Abstract:
A clothing receptacle is provided which includes an interactive feature calculated to generate an interest among children inducing them to place their dirty clothing into a bag. The bag may be closed after it is filled with dirty clothes and transported to the laundry room where it may be placed into both the washer and dryer while the clothes remain in its interior throughout the laundering process.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to receptacles for clothing, and, more particularly, to the combination of a mesh bag and the torso of a toy character releasably attached to the bag having a head carrying a loudspeaker which sounds a message when the mouth of the head is opened to allow insertion of items of clothing into the bag. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is a challenge for parents of younger children to teach them to pick up after themselves. If good habits are not established early on, by the time the child reaches his or her teenage years it may be too late. Placement of dirty clothing in a laundry basket or other receptacle, instead of on the floor or somewhere else, is an important part of keeping a child&#39;s room in some semblance of order and in ensuring that the clothes are freshly laundered. 
         [0003]    Like many other aspects of teaching children, it is helpful to add an element of fun to gain their attention and participation. A number of laundry bags have been developed which are formed in the shape of a toy character to entice children to place their dirty clothes in the bag. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. D202,381; D183,211; D179,866; D152,173 and D99,499. In some cases, a strap is attached to the bag so that it can be hung on a doorknob or the like where it is in full view of the child whenever he or she goes into their bedroom or bathroom. Although decorative, laundry bags of this type do not fit in with the interactive, visual and audio experience children get from the toys that they play with, the television shows that they watch and many other aspects of their everyday world. As a result, they are of little value in helping children learn to take care of their dirty clothes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention is directed to a clothing receptacle which includes an interactive feature calculated to generate an interest among children inducing them to place their dirty clothing into a bag. The bag may be closed after it is filled with dirty clothes and transported to the laundry room where it may be placed into both the washer and dryer, while the clothes remain in its interior for laundering. 
         [0005]    In the presently preferred embodiment, the clothing receptacle comprises a bag formed with apertures, such as a nylon mesh bag, having an open end which mounts to the torso of a toy character. The toy character has a head with a mouth movable between and open and closed position, and an electrical circuit including a loudspeaker. In response to opening of the mouth, the loudspeaker sounds a message encouraging the child to place clothing into the mouth, which, in turn, leads into the interior or the bag. When the bag is filled, it may be detached from the torso, closed and then taken into the laundry room. The bag is placed in the clothes washer, with the clothes remaining in its interior, and then into the dryer. 
         [0006]    The clothing receptacle of this invention adds an element of fun and interaction for the child encouraging him or her to place clothes into the bag. The toy character “speaks” to the child when its mouth is opened, and a number of different messages may be provided to enhance the child&#39;s fun. In addition to the entertainment provided the child, the person doing the laundry can keep all of the child&#39;s clothes together in the bag throughout the laundering process so that they are not lost or intermixed with other clothing. This is especially helpful with socks which seem to routinely disappear during laundering. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The structure, operation and advantages of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the clothing receptacle of this invention with the mouth of the toy character in the closed position; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  except with the mouth open; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a view of the bag of the clothing receptacle detached from the toy character; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of one version of an electrical circuit which may be used in the subject invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Referring now to the Figs., the clothing receptacle  10  of this invention includes a bag  11  and the torso of a toy character  12  having a pair of arms  14  and  16 , and a head  18  with a mouth  20 . The toy character  12  is depicted as a “monster,” but it should be understood that virtually any type of character could be employed and is considered within the scope of this invention. Additionally, only a portion of the torso of the toy character  12  and not the remainder of the body is depicted in the illustrated embodiment but it is contemplated that more or less of the body of such character  12  could be used so long as a path is provided through which clothing may be delivered into the bag  11 , as described below. 
         [0013]    The toy character  12  is preferably formed of a fabric material filled with stuffing, a “soft-sculpture” construction having foam material covered with a layer of fabric or other suitable construction. The mouth  20  is movable between a closed position shown in  FIG. 1  and the open position depicted in  FIG. 2 . A strap  22  is preferable affixed to the back of the toy character  12  so that the receptacle  10  may be mounted to a doorknob  24  or the like as shown in phantom in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0014]    The bag  11  is formed of a durable, light-weight, washable and dryable material with a number of apertures  25 , such as nylon mesh or the like. As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the bag  11  has a closed interior  26  except for the top  28  which may be opened and closed by a zipper  30  or other fastening device. The toy character  12  may be affixed and detached from the bag  11  by snaps  32 , buttons, hook and loop fastening elements or any other suitable means of attachment which permits the toy character  12  and bag  11  to detach from one another. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the toy character  10  is mounted to the bag  11  so that the head  18  extends about the open top  28  of the bag  11  and the mouth  20 , when opened, communicates with its interior  26 . 
         [0015]    As schematically shown in  FIG. 4 , the toy character  10  mounts an electrical circuit  34  including a battery  36 , a switch  38 , an integrated circuit  40  and a loudspeaker  42 . The integrated circuit  40 , or, alternatively any other suitable controller, is operative to sound the loudspeaker  42  and may be programmed with a number of messages, as noted below. 
         [0016]    The clothing receptacle  10  operates as follows. The toy character  12  is initially attached to the bag  1  by the snaps  32  with the top  28  of the bag  11  in the open position and the mouth  20  of the character closed. In response to movement of the mouth  20  to the open position, the switch  38  is closed causing the integrated circuit  40  to sound the loudspeaker  42 . A message is produced, such as “I want socks” or “Feed me socks,” to encourage the child to place his or her clothing into the mouth  20  of the toy character  12 . The clothing, depicted as sock(s)  44  in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , passes through the mouth  20  and open top  28  of the bag  11  into its interior  26 . The mouth  20  is then closed. Every time the mouth  20  is opened a message is sounded by the loudspeaker  42 , and as noted above, the messages may vary from one time to another. 
         [0017]    When the bag  11  is filled with clothing, or it is otherwise time to do laundry, the toy character  12  is detached from the bag  11 . The zipper  30  is operated to close the bag  11  and it may then be transported to the laundry room. The bag  11 , with the socks  44  and/or other clothes remaining in its interior  26 , may be placed in the washer and then into the dryer. In this manner, the clothes are kept together throughout the laundering process and can be returned to the child&#39;s room without losing them or mixing them with other clothes. After the clean clothes are put away, the bag  11  is opened and re-attached to the toy character  12  in preparation for use. 
         [0018]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. What is claimed is: