Portable, Compact, Flexible and Reusable Washing Machine and Dryer for Small Articles of Clothing

Abstract

A sealable plastic bag for one or more articles of clothing to be washed and at least partially dried with a large top opening and a separate valve for allowing heated air from a hair dryer to enter and be exhausted from the bag. The bag can contain a pre-measured quantity of detergent behind a frangible or otherwise breakable wall so that when water is placed into the bag, the detergent can mix therewith when the wall is destroyed. The bag then can be kneaded and serves a small, portable, clean, washing machine, with the ability to exchange the water for cleaner water and then to dry the same with the hair dryer.

Claims

1. A portable and lightweight washing and drying device for clothes comprising: a thin, plastic and kneadable bag having a pair of opposed sides, opposed and sealed-together lateral edges, sealed-together bottom edges and a top opening defined by opposed top edges, the sides, and sealed edges, sealed bottom edges and top opening defining a cavity large enough for holding one or more articles of clothing and a sealing mechanism selectively allowing sealing and unsealing of said top opening and providing selective access to said cavity; said top opening being sufficiently large to allow one or more garments to be selectively placed into said bag and removed therefrom; and a valve mechanism allowing the passage of air from a consumer-sized hair dryer into and air out of said bag but at the same time not allowing liquid water to pass therethrough and said valve mechanism further comprising a cylindrical, outwardly extending, from one of said opposed sides, short supporting wall of suitable sized diameter for secured yet selective detachable receipt of a distal end of a cylindrical nozzle of a consumer's sized hand held hair dryer.

2. (canceled)

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 bearing printed information thereon relating to the steps to follow to wash and/or dry clothes by use of said device along with the addition of water into the cavity.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 bearing printed lines thereon reflective of the maximum amount of any one or more of the following to be placed into the bag for washing and drying: quantity of clothes, quantity of detergent or soap, quantity of water.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sealing mechanism is a slide secured to the opposed top edges of said bag.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bag further comprises a second valve for allowing the free flow of water and/or air into and out of said bag.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a frangible membrane which divides said cavity within said bag into two separate compartments—one large and a relatively small adjacent compartment which is in fluid communication with said large compartment when said frangible membrane is broken.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said frangible membrane is water dissolvable and said relatively small compartment contains soap.

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention shown in FIG. 1 as intended to be used in a first step of use; while

[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as used in connection with a subsequent step of use and

[0019] FIG. 4 is an enlarged and partial side view of the top corner of the bag shown in FIG. 3, with its first one way valve, allowing air to go in and out, but not water, and a short, cylindrical wall in the side wall of the bag for securely yet removably holding the distal and circular edge of the nozzle of a hair dryer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND DRAWINGS

[0020] As best seen in the Drawings, the invention comprises a bag 10, preferably transparent, flexible (capable of being kneaded) and made of plastic material. The bag is quite similar to common ZIPLOC® food storage bags now made by S. C. Johnson. The plastic bag can be any size but it is believed that a fluid gallon is likely a reasonable size for the purposes of the present invention. In addition, currently there are plastic bags for long term storage of sweaters and articles of clothing, provided with a top closure and a valve-like opening with a closure (in this case for attachment of a vacuum so as to suck air from the bag to decrease volume for long term storage. Nevertheless, the present invention, a plastic bag is somewhat heat resistant meaning it will not melt nor degrade for its intended use even if the heat of a hair dryer is directed at the interior or the side walls.

[0021] The bag 10 is provided with a typical sealing closure 12 at its top and a sealing slide mechanism 14 such that when the slide is pushed to one edge of the bag the bag's top edges seal shut (in a well-known manner) and when the slide is pushed to the other edge of the bag's top edges, the bag is open to allow for ease of placing objects into the bag and removing objects therefrom. The seal mechanism, however, closure 12 with slide mechanism 14 is substantially water and air tight when closed.

[0022] According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, this bag 10 is provided with an interior cavity or holding compartment for clothing, preferably, large enough to hold a pair of socks, a pair of running shorts and a dri-fit shirt or woman's sports bra. As shown in the present Drawings and Figures, a pair of socks S1 and S2 and a jumble of clothing, a DRI-FIT® shirt and running shorts C are easily placeable in the bag, through the opening 20 (see FIG. 2).

[0023] According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bag 10 is printed with directions 22 for the step by step use of the device and a water line 24, to direct the user as to how much water should be placed into the bag, for washing of the clothes C. Also, a line 26 can be printed to indicate to the user that the bag should not be filled with clothes C beyond the line 26.

