Abstract:
A tri-compartment hamper is provided that is easily installed, removed and stored. The hamper is strong, yet relatively light weight and functions among other things to deodorize laundry, allows quick installation in the proper position with a large compartment for dirty clothes, a smaller compartment with a hanging rack for wet clothes, and a bottom drawer compartment.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to hamper for laundry and more particularly to tri-compartment hamper with an ozone generator source for bactericidal action. As used herein the term tri-compartment hamper includes a hamper unit comprising three compartments wherein the second compartment includes an ozone generator source. The first compartment includes a grid member allowing in ozone from the second compartment. The bottom drawer compartment includes a grid mesh back wall allowing in ozone from said second compartment. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The use of clothes storage containers is known in prior art. While these storage containers fulfill their respective and particular objectives the need remains for a tri-compartment laundry hamper that is equipped with an ozone generator source for eliminating odor and providing bactericidal action before washing the laundry items. 
         [0003]    In the new present invention the tri-compartment hamper enables a user to conveniently sanitize different stacks of laundry wet and or dry simultaneously or at different times. The present invention utilizes ozone for bactericidal action on laundry items. 
         [0004]    The present invention described is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments. However, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements and modifications by those skilled in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An exemplary tri-compartment hamper according to the principles of the present invention includes a hamper with three compartments that can support and deodorize predetermined laundry items using ozone generator source. 
         [0006]    According to one aspect of the present invention a second compartment is provided with a hanging rack that may be used to hang and deodorize wet laundry items. The first compartment, larger than the second compartment, may be used to deodorize dry laundry items. The bottom compartment may be used to deodorize shoes and small laundry items. 
     
    
     
         [0007]    Many advantages of the invention will become apparent with the following detailed description of the drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the tri-compartment hamper utilizing ozone generator source. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the tri-compartment hamper. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the tri-compartment hamper. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the tri-compartment hamper. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the bottom shoe compartment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the bottom shoe compartment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of the bottom shoe compartment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the circulating fan for the second compartment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the circulating fan. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is top perspective view of the hamper. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0018]    With reference now to  FIGS. 1-10 , a new tri-compartment laundry hamper embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  1  will be described. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows the tri-compartment laundry hamper comprising three compartments  7 , 8 , 9 . The first compartment  7  includes a grid mesh member  18  forming the bottom wall  44  and a grid mesh member  18  forming the back wall  46  of the compartment  7 . The grid mesh member  18  allows a combination of air and ozone to circulate. The back wall  46  of the first compartment  7  is attached to and extends upwardly from the bottom wall  44 . The back wall  46  has an upper edge  48  defining the attachment for first closure lid  2  for opening and closing the first compartment  7 . The hamper  1  has a height generally between  1  foot and  5  feet. The ozone generator source control  14  switches to selectively turn on and off the ozone generator source and regulate ozone saturation inside the hamper  1 . The ozone generator control  14  is attached to the outside front wall of the first compartment  7 . The second compartment  8  includes a hanging rack  6  for hanging wet clothes inside the compartment  8 . The hanging rack  6  is a round horizontal bar attached from one side  50  of the hamper  1  to a second side  52  of the hamper  1 . The hanging rack  6  is inside the second compartment  8 . The second compartment  8  includes a fan  10  with a circulating fan enclosure  12 . The ozone generator source  22  in the second compartment  8  is attached to the rear  54  wall and bottom wall  53  of the second compartment  8 . The rear wall  54  of the second compartment  8  is adjacent to a side wall  56  of the second compartment  8 . The rear wall  54  is parallel to the back wall  58  of the first compartment  7 . The rear wall  54  has an upper edge  60  defining an attachment for the second compartment closure lid  4 . The second compartment closure lid  4  when in closed position seals the opening for second compartment  8  by secure attachment to the upper edge  88  of the rear wall  54  of the second compartment  8 . The closure lid  2  for the first compartment  7  when in closed position securely seals the opening for the first compartment  7  by attachment to the upper edge  62  of the front wall  64 . 
         [0020]    The bottom compartment  9  has a rigid grid mesh member  16  at the base of the compartment  9 . The bottom compartment  9  is moved to an open position by pulling out the drawer  20 . The bottom compartment  9  has an open back which allows a combination of ozone and air from the second compartment  8  to flow into the bottom compartment  9 . 
         [0021]    When the lids  2 , 4  are closed, the ozone generator control  14  selectively turned on and the hamper  1  plugged to an electricity source  86 , the ozone generator source  22  in the second compartment  8  produces ozone combined with air. The fan  10  circulates a combination of air and ozone into compartments  7 , 8  and  9 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the tri-compartment hamper  1  with a grid mesh member  18 , the ozone generator source  22  and the circulating fan  10 . The circulating fan  10  is capable of circulating a combination of ozone and air in the compartment  8  and into compartments  7 , 9 . The hamper  1  includes an ozone exhaust vent  28 . When the ozone exhaust vent  28  is open, the ozone from the hamper is capable of deodorizing air outside. Clothes hanging on the rack  6  are capable of being exposed to ozone and air from the ozone generator  22 . The hamper  1  further includes four swivel caster wheels  32  to move the hamper  1  to a desired position. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is the bottom view of the tri-compartment hamper  1 . The hamper  1  includes an ozone exhaust vent  30 , an ozone exhaust vent door  26 , and an ozone exhaust vent handle  28 . The hamper  1 , includes  2  pairs of swivel caster wheels  32  at the bottom of the hamper  1 . Access for placing shoes and other items into the bottom compartment  9  may be obtained by moving the drawer  20  along the drawer glides  24 . The bottom compartment  9  includes a rigid grid mesh member  16 . The ozone generator source includes a platform  40  wherein the platform  40  is capable of sliding out to allow access. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the tri-compartment hamper  1 . The ozone generator source  22  on the platform  40  at the rear of the second compartment  8  can be accessed for maintenance by moving the platform  40 . The grid mesh members  18 , 16  allow bactericidal ozone into the compartments  7 , 9 , 8  when the lids  4 , 2  are in closed positions, the ozone generator source  22  is turned on and the hamper  1  is plugged to a means for electrical source. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the bottom compartment  9 . The compartment  9  has an open back  76  comprising of a grid mesh member  16 . The compartment  9  also has drawer glides  24 , shoe drawer front  20 , and shoe drawer attaching screws  34 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the bottom compartment  9 . The grid mesh member  16 , the drawer front  20  and drawer glides  24  are attached to the compartment  9 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of the bottom compartment  9  showing attaching screws  34 , the drawer front  20 , the grid mesh member  16  and the drawer glides  24 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the circulating fan  10  in the compartment  8  showing the circulating fan enclosure  10  and circulating fan intake opening  38 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the circulating fan  10  showing the circulating fan enclosure  10  and the circulating fan intake opening  38 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 10  is top perspective view of the hamper  1  with clothes inside compartments  7  and  8 . The ozone generator source  22 , the circulating fan  10 , the hanging clothes rack  6  are inside the second compartment  8 . The second compartment  8  includes a top lid  4 . The first compartment  7  includes a top lid  2 . The bottom drawer compartment  9  has a rigid grid mesh member  16 .