LAUNDRY CART

Abstract

A laundry cart and methods for using it are described herein. The laundry cart has the ability to dump laundry from its shelves to the bottom surface of the laundry cart via rotatable shelves, eliminating the need to remove laundry from each shelf. In addition, the rotatable nature of the shelves allows the shelves to effectively close the laundry cart for effective transportation of laundry, minimizing spillage of laundry out of the laundry cart during transit.

Claims

1. A cart comprising: A bottom surface; At least one side surface connected perpendicularly to the bottom surface; A back surface connected perpendicularly to the at least one side surface; At least one castor connected to the bottom surface; and At least one shelf that connects to the at least one side surface.

2. The cart of claim 1, further comprising a rotating bar that the at least one shelf sits on.

3. The cart of claim 2, wherein the at least one shelf is further comprised of an arm that is in contact with the rotating bar.

4. The cart of claim 1, wherein the at least one shelf has a latch that connects to the at least one side surface.

5. The cart of claim 2, wherein the rotating bar has a spacer at the rotating bar's ends for movement of the at least one shelf.

6. The cart of claim 2, wherein the at least one shelf is rotatable via the rotating bar.

7. The cart of claim 1, wherein the at least one shelf rotates to form a front surface that is perpendicular to the at least one side surface and parallel to the back surface.

8. The cart of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface serves as a stationary shelf and is permanently affixed to the cart.

9. The cart of claim 1, wherein the at least one shelf are comprised of a pattern of parallel bars.

10. The cart of claim 1, wherein the at least one shelf is removable from the cart.

11. The cart of claim 1, wherein a hanger bar connects to the back surface via a magnet.

12. The cart of claim 11, wherein the hanger bar flips away from the back surface so items hang from the hanger bar.

13. The cart of claim 1, wherein the at least one side surface and the back surface further comprise a pattern of parallel bars and perpendicular bars.

14. The cart of claim 2, wherein items may fall off the at least one shelf when the rotating bar is rotated.

15. The cart of claim 1, wherein the cart is rollable via the at least one castor.

16. A method of using a cart, the method comprising i) possessing a cart comprising: a bottom surface; at least one side surface connected perpendicularly to the bottom surface; a back surface connected perpendicularly to the at least one side surface; at least one castor connected to the bottom surface; a hanger bar connects to the back surface; and at least one shelf that connects to the at least one side surface via a rotating bar; ii) rotating the rotating bar while items are on the at least one shelf so that the items fall off the at least one shelf; iii) flipping the hanger bar away from the back surface so that items may hand from the hanger bar; and iv) rotating the bar rotating fully so that the at least one shelf is in an upright position parallel to the back surface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one shelf stays flush against the rotating bar so items rest on the at least one shelf.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein items hang from the at least one shelf.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein items rest on the bottom surface.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein items rest on the at least shelf and the bottom surface and items hang from the hanger bar.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0026] Those of skill in the art will understand that the drawings, described below, are for illustrative purposes only. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way.

[0027] FIG. 1. A front view of the laundry cart.

[0028] FIG. 2. A side view of the laundry cart.

[0029] FIG. 3. A perspective view of the laundry cart showing the hanger bar in the usable state.

[0030] FIG. 4. A perspective view of the shelf and rotating bar, with the shelf parallel to the bottom surface.

[0031] FIG. 5. A perspective view of the arm of the shelf and the spacer and washer of the rotating bar.

[0032] FIG. 6. Another perspective view of the shelf.

[0033] FIG. 7. A perspective view of the shelf at an angle not parallel to the bottom and not parallel to the back surface.

[0034] FIG. 8. A side view of the laundry cart, with the hanger bar deployed and items hanging from the hanger bar.

[0035] FIG. 9. A top view of the shelf.

[0036] FIG. 10. A perspective view of the laundry cart, with shelves parallel to the back surface, forming a front surface, and items hanging from both the hanger bar and a shelf.

[0037] FIG. 11. A front view of the laundry cart with items resting on shelves.