[0024] According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bag is provided with a smaller cavity 32 within the larger cavity 30. Cavity or volumetric area 32 is intended to be initially physically separated from larger cavity 30 by a frangible thin plastic wall 34. The wall 34 serves to initially separate a source of soap 36 in the smaller cavity 32 from the larger cavity 30. In one embodiment of the present invention, the thin plastic wall 34 will easily rip away or break when the bag is smashed, kneaded, or hit with a striking force to release the soap 36 into the larger cavity 30. In another embodiment of the invention, the plastic wall 34 can be formed of a dissolvable material which when in contact with water will cause the same to allow the contained soap 36 to flow into and mix with the water in the larger cavity 30. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the contained soap is absent and the user merely adds a pre-measured amount of detergent, liquid, gel, powder, into the bag for mixing with the water.

[0025] The bag 10 is also preferably provided with a small valve 40 in one corner of the bag 10. This valve 40 is provided with a hinged covering or simple screw cap 42, not shown. The valve 40 is similar to the air valve used with inflatable toys and pool floats. When open, the valve 40 will allow water to be directed into the bag but, more importantly, when open, the valve can be used to drain water from the interior and larger cavity 30. Alternatively, of course, water can be directed into and drained out of the bag through the top opening of the bag, so long as the slide 12 is in the open position. The valve is not necessary to providing a functional device but is believed desirable, as will be explained.

[0026] The bag 10 is preferably also provided with a second, primary and important valve 50. It is a passageway, when opened, between air or the inside larger cavity 30 and ambient air. In the preferred embodiment the valve 50 is provided with an upper, outwardly extending circular and cylindrical short wall 52 which is sized to accept a nozzle N of a typical electricity powered hair dryer HD (with an on-off switch, a grip, and a cord for plugging the same into a wall outlet for electric power). The short wall 52 is meant to be tight around the nozzle N and held there by friction so that when the dryer HD is activated, substantially all of the hot forced air is going into the bag and into the interior cavity 30. The preferred embodiment contemplates that the valve 50 has a barrier 54 which allows for hot air to easily pass through and into the bag but does not allow water to flow out. The barrier 54 can be a form of GORE-TEX® material which is believed to have air passable (breathable) characteristic but is water impervious. This is believed to provide a safety feature to the use of the invention. This primary valve 50 can be provided with a hinged cap or a threaded cap, too, although not required for use.

[0027] In use, the bag 10 is opened. Clothes C and/or socks S1 and S2 are placed therein. Then, water is provided to the interior of the bag by having the water pass through the large opening at the top of the bag or by having the source of water connected to or in fluid communication with the smaller valve 40. Clothes C and the socks S1 and S2 are placed into the bag but preferably so that the clothes and socks do not extend beyond line 26. Water is provided into the bag, too, but not beyond line 24. The bag 10 is then sealed shut, as shown in FIG. 2, with the slide of the closure mechanism shown on the right side of the bag. The valve 40, if opened for the pouring of water into the bag, is now closed. Of course, for these prior steps, the primary valve 50 is either closed or the barrier 54 is sufficient to ensure that water poured into the bag does not flow out of the bag through the valve 50. In an alternative embodiment where no soap is integrated into the interior of the bag, prior to placing the clothes C and socks S1 and S2 into the bag, a small amount of liquid, gel or granular/powder of detergent is provided and, preferably, up to but not exceeding a printed_soap fill line 60.

[0028] With the bag, clothing and socks, in the water, and the bag sealed shut, the frangible material 34 is broken, either by smashing or kneading the same, by the action of the water dissolving the separating wall or some other mechanical means (a pull tab can be released) which allows the soap to flow into the water of the larger cavity. The soap will be in the water and further kneading and turning of the bag and its contents will cause the soap and water solution to start to remove dirt from the clothes C and socks S1 and S2. The water will become dirty. After some short but reasonable time, say, 1-2 minutes, the bag is opened. This can be done by sliding the slide 12 to the left or by opening the valve 40. The dirty water is drained into a tub or sink. Then, if desired, fresh and clean water can be poured back into the bag, either through the top opening or through the valve 40 and the closure and/or valve shut. A second kneading should then occur which is, in effect, a rinse cycle for the clothes C and socks S1 and S2. If desired another rinse cycle can occur.

[0029] Then, when the rinsing is complete, the water is evacuated from the bag, the clothes C and socks S1 and S2, wringed out within the bag to remove excess water. The water is evacuated from the bag either through the top opening or through the valve 40. Then, the top opening 20 is closed (if valve 40 is present) or partially open (if no small valve is present). A hair dryer HD is then secured with its nozzle N inserted and frictionally held by cylindrical short wall 54. The hair dryer HD is then turned “on” and warm air enters the larger cavity to take moisture from the clothes and socks and take that away as the air is exhausted through either the open valve 40 or through the partially open top opening of the bag. The clothes and socks, C and S1 and S2, are either partially dried and the items hung for further air drying, or are fully dried in a short time.