U.S. patent application number 15/226804 was filed with the patent office on 2018-02-08 for shower mat of connected modular laundry bags.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jill A. Johnson, Loren A. Johnson. Invention is credited to Jill A. Johnson, Loren A. Johnson.
Application Number | 20180038043 15/226804 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61071907 |
Filed Date | 2018-02-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180038043 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Johnson; Loren A. ; et
al. |
February 8, 2018 |
SHOWER MAT OF CONNECTED MODULAR LAUNDRY BAGS
Abstract
A plurality of modular laundry bags connected to form a shower
mat. The modular units are attached in series at their lateral
margins with hook-and-loop fasteners. Each bag has a zippered port
for loading laundry into the bag, and a hanger strap for
drip-drying the laundry. The bags have a porous upper membrane
allowing water to enter the bags and a non-skid lower member for
contact with a shower floor.
Inventors: |
Johnson; Loren A.; (Friday
Harbor, WA) ; Johnson; Jill A.; (Friday Harbor,
WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Johnson; Loren A.
Johnson; Jill A. |
Friday Harbor
Friday Harbor |
WA
WA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
61071907 |
Appl. No.: |
15/226804 |
Filed: |
August 2, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 3/002 20130101;
D06F 95/006 20130101; A47G 9/1045 20130101; D06F 17/04 20130101;
D06F 95/004 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 95/00 20060101
D06F095/00; A47G 9/10 20060101 A47G009/10; A47K 3/00 20060101
A47K003/00 |
Claims
1. A laundering shower mat, comprising: at least one fabric bag
defining an interior volume for clothing to be laundered, including
a water-porous upper fabric member permitting water to flow into
the volume area around the clothing therein and a non-skid opposing
lower member, the fabric bag shaped to lie flat for contact between
the lower member with a shower floor, wherein compression by a user
on the fabric bag during showering results in washing of the
clothing.
2. The shower mat of claim 1, including a plurality of fabric bags
fastened releasably together.
3. The shower mat of claim 2, wherein the fabric bags include
identical separate units attachable in succession by releasable
fasteners.
4. The shower mat of claim 3, wherein the releasable fasteners are
zippers.
5. The shower mat of claim 3, wherein the releasable fasteners are
hook-and-loop elements.
6. The shower mat of claim 1, wherein the fabric bag is
rectangular.
7. The shower mat of claim 1, wherein the fabric bag has pleated
corners.
8. The shower mat of claim 1, including zipper access into the
interior volume in the upper fabric member.
9. The shower mat of claim 8, wherein the zipper access is
off-center of the fabric bag.
10. The shower mat of claim 1, including a strap extending from one
end of the fabric bag, wherein a proximal end of the strap is
fixedly attached to the fabric bag, and wherein the strap includes
a loop portion along one side thereof and a hook portion on an
opposing side at a free end thereof.
11. The shower mat of claim 1, including three or more fabric bags
connected together to form a pillow.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to shower mats and
more specifically concerns a shower mat comprised of a laundry bag
or bags.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Permeable mesh laundry bags have long been used as
containers for washing soiled clothing. U.S. Pat. No. 3,036,616
teaches a multi-compartment washing unit that can be enclosed from
the sides with a variety of different fasteners. U.S. pending
Patent Application 20050084182 teaches a compartmentalized bag with
a radial separation pattern. A washing and sorting bag is known
which is subdivided into compartments that are closed by joints and
slide fasteners which are arranged in a longitudinal side of the
bag. Gelman Patent 2009/DE102009010386 teaches a compartmentalized
bag that opens and closes with slide fasteners. European Patent
2631358 teaches a compartmentalized bag with a means of opening
each compartment individually.
[0003] None of these arrangements, however, can be used as a shower
mat for cleaning clothes.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Accordingly, the present invention includes a laundering
shower mat, comprising: at least one fabric bag defining an
interior volume for clothing to be laundered, including a porous
upper fabric member permitting water to flow into the volume area
around the clothing therein and a non-skid lower member for contact
with a shower floor, wherein compression by a user on the fabric
bag during showering results in washing of the clothing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a shower mat with multiple
laundry bags.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a single bag.
[0007] FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of an empty single bag.
[0008] FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of a filled single bag.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5.5 of
FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a hanger strap portion of
a bag looped over a shower rod.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an empty single bag coiled
and strapped into a compact roll.
[0012] FIG. 8 is a perspective end view of three filled bags
configured as a pillow.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0013] The preferred form of the device 10 (FIG. 1) consists of
four rectangular bag units 11 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4), connected in
series, with top panels made of woven mesh fabric 12 and lower or
under panels made of coated antiskid mesh fabric 13. The top panels
12 are two inches longer and wider than the under panels 11, and
their corners are pleated at 14, so that the units appear flat when
empty (FIG. 3) and expand into semi-cylindrical compartments when
filled with laundry 15 (FIG. 4). This shape allows the under panels
13 to lie relatively flat against the shower or bath floor and
fulfill their antiskid function. The individual units (FIG. 2) in
the embodiment shown are 18 inches long, 6 inches wide and two
inches deep at the midline of their filled compartments 15,
although these dimensions could be changed.
