Retaining apparatus used to prevent bed sheets entanglement during tumble drying

Abstract

An anti-entanglement apparatus that is intended to prevent bed sheet entanglement during machine tumble drying, is provided and includes a hub with at least four radially extended arms attached. The distal end of each arm is permanently attached to a readily releasable holding device. To utilize the apparatus the operable portion of a said holding device is attached to a bed sheet at, or near, the center of one edge. The remaining edges of a said bed sheet are connected to the hub using the same method. The apparatus thereby holds the center of the four bed sheet edges in close proximity to one another during a tumble drying cycle. This arrangement prevents a bed sheet from enveloping other laundry during the drying cycle. No tangles equate to a shorter drying time and reduced power requirements. The end user saves money while producing a smaller carbon foot print.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

[0003] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

[0004] 1. Field

[0005] The present invention relates to laundry drying and more specifically to bed sheet tumble drying.

[0006] 2. Objects and Advantages

[0007] The task of machine tumble drying bed sheets is a problem, the sheets get tangled with each other or with other laundry. The tangles can be described as the envelopment of adjacent laundry by a bed sheet. The probability of laundry encapsulation is increased when drying, now the standard, fitted bottom bed sheets. The drying cycle ends with wet laundry enveloped by a bed sheet. More time and labor are required by the homemaker to remove sheets from dryer and shake loose encapsulated laundry. The dryer load is then placed back into the machine and an additional drying cycle is started. The extra drying cycle wastes time and money.

[0008] Extra drying cycles also have a negative impact on the environment do to the additional electricity or natural gas consumed. The apparatus disclosed eliminates tangles. The apparatus saves time and money while helping the environment. The apparatus is simple to operate and inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY

[0009] An objective of the present invention is to provide a readily removable apparatus to grasp and hold a point at or near the center of each of the four edges on a bed sheet and to hold those points in close proximity to one another during a machine tumble drying cycle. To achieve this objective several separate embodiments, of a retaining apparatus, consisting of a hub with at least four radially extending arms ending in a holding device, will be disclosed.

DRAWING--FIGURES

[0010] FIG. 1 is a top view of the first embodiment, showing a sheet's edges folded into its center and having the mid section of each edge attached to an elastic cord assembly.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view of the elastic cord arm and hub assembly used in the first embodiment FIG. 1

[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross section view of a hollow perforated ball insert enveloped by a sheet and held in place by the elastic cord.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a front and top view of the perforated ball insert.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a front and top view of a hoop to be used as an alternative insert in another embodiment

[0015] FIG. 6 is a front and top view of a perforated disc to be used as an alternative insert in another embodiment

[0016] FIG. 7 is a front and top view of concentric hoops attached at 90 degrees to each other to be used as a alternative insert in another embodiment

[0017] FIG. 8 is a front view of a modified arm to be used as a alternative in another embodiment

[0018] FIG. 9 is a front view of an arm to be used in another embodiment

[0019] FIG. 10 is a front view of an arm to be used in another embodiment

[0020] FIG. 11 is a front view of an arm to be used in another embodiment

[0021] FIG. 12 is a front view of a sheet modification to be used in another embodiment in conjunction with FIG. 11

[0022] FIG. 13 is a front view of an arm to be used in another embodiment

[0023] FIG. 14 is a front view of a sheet modification to be used in another embodiment in conjunction with FIG. 13

TABLE-US-00001 DRAWING - Reference Numbers 20 elastic round cord, flexible 21 hollow perforated ball insert material 22 heat-shrink tubing 23 hoop insert 24 perforated disc insert 25 concentric hoops at 90 degrees insert 26 generic cord, flexible material 27 plastic cord lock 28 flat polyester elastic, 29 holding clip flexible material 30 garter assembly 31 plastic toggle clasp 32 eyelet 33 plastic button 34 button hole S bed sheet

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] The first embodiment of the device, at present, I believe operates the most efficiently but other embodiments are also satisfactory. Referring now to the drawings. The first embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 thereof. Referring to FIG. 1 which shows a top view of the bed sheet S with four edges folded into its center. The elastic cord arms and hub assembly FIG. 2 is shown with the elastic cord 20, loop end, holding a golf ball sized hollow perforated ball 21, which is encapsulated in sheet S, as depicted in the cross section view in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 2 which shows a top view of the four elastic cords 20 having one end of each cord joined together with heat-shrink tubing 22 forming a hub with four radially extending arms. The distal end of each arm is shaped into a loop and held in place with heat-shrink tubing. Referring to FIG. 3 which is a section view showing the ball 21 encapsulated in sheet S and the elastic cord 20 acting as a holding collar.

Operation

[0025] With respect to the manner of usage of this first embodiment FIG. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The ball 21 is placed near the middle of one sheet edge. The sheet S is drawn over the ball and held in place by stretching the loop end of the elastic cord arm 20 over the sheet encapsulating the ball and then allowing the stretched elastic loop to contract and form a retaining collar as shown in the cross section view FIG. 3. This action will connect the sheet to the elastic cord and thereby to the hub assembly as shown in FIG. 2. The retaining process is completed by repeating the afore stated procedure on the remaining three edges of the sheet. The center of each edge will now be held in close proximity to one another by the retaining apparatus.

