Abstract:
A personal and portable laundry system includes at least one rigid, ventilated container having a sliding lid. The container is sized and shaped to fit a wheeled transporter having a storage compartment and height adjustable handle. A variant of the invention includes semi-rigid containers that are removably attached to a wheeled transporter. The containers have openable lids and carrying handles. A third variation of the invention has a rigid container divided into pie-shaped segments. Each of the segments is sized and shaped to accommodate a laundry duffle that hangs inside the rigid container. The duffels have drawstring closures and may be of different colors.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention pertains to systems for transporting laundry and supplies for an individual. More particularly, the invention relates to compact carriers for sorting, organizing and transporting laundry using various means of conveyance.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Transportation of laundry for individuals has always been something of a problem. While not terribly heavy per unit of volume, laundry is bulky and awkward to carry. Further, laundry must be kept dry and free from dirt and contamination. This is a particular problem for child and infant laundry. It is desirable that any device used to transport laundry should provide a means to sort the laundry by color, type, clean or dirty, etc. A number of inventions have been developed to answer these requirements.  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,879, issued to Alvarez, is directed to a laundry cart system that has an adjustable frame and a hanger system. The laundry cart has a plurality of wheels. The frame can support a plurality of laundry bags that are held in an open position while coupled to the frame. A plurality of lid members is hingedly coupled to the frame assembly so as to selectively close each of the associated laundry bags.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,476, issued to Hamdan, discloses a presort and organization laundry apparatus that can be hung from a doorknob or from a laundry cart at the laundromat. The laundry apparatus is a bag with a separation panel on the inside forming two compartments. The front wall has several pockets. Some of the pockets have a pouch attached. The side surfaces each have a pocket as well. The pockets can be used for sorting the garments for holding laundry detergent, stain remover, and the like, as well as beverages, snacks, magazines, shoes, and the like. The hanging enclosure apparatus has an aperture that can receive a hook member for hanging on a doorknob or a laundry cart.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,865,647, issued to Wilson, is directed to a utility cart having a pair of rear wheels and a front caster and adapted to support a canvas receptacle. A receptacle of bag form made of canvas is self-suspended from the top ring of the cart. The forward apron is provided with vertical pockets and the rear apron with similar pockets for the purpose of holding various canned and bottled cleaning fluids, soaps, polishes, waxes, cleaning rags, or other tools and implements.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,218, issued to Kostic, discloses four complementary receptacles for recycling that are mounted on a rotatable base unit. The receptacles each have a cross-section of a 90° sector of a circle so that the four cans together form a circular structure when mounting on the rotatable platform. Each of the receptacles has a pair of wheels so they may be tilted and lifted off the platform and wheeled individually.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,217, issued to Friday, is directed to a movable compartmentalized laundry storage unit. The laundry storage unit has a body member that can be provided with one or more divider members for providing separate compartments within storage area. The storage unit has a handle member that has a positioning means allowing the handle to be in a retracted or extended position. A pair of wheel members is provided.  
         [0008]     U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0178800, filed by Fite, discloses a laundry hamper assembly. The hamper has a handle and a pair of wheels so that it can be easily transported by tilting. At the main opening of the hamper at the top portion are provided a plurality of containers that are suspended in the top and are provided for storing laundry supplies.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,517, issued to Shagoury, is directed to a two wheeled cart designed to receive a elasticized cloth laundry bag which in turn is used to receive linen among other things. The wheeled vehicle is collapsible for storage and has flip-top cover.  
         [0010]     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a means to conveniently transport laundry and laundry supplies. It is a further objective to provide a means to sort and organize laundry while protecting it from dirt, contamination and moisture. It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a means to transport laundry and supplies on public conveyances. It is yet a further objective to provide a laundry transport, sorting and storage system that is light weight, durable and easy and inexpensive to manufacture.  
         [0011]     While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The present invention addresses all of the deficiencies of prior personal and portable laundry system inventions and satisfies all of the objectives described above.  
