Abstract
A laundry retrieval device enables a method of inserting and method of retrieving laundry from a laundry machine using gravity to facilitate the process. The drum of the laundry machine is rotated to cause laundry to fall out of the laundry retrieval device for insertion and onto the laundry retrieval device for retrieval. An exemplary laundry retrieval device has a panel of material that extends within a resilient and flexible hoop component. The panel drapes within the hoop and one or more apertures between the panel and the hoop component forms handles for picking up and manipulating the laundry retrieval device. The hoop component is resilient and flexible to enable the laundry retrieval device to be folded around the laundry for insertion through the door opening and retrieval through the door opening of a laundry machine.
Claims
1. A method of retrieving laundry from a laundry machine comprising: a) providing a laundry retrieval device comprising: i) a hoop component comprising a ring that is resilient and flexible; ii) a panel extending within the hoop component and coupled to the hoop; b) providing a front-loaded laundry machine having a drum with a door opening to the drum on a side of the laundry machine and with laundry configured in said drum; c) bending the laundry retrieval device and inserting into said laundry machine through the door opening and configuring the laundry retrieval device above the laundry in said laundry machine; d) rotating said drum of the laundry machine to position the laundry above the laundry retrieval device to cause the laundry to fall onto the panel of the laundry retrieval device; e) bending the laundry retrieval device by folding to configure the laundry retrieval device around the laundry contained thereon and removing the laundry retrieval device from the laundry machine; and wherein the panel is a fabric that is larger in diameter than a diameter of the hoop portion by at least 20%.
2. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 1, wherein the ring has a diameter of at least 40 cm.
3. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 1, wherein the hoop component is configured to be folded to place a first side against an opposing second side.
4. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 1, wherein the ring of the hoop component is made of metal.
5. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 1, wherein the panel is a fabric.
6. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 1, wherein the panel is an elastic fabric having an elongation that enables the hoop component to be collapsed forming two or more folded hoops.
7. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 6, wherein the elastic fabric has an elongation of at least 50% at 70% of max load.
8. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 1, wherein the panel has a drape depth of at least 25 mm.
9. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 1, wherein the laundry retrieval device comprises two apertures forming handles between the ring and the panel.
10. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 9, wherein the handles are configured on opposing sides of the hoop component.
11. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 1, wherein the laundry retrieval device comprises four handles configured substantially 90 degrees apart about an outer perimeter of the hoop component.
12. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 1, wherein the laundry retrieval device is configured to be collapsed into a collapsed laundry retrieval device having two or more spiral hoops.
13. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 12, wherein the laundry retrieval device further comprises a pouch configured to retain the collapsed laundry retrieval device.
14. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 13, wherein the pouch is coupled to the hoop component.
15. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 1, wherein the ring is made of spring steel.
16. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 15, further comprising a hoop cover that is configured around the ring.
17. The method or retrieving laundry of claim 16, wherein the hoop cover forms a sleeve for receiving the ring therein.
18. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 17, wherein the hoop cover is foam.
19. The method of retrieving laundry of claim 1, further comprising inserting the laundry into the laundry machine before retrieving the laundry from the laundry machine comprising: a) placing the laundry on the panel of the laundry retrieval device; b) bending the laundry retrieval device to produce a fold in the laundry retrieval device that is folded around the laundry; c) inserting the laundry retrieval device into the laundry machine; d) releasing the fold in the laundry retrieval device; e) rotating the drum to release the laundry into the laundry machine; and f) removing the laundry retrieval device from the laundry machine.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary laundry retrieval device that has a panel extending within a hoop component and wherein the fabric drapes down within the hoop.
(3) FIG. 2 shows a top view of an exemplary laundry retrieval device having four apertures between the hoop component and the panel forming four handles.
(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view of an exemplary laundry retrieval device with the hoop component horizontal and the panel material draping down a drape depth from the hoop component.
(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the laundry retrieval device shown in FIG. 3 with laundry therein and the panel material elongated to form a retaining bowl shape for the laundry therein.
(6) FIG. 5 shows an exemplary laundry retrieval device being used to insert laundry into a laundry machine with a first side of the laundry retrieval device folded over toward a second side of the laundry retrieval device to retain the laundry therein.