[0014] Hook-and-loop touch fasteners are located along their
lateral margins, including a full length strip of the loop
component sewn facing upward onto each right lateral margin 16, and
five equally spaced strips of the hook component sewn facing
downward onto each left lateral margin 17. Connection of these
fasteners forms a flexible junction between each unit 11, allowing
for easy separation when the fasteners are lifted or pulled apart.
The width and laundering capacity of the mat can be adjusted by
adding or removing individual units. Thus, three connected units
comprise a mat 10 that measures 18.times.18 inches, and four units
comprise a mat that measures 18.times.24 inches (FIG. 1). Each
compartment 15 has a volume of two quarts (FIG. 4); hence, a
four-unit mat can contain up to two gallons of laundry when loosely
filled. During the shower or bath, the filled mat 10 provides a
comfortable standing or sitting platform, and footsteps or body
movement on the loosely filled compartments 15 (FIG. 4) compress
and flush water through the contained laundry bags.
[0015] Each bag is reinforced with biased hems around its margins
19, and each has a zippered portal 20 located along the right side
of its top panel, for loading and unloading the laundry. The ends
of the zippers are reinforced with stitched ribbon patches 21 and
22, and the upper patch 22 is configured as a covered pocket to
cushion the slide when the zipper is closed. Each unit has an
8-inch hanger strap 23 stitched to the one end 23A of the under
panel 13. The strap is comprised of the loop component of a
hook-and-loop fastener strip, and has a patch or portion of the
hook component 24 stitched to its proximal end, so that the strap
can be fastened as a closed loop 25 over a shower rod 26 for
draining and drip-drying the bag unit (FIG. 6). Each strap 23 also
has a section 28 at its distal end that is doubled over and
stitched, exposing the loop fastener surface on both sides 27, thus
enabling the strap to function in reverse, so that the empty units
can be coiled and strapped for storage (FIG. 7).
[0016] A variety of alternative fabrics and fasteners could be used
to make this device. Open-end separating zippers could be used to
attach the units together. However, the preferred embodiment
incorporates hook-and-loop touch fasteners 16, 17, because they are
easy to attach and more comfortable underfoot. The preferred fabric
for the top panels 12 is a non-coated cloth mesh of woven synthetic
fiber, as is commonly used in most currently marketed laundry bags.
The preferred fabric for the under panels 13 is an antiskid mesh of
synthetic fiber that is coated with a heat-bonded plastic foam and
has a gripping surface similar to natural rubber. The preferred
portal fastener is a narrow closed-bottom zipper 20, approximately
nine inches long, that opens downward and is positioned 11/2 inches
to the right of the unit midline 28 for easy loading.
[0017] The primary advantage/utility of this device (FIG. 1) is to
cleanse soiled clothing while the user takes a shower or bath.
Small laundry articles, such as hosiery, t-shirts and
undergarments, are loaded loosely into each bag unit in even
distribution (FIG. 4). The filled units are fastened together in
series at their hook and loop edges 16, 17 and the assembled mat
(FIG. 1) is placed at the edge of the drain on the standing zone of
the shower floor. The mat is soaked and a stripe of liquid soap or
detergent is applied over each unit. As the shower progresses, the
soapy water permeates the compartments 15 and each compression
cleanses and subsequently rinses the laundry.
[0018] A second advantage/utility is for the individual units to
function as permeable and compressible envelopes (FIGS. 2 and 4)
for wringing excess water out of the washed and rinsed laundry.
[0019] A third advantage/utility is for the filled units (FIGS. 2
and 4) to function as permeable envelopes for hanging and initially
drip drying the laundry (FIG. 6). Each unit can be hung from a
shower rod 26 or clothesline by suspending it with its hanger strap
23, and can be used to conceal personal garments from public
display during the initial drying process. Progressive wringing of
excess water that collects in the dependent portion of the bag
hastens the drying process, and individual garments can then be
removed for final drying as needed.
[0020] A fourth advantage/utility is for the units (FIGS. 2, 3 and
4) to function as convenient dry storage bags (FIGS. 2 and 4) for
packing and organizing travel apparel.
[0021] A fifth advantage/utility of the connected device is to
function as a travel pillow. A series of three or more filled units
can be rolled into a cylindrical shape and fastened at their
exposed edges with their compartments 15 facing outward, thus
forming a comfortable head cushion (FIG. 8).
[0022] Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been
disclosed for purposes of illustration, it should be understood
that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be
incorporated in the embodiment without departing from the spirit of
the invention, which is defined by the claims which follow.
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