         [0013]     (1) A personal and portable laundry system providing the desired features comprises a transporter that has a multiplicity of substantially rigid laundry storage containers, wherein the storage containers are removably affixed to the transporter.  
         [0014]     (2) In a variant of the invention, the transporter is supported by at least two wheels. The at least two wheels facilitate rolling the transporter along a horizontal support surface such as a floor.  
         [0015]     (3) In another variant, the storage containers have a closed bottom and an open top end.  
         [0016]     (4) In still another variant, the storage containers include removable sliding lids.  
         [0017]     (5) In yet another variant, at least one of the storage containers includes at least one removable sliding side panel in one or more sides of the container.  
         [0018]     (6) In a further variant, at least one of the wheels includes a wheel lock.  
         [0019]     (7) In still a further variant, the open top ends of the storage containers include tracks disposed along a length of two parallel sides of each such container.  
         [0020]     (8) In yet a further variant, a resilient lid is removably fitted onto the track.  
         [0021]     (9) In another variant of the invention, the lid has a handle and at least one vent.  
         [0022]     (10) In yet another variant, the lid has a handle and at least one vent.  
         [0023]     (11) In still another variant, at least one of the laundry storage containers has a projection on which to place the lid when the lid is removed from the top end of the container.  
         [0024]     (12) In a further variant, the removable sliding side panel has at least one vent.  
         [0025]     (13) In still a further variant, the transporter has a tow handle thereon for towing the transporter.  
         [0026]     (14) In yet a further variant, the tow handle is height adjustable.  
         [0027]     (15) In still a further variant a carry handle is provided for lifting the transporter.  
         [0028]     (16) In another variant, at least one of the storage containers includes at least one handle located on it.  
         [0029]     (17) In still another variant, the lid has a fastener located to engage the projection on the storage container.  
         [0030]     (18) In yet another variant, the transporter has a recess at its front end sized and shaped to receive the tow handle when the handle is not is used to tow the transporter.  
         [0031]     (19) In a further variant, the recess has cavities located on it positioned and shaped to receive deformable protrusions on the tow handle.  
         [0032]     (20) In still a further variant, the recess has cavities located on it positioned and shaped to receive extendable protrusions on the tow handle.  
         [0033]     (21) In yet a further variant, the recess has cavities located on it positioned and shaped to receive spring-loaded protrusions on the tow handle.  
         [0034]     (22) In another variant of the invention, at least one planar panel sized and shaped to engage the transporter and separate the storage containers located on it is provided.  
         [0035]     (23) In still another variant, each of the multiplicity of laundry storage containers is of a different color.  
         [0036]     (24) In yet another variant, the transporter has at least one storage compartment located on it.  
         [0037]     (25) In still another variant, the transporter is shaped like a substantially right rectangular rhomboid.  
         [0038]     (26) In a further variant, the transporter is adapted to be able to stand on either of the two shorter sides of the substantially right rectangular rhomboid.  
         [0039]     (27) In yet a further variant of the invention, a laundry cart system includes a transporter that has a frame. At least one deformable laundry storage container is provided. The laundry storage container has at least two compartments and is removably affixed to the transporter.  
         [0040]     (28) In still a further variant, the two compartments are of equal size and shape.  
         [0041]     (29) In another variant, the two compartments are arranged in tandem relative to each other.  
         [0042]     (30) In yet another variant, each compartment has its own opening.  
         [0043]     (31) In still another variant, a lid is located over each opening.  
         [0044]     (32) In a further variant, the transporter has a pivotally attached shelf at a front end of the frame for supporting the laundry storage container, the shelf is located horizontally when transporting laundry and folded up to a vertical position for storage.  
         [0045]     (33) In yet a further variant, the transporter has a tow handle thereon for towing the transporter.  
         [0046]     (34) In still a further variant, the tow handle has a handle grip.  
         [0047]     (35) In yet a further variant, the transporter is supported by at least two wheels. The at least two wheels facilitate rolling the transporter along a horizontal support surface such as a floor.  
         [0048]     (36) In still a further variant, at least one of the at least two wheels includes a wheel lock.  