(7) FIG. 6 shows an exemplary laundry retrieval device configured inside of the laundry machine and the user rotating the drum of the laundry machine to dispense the laundry off of the laundry retrieval device and onto the drum of the laundry device.
(8) FIG. 7 shows an exemplary laundry retrieval device being removed from the laundry machine after insertion and rotation of the drum to insert the laundry onto the drum of the laundry machine.
(9) FIG. 8 shows an exemplary laundry retrieval device being inserted into a laundry machine for retrieval of the laundry from the laundry machine.
(10) FIG. 9 shows an exemplary laundry retrieval device configured in the laundry machine and the drum of the laundry machine being rotated to configure the laundry over the laundry retrieval device, wherein the laundry falls onto or into the laundry retrieval device for retrieval.
(11) FIG. 10 shows an exemplary laundry retrieval device in a laundry machine with the laundry now on the panel of the laundry retrieval device after rotation of the drum of the laundry machine.
(12) FIG. 11 shows an exemplary laundry retrieval device being used to retrieve the laundry from the laundry machine with a first side of the laundry retrieval device folded over toward a second and opposing side of the laundry retrieval device.
(13) FIG. 12 shows an exemplary laundry retrieval device being twisted to form a collapsed laundry retrieval device.
(14) FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of an exemplary laundry retrieval device being twisted to form a collapsed laundry retrieval device having two spiral hoops.
(15) FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of an exemplary collapsed laundry retrieval device having two spiral hoops.
(16) FIG. 15 shows a top view of an exemplary laundry retrieval device having four handles configured approximately 90 degrees about the perimeter of the hoop component and a pouch for retaining a collapsed laundry retrieval device therein.
(17) FIG. 16 shows an exemplary collapsed laundry retrieval device configured in the pouch
(18) FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of an exemplary hoop component of a laundry retrieval device collapsed to form three spiral rings.
(19) FIG. 18 shows a perspective cut away view of a portion of the laundry retrieval device and the hoop component having a hoop cover that both extend into a panel sleeve.
(20) Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the figures. The figures represent an illustration of some of the embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. Some of the figures may not show all of the features and components of the invention for ease of illustration, but it is to be understood that where possible, features and components from one figure may be included in the other figures. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
(21) As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Also, use of “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.
(22) Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein and are illustrated in the accompanying figures. The embodiments described are only for purposes of illustrating the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications, combinations and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such alternate embodiments, combinations, modifications, improvements are within the scope of the present invention.
(23) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 2, an exemplary laundry retrieval device 10 has a panel 40 extending within a hoop component 20, wherein the panel drapes down within the hoop. The hoop component comprises a ring 22 that has an outer perimeter 23 forming a circle having a diameter 25. There are four apertures 50, 50′, 50″, 50′″ that form handles 52, 52′, 52″ and 52′″ between the panel 40 and the ring 22 or hoop component 20. The handles may be configured across the hoop component from each other, or as shown about 90 degrees offset from each outer about the perimeter 23. The laundry retrieval device is resilient and flexible such that it can be folded to place a first side 42 next to an opposing second side 44 and then rebound back to a circular shape upon release of the folded configuration. The first side may be about 180 degrees from the second side.
(24) Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the laundry retrieval device 10 has a panel 40 material that is elastic and can elongate to accommodate laundry therein. As shown in FIG. 3, the panel 40 has a drape when the hoop component 20 is held horizontally without any laundry within the panel, or when empty. The drape depth 45 of the panel 40 may be about 25 mm or more, about 50 mm or more, about 100 mm or more and any range between and in including the drape depths provided. The drape depth is the depth of the panel from the hoop component when the hoop is held horizontally and when there is nothing within the panel. As shown in FIG. 4, the laundry retrieval device 10 has laundry therein and the panel 40 material is elongated to form a retaining bowl shape for the laundry 86 therein having an elongated dept 47 that is greater than the drape depth. The panel material may be an elastic material or fabric as described herein to allow expansion and stretching of the panel and this elongated depth.
