Front-loading laundry basket

The front-loading laundry basket is adapted for use with a front-loading washing machine. The front-loading laundry basket is adapted for use with a dryer. The front-loading laundry basket is adapted for use with a laundry basket. The front-loading washing machine is further defined with a first circular door. The front-loading dryer is further defined with a second circular door. The front-loading laundry basket is an accessory that attaches the laundry basket to a circular door selected from the group consisting of the first circular door or the second circular door. The front-loading laundry basket comprises a laundry basket and a bracket. The bracket attaches the laundry basket to the circular door selected from the group consisting of the first circular door or the second circular door.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

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REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of laundering systems and other arrangements of apparatus for textiles, more specifically, a basket or bag adapted for holding or transporting laundry.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The front-loading laundry basket is adapted for use with a front-loading washing machine. The front-loading laundry basket is adapted for use with a dryer. The front-loading laundry basket is adapted for use with a laundry basket. The front-loading washing machine is further defined with a first circular door. The front-loading dryer is further defined with a second circular door. The front-loading laundry basket is an accessory that attaches the laundry basket to a circular door selected from the group consisting of the first circular door or the second circular door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

The front-loading laundry basket100(hereinafter invention) comprises a laundry basket101and a bracket102. The bracket102attaches the laundry basket101to the circular door132selected from the group consisting of the first circular door163or the second circular door164. The invention100is adapted for use with a front-loading washing machine161. The invention100is adapted for use with a front-loading dryer162. The front-loading washing machine161is further defined with a first circular door163. The front-loading dryer162is further defined with a second circular door164. The bracket102attaches the laundry basket101to a circular door132selected from the group consisting of the first circular door163or the second circular door164.

The specification and claims of this disclosure will hereinafter implicitly assume the first circular door163of the front-loading washing machine161and the second circular door164of the front-loading dryer162are identical. This is done for the purposes of simplicity and for clarity of exposition of the disclosure is not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the innovations described in this disclosure can be readily modified to accommodate differences in size or shape between the first circular door163and the second circular door164with a minimum of modification and experimentation. Throughout the disclosure, the use of the term “circular door”132will be used to refer to either the first circular door163or the second circular door164. For similar reasons, the use of the term machine131will be used to refer to either the front-loading washing machine161or the front-loading dryer162.

The bracket102comprises a brace110, a first clip111, a second clip112, and a plurality of net hooks113. The first clip111, the second clip112, and the plurality of net hooks113are attached to the brace110. The brace110is further defined with a first end141, a second end142, a first surface143, and a second surface144. The brace110is a curved panel that is formed in a Euclidian plane. The curvature of the brace110is a circular arc133. The radius of circle that forms the circular arc133is selected such that: 1) the outer radius135of the circular arc133is greater than the radius of the circle that forms the circular door132; and, 2) the inner radius134of the circular arc133is equal to or greater than the radius of the circle that forms the circular door132.

The first clip111is an L shaped structure that attaches to the brace110. The first clip111is further defined with a first edge151and a second edge152. The first edge151of the first clip111attaches to the inner radius134at the first end141. The first clip111projects away from the first surface143in a direction away from the second surface144. The curvature of the first clip111is such that the first clip111will match the curvature of the brace110to form a smooth surface. As shown most clearly inFIG. 3, the first clip111forms a hook136that is placed over the circumference165of the circular door132such that the bracket102will hang from the circular door132.

The second clip112is an L shaped structure that attaches to the brace110. The second clip112is further defined with a third edge153and a fourth edge154. The third edge153of the second clip112attaches to the inner radius134at the second end142. The second clip112projects away from the first surface143in a direction away from the second surface144. The curvature of the second clip112is such that the second clip112will match the curvature of the brace110to form a smooth surface. As shown most clearly inFIG. 3, the second clip112forms a hook136that is placed over the circumference165of the circular door132such that the bracket102will hang from the circular door132.

The plurality of net hooks113is a collection of hooks that are used to attach the laundry basket101to the bracket102. Each of the plurality of net hooks113is adapted to capture a loop selected from the plurality of mesh surfaces122. Specifically, a loop from the plurality of mesh surfaces122is looped around the plurality of net hooks113such that the laundry basket101is attached and supported by the bracket102when the bracket102is suspended from the circular door132.