         [0049]     (37) In another variant of the invention, the at least one compartmentalized deformable laundry storage container is affixed to the transporter at at least one attachment point.  
         [0050]     (38) In still another variant, each compartment lid of the at least one deformable laundry storage container is of a different color.  
         [0051]     (39) In yet another variant, the at least one deformable laundry storage container has at least one handle disposed on it.  
         [0052]     (40) In a further variant, the at least one deformable laundry storage container includes front, back, top, and bottom surfaces.  
         [0053]     (41) In yet a further variant, the back and bottom surfaces of the at least one deformable laundry storage container are reinforced relative to the top and front surfaces of the containers.  
         [0054]     (42) In still a further variant, the two compartments of at least one dual compartmented deformable laundry storage container are each of a different color.  
         [0055]     (43) In another variant, the lid is removable.  
         [0056]     (44) In still another variant, the transporter has at least one storage compartment located in it.  
         [0057]     (45) In yet another variant of the invention, a personal and portable laundry system includes a wheeled transporter with a substantially rigid cylindrically shaped laundry storage container affixed to it. A partition is located in the container. The partition divides the container into three substantially pie shaped compartments of substantially equal angles and volumes. Deformable bags conformed to removably fit into the pie shaped compartments are provided.  
         [0058]     (46) In a further variant, the deformable bags have reinforced bottoms.  
         [0059]     (47) In still a further variant, the deformable bags have a drawstring disposed at a top end of each bag.  
         [0060]     (48) In yet a further variant, the deformable bags have at least one handle located on them.  
         [0061]     (49) In another variant, the deformable bags have at least one eyelet sized and shaped to engage a projection on an interior surface of the storage container.  
         [0062]     (50) In still another variant, the compartments each have lids sized and shaped to cover the compartments.  
         [0063]     (51) In yet another variant, the lid has a handle and at least one vent.  
         [0064]     (52) In a further variant, the lid has a fastener positioned to engage a projection on the storage container onto which to place the lid when it is removed from a top of the container.  
         [0065]     (53) In yet a further variant, a tow handle for towing the transporter is provided.  
         [0066]     (54) In still a further variant, the handle is height adjustable.  
         [0067]     (55) In still another variant, the tow handle is attached to the transporter at a point above the wheels of the transporter.  
         [0068]     (56) In yet another variant, a carry handle positioned on the transporter for lifting the transporter is provided.  
         [0069]     (57) In still another variant, each compartment is of a different color.  
         [0070]     (58) In a further variant, each of the deformable bags is of a different color.  
         [0071]     (59) In a final variant of the invention, the transporter has at least one storage compartment located in it.  
         [0072]     An appreciation of the other aims and objectives of the present invention and an understanding of it may be achieved by referring to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of a preferred embodiment. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0073]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention illustrating a ventilated front and lid;  
         [0074]     Figure is a perspective view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment illustrating the sliding lid;  
         [0075]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a transporter for the  FIG. 1  embodiment;  
         [0076]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the transporter for the  FIG. 1  embodiment;  
         [0077]      FIG. 5 a  perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention illustrating openable lids and lifting handles;  
         [0078]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of a transporter for the  FIG. 5  embodiment;  
         [0079]      FIG. 7  is a rear elevational view of a transporter for the  FIG. 5  embodiment;  
         [0080]      FIG. 8 a  plan view of a third embodiment of the invention illustrating triangular-shaped compartments;  
         [0081]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the  FIG. 8  embodiment;  
         [0082]      FIG. 10  is a front elevational view of the  FIG. 8  embodiment; and  
         [0083]      FIG. 11  is a front elevational view of a duffle for use in the triangular-shaped compartments of the  FIG. 8  embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0084]     (1)  FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a personal and portable laundry system  10  providing the desired features. The system includes a transporter  15  that has a multiplicity of substantially rigid laundry storage containers  20 , wherein the storage containers  20  are removably affixed to the transporter  15 .  
         [0085]     (2) In a variant of the invention, the transporter  15  is supported by at least two wheels  25 . The at least two wheels  25  facilitate rolling the transporter  15  along a horizontal support surface such as a floor  30 .  