Description of Alternative Embodiment

[0026] A first alternative embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the first embodiment. The modification involves only the replacement of the perforated ball insert 21 with any of three similar sized inserts. The replacement inserts are shown in FIG. 5 hoop insert 23, FIG. 6 perforated disc insert 24 and FIG. 7 concentric hoops at 90 degrees insert 25. The descriptive and operational scenarios for this embodiment are identical to the first embodiment except for the ball inserts 21 being replaced by any of the three inserts introduced in this modification.

Description of Another Alternative Embodiment

[0027] The next alternative embodiment of the present invention is another modification of the first embodiment. The modification calls for the replacement of the flexible elastic cord arm 20 in the first embodiment with the arm assembly FIG. 8 showing a flexible generic cord 26 with a loop being held in place by the generic plastic cord lock 27. In this modified operation of the first embodiment the ball is held in place, after the sheet is drawn over it, by placing the cord 26 loop end over the sheet encapsulate ball 21. The cord lock 27 is disengaged and the cord is hand tightened to form a retaining collar, and the cord lock is then engaged. The retaining is completed, as in the first embodiment, by repeating the afore stated procedure on the remaining three edges of the sheet.

Description of Another Alternative Embodiment

[0028] The next alternative embodiment generally depicted in FIG. 9 a front view of an arm assembly.

[0029] In this embodiment four of the flat polyester elastic flexible material arms 28 are sewn together at one end to form a hub with four radially extending arms. The distal end of each arm is permanently attached to a holding clip 29

Operation

[0030] With respect to the manner of usage of this embodiment FIG. 9 of the invention. One holding clip 29 is attached to the sheet S near the center of one edge. The retaining of all the edges is completed by repeating the afore stated procedure with the three remaining holding clips on the other three sheet edges. The center of each edge will now be held in close proximity to one another.

Description of Another Alternative Embodiment

[0031] The next alternative embodiment generally depicted in FIG. 10 of the invention, is a front view of a garter assembly. In this embodiment four garters 30 are sewn together, at the end opposite the fastening element, to form a hub with four radially extending arms. The distal end of each arm is connected to the fastening element.

Operation

[0032] With respect to the manner of usage of the embodiment FIG. 10 of the invention, the fastening element on one of the garters 30 is attached to the sheet S near the center of one edge. The retaining of all the edges is completed by repeating the afore stated procedure with the three remaining garters on the remaining three sheet edges. The center of each edge will now be held in close proximity to one another.

Description of Another Alternative Embodiment

[0033] The next alternative embodiment of the invention generally depicted in the arm assembly FIG. 11 and the sheet modification FIG. 12. In this embodiment one end of generic cord 26 is joined to three other similar arm ends with heat-shrink tubing 22 to form a hub with four radially extending arms. The distal end of each arm is permanently attached to a toggle clasp 31. The sheet S is modified by installing four eyelets 32 in it. One eyelet 32 installed near the center of each edge.

Operation

[0034] With respect to the manner of the usage of FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 of the invention.

[0035] The plastic toggle clamp 31, located at the end of one arm, is inserted through the eyelet 32 located in one sheet edge. The retaining of all the edges is completed by inserting the other three toggle clamps 31 through the remaining eyelets 32. The center of each edge will now be held in close proximity to one another.

Description of Another Alternative Embodiment

[0036] The next alternative embodiment of the invention generally depicted in arm assembly FIG. 13 and the sheet modification FIG. 14. In this embodiment one end of generic cord 26 is joined to three other similar arm ends with heat-shrink tubing 22 to form a hub with four radially extending arms. The distal end of each arm is permanently attached to a plastic button 33. The sheet S is modified by making four button holes 34 in it. One button hole 34 is made near the center of each edge.

Operation

[0037] With respect to the manner of the usage of FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 of the invention. The plastic button 33 located at the end of one arm is inserted through the button hole 34 in one sheet edge. The retaining of the remaining edges is completed by inserting the other three buttons through the remaining button holes. The center of each edge will now be held in close proximity to one another.

Conclusion, Ramifications, Scope

[0038] The present invention is designed to hold a bed sheet's edges in close proximity to one another during tumble drying, making the bed sheet react as if it had a continuous surface, thereby repelling the intrusion and envelopment of other laundry in the same dryer load. The apparatus in these embodiments is inexpensive and easy to install and to store when not in use.

[0039] Although there are several descriptions contained in the stated embodiments, these should not be constructed as limiting the scope of the invention but merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the flexible material arms may vary in design and material. The method of attachment to the sheet also could vary. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples, that were given.

Claims

1. A readily removable apparatus for retaining a point on each edge of a bed sheet and holding these points in close proximity to one another during the tumble drying of a said bed sheet comprising: a central support member made from a material that can be manufactured to the size and shape required at least four means of attachment to a said bed sheet edge either as an integral part or permanently attached to a said support member

2. the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least four short lengths of material are joined at one end to form a hub with radially extending arms further including at the distal ends of said arms a readily releasable means for retaining the edge of a bed sheet