The laundry basket101further comprises a plurality of mesh surfaces122and a frame123. The plurality of mesh surfaces122is formed from one or more mesh textiles. The plurality of mesh surfaces122are attached to a frame123. The frame123supports the plurality of mesh surfaces122such that a container suitable for holding apparel and textiles is formed. Laundry baskets101such as those described in the previous three sentences are readily and commercially available. It is preferred that the container formed by the laundry basket101be cylindrical in shape.

In a second potential embodiment of the disclosure, the frame123further comprises spring-like properties that allows the laundry basket101to be collapsed into a flat structure for storage. Laundry baskets101such as those described in the previous sentence are readily and commercially available and commonly marketed as pop-up laundry baskets or pop-up laundry hampers.

In a third potential embodiment of the disclosure, each of the one or more mesh textiles are formed from yarns171formed from one or more synthetic polymer fibers. Suitable fibers include, but are not limited to, polyester, polypropylene, or nylon. The use of a monofilament yarn171would be preferred for water resistance purposes.

In a fourth potential embodiment of the disclosure, each of the one or more mesh textiles is treated with an antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of: 1) a impregnation of the polymer that forms the yarns171that form the one or more mesh textiles with silver nanoparticles; 2) the application of 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-phenol to the one or more textile meshes as a textile finish; or 3) the application of a quaternary ammonium based chemical to the one or more textile meshes as a textile finish.

In a fifth potential embodiment of the disclosure, each of the one or more mesh textiles is treated with perfluorobutanesulfonic acid to enhance water resistance of the yarns171comprising the one or more mesh textiles.

In a sixth potential embodiment of the disclosure, the laundry basket101is attached to a readily and commercially available dolly121that allows the laundry basket101to be readily transported between the washing machine161and the dryer162.

To use the invention100, the plurality of mesh surfaces122are looped around the plurality of net hooks113to attach the laundry basket101to the bracket102. The bracket102is then hung from the circumference165of the circular door132of the machine131by hooking the first clip111and the second clip112around the circumference165of the circular door132. The laundry basket101is then used normally.

In the first potential embodiment of the disclosure, the bracket102is formed as a single unit from molded plastic. Suitable plastics include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinylchloride.

The following definitions were used in this disclosure:

5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-phenol: As used in this disclosure, 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-phenol (CAS 3380-34-5) is an antifungal and antibiotic agent that is commonly used in consumer products. 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-phenol is commonly referred to as triclosan.

Colloidal Silver: As used in this disclosure, colloidal silver is a colloidal suspension of silver particles that are dissolved or dispersed in water. This definition does not preclude other materials that may dissolved or otherwise dispersed in the water with the colloidal silver.

Dolly: As used in this disclosure, a dolly refers to a mobile platform, generally mounted on casters, that is used to move a load or an object.

Fiber: As used in this disclosure, a fiber is a slender elongated structure.

Hook: As used in this disclosure, a hook is an object that is curved or bent at an angle such that items can be hung on or caught by the object.

Loop: As used in this disclosure, a loop is the length of a first linear structure including, but not limited to, lines, cords, or ribbons, that is: 1) folded over and joined at the ends forming an enclosed space; or, 2) curved to form a closed or nearly closed space within the first linear structure. In both cases, the space formed within the first linear structure is such that a second linear structure such as a line, cord or a hook can be inserted through the space formed within the first linear structure. Within this disclosure, the first linear structure is said to be looped around the second linear structure.

Mesh: As used in this disclosure, the term mesh refers to an openwork fabric made from threads, yarns, cords, wires, or lines that are woven, knotted, or otherwise twisted or intertwined at regular intervals. Synonyms for mesh include net.

Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid: As used in this disclosure, perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (CAS 375-73-5) is a surfactant, technically a fluorosurfactant, which is commonly applied to a textile as a water repellant.

Quaternary Ammonium: As used in this disclosure, quaternary ammonium is a positively charged molecule (cation) with a chemical structure NR4+. Unless otherwise stated, the R is assumed to be alkyl or aryl group molecule.

Spring: As used in this disclosure, a spring is a device that is used to store mechanical energy. This mechanical energy will often be stored by: 1) deforming an elastomeric material that is used to make the device; 2) the application of a torque to a rigid structure; or 3) a combination of the previous two items.

Textile: As used in this disclosure, a textile is a material that is woven, knitted, braided or felted. Synonyms in common usage for this definition include fabric and cloth.

Yarn: As used in this disclosure, a yarn is continuous strand of textile fibers and filaments. Yarns are generally used in the production of fabrics. For the purposes of this disclosure, this definition explicitly includes yarns formed from a single filament such as a monofilament yarn.