(25) Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 7, an exemplary laundry retrieval device 10 is being used to insert laundry 86 into a laundry machine 80 with a first side 42 of the laundry retrieval device folded over toward a second side 44 of the laundry retrieval device to retain the laundry therein, or in a folded configuration. The folded laundry retrieval device 10 is inserted into the front-loaded laundry machine 80 through the door opening 83 on the front side 88 of the laundry machine 80. After the laundry retrieval device is inserted into the laundry machine 80 through the door opening 83, the folded laundry retrieval device may be release from the folded configuration. As shown in FIG. 6, the drum 84 of the laundry machine 80 is being spun or rotated about the rotational axis 85 of the drum, which extends horizontally, to dispense or insert the laundry 86 onto the drum 84. As shown in FIG. 7, the laundry retrieval device 10 is being pulled back out of the laundry machine 80 to leave the laundry 86 in the laundry machine 80.
(26) Referring now to FIGS. 8 to 11, an exemplary laundry retrieval device 10 is configured for retrieval of the laundry 86 from the laundry machine 80. The laundry retrieval device 10 is flexible such that it can be folded, or bent and then inserted into a laundry machine and place over the laundry 86 in the laundry machine 80, as indicated by the bold arrows in FIG. 8. The flexible and resilient nature of the laundry retrieval device 10 may allow the laundry retrieval device 10 to maintain a position within the drum 84 of the laundry machine 80. The drum 84 of the laundry machine 80 may then be rotated, as indicated by the curved arrow about the perimeter of the drum in FIG. 9, to configure the laundry 86 over the laundry retrieval device 10 such that the laundry falls or rolls onto the panel 40 of the laundry retrieval device 10, as shown in FIG. 10. The laundry retrieval device 10 may maintain a position within the drum with the hoop component 20 pressed against the interior sides of the drum. As shown in FIG. 11, the laundry retrieval device 10 may then be folded about the laundry 86 with the first side 42 configured proximal to the second side 44 for retrieval of the laundry 86 from the laundry machine 80. Folding of the laundry retrieval device 10 may allow the laundry retrieval device 10 to fit through the door opening 83. The diameter of the laundry retrieval device 10 may be greater than the diameter of the door opening, thereby requiring deformation, bending or folding of the laundry retrieval device 10 to allow insertion and retrieval from laundry machine 80.
(27) Referring now to FIGS. 12 to 14, an exemplary laundry retrieval device 10 is configured to be twisted to form a collapsed laundry retrieval device 30, as shown in FIG. 14 having spiral hoops 32, 32′. The diameter 35 of the spiral hoop 32 may by less than the diameter 25 of the laundry retrieval device 10, as shown in FIG. 12. As shown in FIG. 13, the laundry retrieval device 10 is twisted to form the spiral hoops and the collapsed laundry retrieval device 30 shown in FIG. 14.
(28) Referring now to FIGS. 15 to 17, an exemplary laundry retrieval device 10 has a pouch 60 extending from the outer perimeter 23 of the hoop component 20 to retain the collapsed laundry retrieval device therein, as shown in FIG. 16. The hoop component may be collapsed and then packed into the pouch 60. The pouch is configured on the laundry retrieval device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 13 but is not visible from the perspective shown, as it is folded down along a back side of the panel.
(29) As shown in FIG. 17, an exemplary hoop component 20 of a laundry retrieval device 10 is collapsed to form three spiral rings 33, 33′, 33″. A collapsed laundry retrieval device 30, as shown in FIG. 13 may have two spiral hoops to enable configuring the collapsed laundry retrieval device 30 into the pouch 60.
(30) As shown in FIG. 18, the hoop component 20 has a rectangular shape or is rectangular in cross-section and has a coupling 24 to join a first end 26 and a second end 28 of the ring 22 of the hoop component together to form said hoop. Also, a hoop cover 70 extends over the hoop component or ring 22 and is a cover sleeve 72 for receiving the hoop component therein. As described herein, the cover may provide a more comfortable handle for a user to handle the hoop component. The hoop component may have square corners that are uncomfortable to handle and manipulate when collapsing the laundry retrieval device 10. The ring 22 and the hoop cover 70 extend through the panel sleeve 48 formed by the panel 40 and extending around the outer perimeter of the laundry retrieval device 10. The panel sleeve may extend substantially around the entire ring or hoop component such as at least 340 degrees, and preferably at least 350 degrees of the 360 degree perimeter of the ring or hoop component.
(31) It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Specific embodiments, features and elements described herein may be modified, and/or combined in any suitable manner. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications, combinations and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