         [0086]     (3) In another variant, the storage containers  20  have a closed bottom  35  and an open top end  40 .  
         [0087]     (4) In still another variant, the storage containers  20  include removable sliding lids  45 .  
         [0088]     (5) In yet another variant, at least one of the storage containers  20  includes at least one removable sliding side panel  50 .  FIG. 1  illustrates one panel  50  in one side of the container  20 . It will be clear that additional panels can be included in other sides of the container  20  in like manner.  
         [0089]     (6) In a further variant, at least one of the wheels  25  includes a wheel lock  55 .  
         [0090]     (7) In still a further variant, the open top ends  40  of the storage containers  20  include tracks  60  disposed along a length  65  of two parallel sides  70  of each such container  20 .  
         [0091]     (8) In yet a further variant, a resilient lid  75  is removably fitted onto the track  60 .  
         [0092]     (9) In another variant of the invention, the lid  75  has a handle  80  and at least one vent  85 .  
         [0093]     (10) In yet another variant, the lid  45  has a handle  90  and at least one vent  95 .  
         [0094]     (11) In still another variant, at least one of the laundry storage containers  20  has a projection  100  on which to place the lid  45  when the lid  45  is removed from the top end  40  of the container  20 .  
         [0095]     (12) In a further variant, the removable sliding side panel  50  has at least one vent  105 .  
         [0096]     (13) In still a further variant, the transporter  15  has a tow handle  110  thereon for towing the transporter  15 .  
         [0097]     (14) In yet a further variant, the tow handle  110  is height adjustable.  
         [0098]     (15) In still a further variant a carry handle  115  is provided for lifting the transporter  20 .  
         [0099]     (16) In another variant, at least one of the storage containers  20  includes at least one handle  120  located on it.  
         [0100]     (17) In still another variant, the lid  45  has a fastener  125  located to engage the projection  100  on the storage container  20 .  
         [0101]     (18) In yet another variant, the transporter  15  has a recess  130  at a front end  135  sized and shaped to receive the tow handle  110  when the handle  110  is not is used to tow the transporter  15 .  
         [0102]     (19) In a further variant, the recess  130  has cavities  140  located on it positioned and shaped to receive deformable protrusions  145  on the tow handle  110 .  
         [0103]     (20) In still a further variant, the recess  130  has cavities  150  located on it positioned and shaped to receive extendable protrusions  155  on the tow handle  110 .  
         [0104]     (21) In yet a further variant, the recess  130  has cavities  160  located on it positioned and shaped to receive spring-loaded protrusions  165  on the tow handle  110 .  
         [0105]     (22) In another variant of the invention, at least one planar panel  170  sized and shaped to engage the transporter  15  and separate the storage containers  20  located on it is provided.  
         [0106]     (23) In still another variant, each of the multiplicity of laundry storage containers  20  is of a different color.  
         [0107]     (24) In yet another variant, the transporter  15  has at least one storage compartment  175  located on it.  
         [0108]     (25) In still another variant, the transporter  15  is shaped like a substantially right rectangular rhomboid  180 .  
         [0109]     (26) In a further variant, the transporter  15  is adapted to be able to stand on either of the two shorter sides  185  of the substantially right rectangular rhomboid  180 .  
         [0110]     (27) In yet a further variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7 , a personal and portable laundry system  190  includes a transporter  195  that has a frame  200 . At least one deformable laundry storage container  205  is provided. The laundry storage container  205  has at least two compartments  210  and is removably affixed to the transporter  195 .  
         [0111]     (28) In still a further variant, the two compartments  210  are of equal size and shape.  
         [0112]     (29) In another variant, the two compartments  210  are arranged in tandem relative to each other.  
         [0113]     (30) In yet another variant, each compartment  210  has its own opening  215 .  
         [0114]     (31) In still another variant, a lid  220  is located over each opening  215 .  