[0038] FIG. 12. A perspective view of a shelf, with the shelf parallel to the back surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The present invention is directed to a laundry cart 100, as seen in FIG. 1. The laundry cart has a bottom surface 102, at least one side surface 104, a back surface 106, castors 108, and at least one shelf 110. The back surface 106 may form a perpendicular angle with the side surface 104. The bottom surface 102 may be perpendicular to the side surface 104. The bottom surface 102 may be parallel to the shelf 110 when the shelf is in the state capable of having items rest on it. Castors 108 are connected to the base of the bottom surface 102, allowing the laundry cart 100 to roll.

[0040] FIG. 2 depicts a side view of the laundry cart 100. A latch 206 at the back of the shelf 110 latches onto the side surface 104 so that the shelf 110 can support items. The side surface 104 may be comprised of a perpendicular and parallel pattern of bars 204, though one of skill in the art would recognize that other patterns are possible. The hanger bar 202 is in its non-use state; items do not hang from the hanger bar 202 in this state. A magnet 208, which may contact the side surface 104 or the back surface 106, keeps the hanger bar 202 in the non-use state.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows the hanger bar 202 in the deployed state, i.e. the state by which items may be hanged from the hanger bar 202. The shelf 110 may be parallel to the bottom surface 102, with a side surface 104 and back surface 106 also visible. Items may be placed on the shelf 110 in this configuration.

[0042] In FIG. 4, the shelf 110 and rotating bar 402 are depicted. When parallel to the bottom surface 106, the shelf 110 rests on the rotating bar 402.

[0043] In FIG. 5, the arm 502 of the shelf 110 is resting on the rotating bar 402. The washer 504 and spacer 506 fit around the rotating bar 402, allowing for movement of the shelf 110 in relation to the rotating bar 402.

[0044] FIG. 6 shows another view of the shelf 110 in a position in which items may rest on the shelf 110. It is possible for the shelf 110 to be in other positions, dependent on the rotation of the rotating bar 402.

[0045] FIG. 7 shows the shelf 110 in a position that is not parallel to the bottom surface 102 or parallel to the back surface 106. The arm 502 is at angle with respect to the rotating bar 402 that would allow items to fall off the shelf 110. At this angle, items falling to the bottom surface 102 allows for quick pickup of the items at the bottom surface 102 as opposed to removing items from each shelf 110.

[0046] FIG. 8 shows a side view of the laundry cart 100, with items like laundry 802 hanging from the hanger bar 202. While the laundry 802 was hanged with hangers, it is also possible to drape laundry 802 over the hanger bar 202. As shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to have a shelf 110 parallel to the bottom surface 102, while another shelf 110 is not parallel to the bottom surface 102.

[0047] FIG. 9 shows the shelf 110 without being attached to the laundry cart 100. A pattern of parallel bars 902 comprises the shelf 110. The arm 502 of the shelf 110 is also identifiable.

[0048] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the laundry cart 100, with shelves 110 forming a front surface 1002, as the shelves 110 are parallel to the back surface 106. When the shelves 110 are in this configuration, i.e. when they create a front surface 1002, the shelves 110 effectively close the laundry cart 100, making it easier to transport laundry 802 without any laundry 802 falling out of the laundry cart 100. Laundry 802 hangs from the hanger bar 202 and may also hang from a shelf 110. The pattern of parallel bars 902 allows laundry 802 to hang from a shelf 110.

[0049] Laundry 802 resting on all the shelves 110 of the laundry cart 100 is depicted in FIG. 11. It is possible for some of the shelves 110 to be used to create the front surface 1002, while the bottom surface 102 and any remaining shelves may be used for laundry 802 to rest on. Laundry 802 may also hang on shelves 110 not being used to create the front surface 1002. Various configurations are possible.

[0050] FIG. 12 depicts a shelf 110 in the configuration that creates a front surface 1002, i.e. the shelf 110 is parallel with the back surface 106. In this configuration, it is possible to transport laundry 802 with minimal spillage of the laundry 802 out of the laundry cart 100.

Other Embodiments

[0051] The detailed description set-forth above is provided to aid those skilled in the art in practicing the present invention. However, the invention described and claimed herein is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments herein disclosed because these embodiments are intended as illustration of several aspects of the invention. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description which do not depart from the spirit or scope of the present inventive discovery. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.