sides; at least one compartment formed within the housing body; a
flat plate situated within the compartment, the flat plate having a
bottom and a top, the bottom having an urging mechanism connected
thereto such that the flat plate is urged upward away from said
base by said an upward urging force of said urging mechanism; and
wherein the weight of items placed upon the top of said flat plate
provide a force opposite to the upward urging force of the
mechanism, thereby urging said flat plate downward a distance
proportional to said weight of said urging mechanism.
3. The clothes hamper of claim 2, wherein said housing body has
multiple compartments formed therein, each having a flat plate and
urging mechanism as set forth in claim 2.
4. The clothes hamper of claim 3, wherein the urging mechanism
comprises a spring situated between each flat plate and said
base.
5. The clothes hamper of claim 3, wherein said urging mechanism
include means for adjusting the upward urging force of said urging
mechanism.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on, and claims priority to, U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/857,273, filed Nov. 7, 2006, the
entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a spring-loaded,
multi-compartment, rolling clothes hamper for sorting laundry into
the categories of darks, whites, and colors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Conventional clothes hampers are made so that an individual
has to bend down to retrieve the laundry from the hamper or pick up
the laundry basket to load a washing machine. Conventional clothes
hampers also have to be dragged or picked up to move them to a
washing machine.
[0004] A need therefore exists for an improved clothes hamper that
an individual does not have to drag, pick up, or bend to load a
washing machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention answers this need by providing a
spring-loaded, multi-compartment, rolling clothes hamper, for
sorting laundry into the categories of darks, colors and
whites.
[0006] It is thus an objection of the present invention to reduce
stress of the back by providing a clothes hamper that requires no
bending, dragging, or lifting to load laundry into a washing
machine.
[0007] Further objects, features and advantages will become
apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description
of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and
the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The attached figures depict various embodiments of the
invention.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a hamper in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0010] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] FIG. 1 is a view of the front and the inside of the clothes
hamper 10 according to the present invention, shown in a horizontal
orientation as it would sit upon the floor. The clothes hamper 10
comprises a lid 12 connected to a housing body 14. A handle 16 is
connected to the lid 12 and the housing body 14. Inside the housing
body 14 there is a compartment for laundry consisting of darks 18,
a compartment for laundry consisting of whites 20, and a
compartment for laundry consisting of colors 22. Within each of the
three compartments 18, 20, 22 there are flat plates 24, 26, 28.
Below these flat plates 24, 26, 28, there are springs 30, 32, 34.
On the bottom of the housing body 14 there are rotating wheels 36,
38, 40, 42.
[0012] When placing laundry into the darks 18, whites 20 or colors
22 compartment, the increase in weight lowers the spring 30, 32,
34. The spring tension may be adjustable using known techniques so
that the user can adjust the amount of lowering to suit his/her
needs and the type of clothing to be placed in each compartment
(e.g., denim pants are heavier than polyester pants and thus the
denim pants will lower the compartment base more quickly than
polyester pants will). When retrieving laundry from the darks 18,
whites 20 or colors 22 compartment, the decrease in weight raises
the spring 30, 32, 34. An individual will be able to stand in the
same upright position when retrieving laundry from the clothes
hamper 10 and placing it into a washing machine.
[0013] When moving the clothes hamper 10 from one area to another,
an individual can pull the clothes hamper 10 by the handle 16,
using the rotating wheels 36, 38, 40, 42. The spring mechanism can
be any spring mechanism used for urging flat plates 24, 26, and 28
upward when they are not under load. For example, spring mechanisms
such as those used in restaurants for urging stacked plates upward
as the top most plate is removed will function to serve the purpose
of urging the flat plates upward.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a view of the back of the clothes hamper 44. The
back of the clothes hamper 44 is perforated with ventilation holes
46 to aid in the control of mold, mildew and odor.
[0015] While this invention has been described with reference to
preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that
variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and
scope of the invention as described herein and as described in the
appended claims.
* * * * *