         [0115]     (32) In a further variant, the transporter  195  has a pivotally attached shelf  225  at a front end  230  of the frame  200  for supporting the laundry storage container  205 , the shelf  225  is located horizontally when transporting laundry (not shown) and folded up to a vertical position (not shown) for storage.  
         [0116]     (33) In yet a further variant, the transporter  195  has a tow handle  245  thereon for towing the transporter  195 .  
         [0117]     (34) In still a further variant, the tow handle  245  has a handle grip  250 .  
         [0118]     (35) In yet a further variant, the transporter  195  is supported by at least two wheels  255 . The at least two wheels  255  facilitate rolling the transporter  195  along a horizontal support surface such as a floor  260 .  
         [0119]     (36) In still a further variant, at least one of the at least two wheels  255  includes a wheel lock  265 .  
         [0120]     (37) In another variant of the invention, the at least one compartmentalized deformable laundry storage container  205  is affixed to the transporter  195  at at least one attachment point  270 .  
         [0121]     (38) In still another variant, each compartment lid  220  of the at least one deformable laundry storage container  205  is of a different color.  
         [0122]     (39) In yet another variant, the at least one deformable laundry storage container  205  has at least one handle  273  disposed on it.  
         [0123]     (40) In a further variant, the at least one deformable laundry storage container  205  includes front  275 , back  280 , top  285 , and bottom  290  surfaces.  
         [0124]     (41) In yet a further variant, the back  280  and bottom  290  surfaces of the at least one deformable laundry storage container  205  are reinforced relative to the top  275  and front  285  surfaces of the containers  205 .  
         [0125]     (42) In still a further variant, the two compartments  210  of at least one dual compartmented deformable laundry storage container  205  are each of a different color.  
         [0126]     (43) In another variant, the lid  220  is removable.  
         [0127]     (44) In still another variant, the transporter  195  has at least one storage compartment  295  located in it.  
         [0128]     (45) In yet another variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8-11 , a personal and portable laundry system  300  includes a wheeled transporter  305  with a substantially rigid cylindrically shaped laundry storage container  310  affixed to it. A partition  315  is located in the container  310 . The partition  315  divides the container  310  into three substantially pie shaped compartments  320  of substantially equal angles and volumes. Deformable bags  325  conformed to removably fit into the pie shaped compartments  320  are provided.  
         [0129]     (46) In a further variant, the deformable bags  325  have reinforced bottoms  330 .  
         [0130]     (47) In still a further variant, the deformable bags  330  have a drawstring  335  disposed at a top end  340  of each bag  330 .  
         [0131]     (48) In yet a further variant, the deformable bags  330  have at least one handle  345  located on them.  
         [0132]     (49) In another variant, the deformable bags  330  have at least one eyelet  350  sized and shaped to engage a projection  355  on an interior surface of the storage container  310 .  
         [0133]     (50) In still another variant, the compartments  320  each have lids  365  sized and shaped to cover the compartments  320 .  
         [0134]     (51) In yet another variant, the lid  365  has a handle  370  and at least one vent  375 .  
         [0135]     (52) In a further variant, the lid  365  has a fastener  380  positioned to engage a projection  385  on the storage container  310  onto which to place the lid  365  when it is removed from a top  385  of the container  310 .  
         [0136]     (53) In yet a further-variant, a tow handle  390  for towing the transporter  305  is provided.  
         [0137]     (54) In still a further variant, the handle  390  is height adjustable.  
         [0138]     (55) In still another variant, the tow handle  390  is attached to the transporter  305  at a point  395  above the wheels  400  of the transporter  305 .  
         [0139]     (56) In yet another variant, a carry handle  405  positioned on the transporter  305  for lifting the transporter  305  is provided.  
         [0140]     (57) In still another variant, each compartment  320  is of a different color.  
         [0141]     (58) In a further variant, each of the deformable bags  330  is of a different color.  
         [0142]     (59) In a final variant of the invention, the transporter  305  has at least one storage compartment  410  located in it.  
         [0143]     The personal and portable laundry system  10 ,  190 ,  300  has been described with reference to particular embodiments. Other modifications and enhancements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.