Manual washing machine

A manual clothes-washing device made up of a handle, which is fastened to a washing body, a sheath and a splash cone. The washing body is a generally concave disc with a plurality of apertures connected to a generally cylindrical tube that extends from a central portion of the disc to a tube end threaded for connection with the handle. The sheath is placed over the washing body and connected to the handle. A splash cone attachment fits over the second end of the sheath. Clothes are washed by alternatively plunging and lifting a portion of the device in a mixture of clothes and liquid to suspend the soil from the clothes within the liquid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to devices for washing clothes and more particularly to a non-electric device for washing clothes.

2. Background Information

Clothes washing is an age-old task required by nearly everyone on the planet Earth. In modernized societies, this activity is generally done by electric powered washing machines wherein clothes are added to a tub along with water and detergent. This mixture is then agitated for a period of time. After this period of time has elapsed, the water is removed from the tub, the clothes are rinsed by agitation for another period of time, the rinse water is then removed and the clothes are removed from the tub to dry.

Most modern washing machines require electricity, are large and not easily stored or transported, and are economically unattainable by a substantial portion of the world's population. These factors preclude their use by a variety of persons for a variety of reasons. For example, the size of these devices coupled with their need for electricity makes these devices unusable by persons such as sportsmen, campers, sailors, individuals involved in relief efforts, people living in third world countries, or other areas where electricity is limited. In addition, the size of most traditional modem clothes washing machines makes them unsuitable for use in small spaces or transportable. Furthermore, the cost of a typical modem washing machine may make obtaining such a machine difficult or impossible for individuals in some countries or economic situations to obtain.

The alternative to the use of modem types of washing machines is to manually wash and rinse the clothes. This process involves wetting the clothes, adding an amount of detergent or other cleaning agent, scrubbing or pounding the clothes against a surface such as a rock or a washboard, rinsing the clothes and repeating the process. This process has several disadvantages. First, clothes that are washed utilizing this process wear more quickly because of the wear and pounding that takes place when they are washed by this method. Second, the hands of the person using the washing board often become raw, bruised or sore as the washboard repeatedly contacts the person's hand. Third, this manual method of washing clothes involves lifting, scrubbing and wringing the clothes and can be very tiring to the person who washes the clothes. This results in manual clothes washing being a wet, tiring chore.

Therefore, what is needed is a clothes-washing device that can wash clothes without electricity in a way that limits damage to the clothes and reduces the amount of associated physical labor. What is also needed is a manual clothes-washing device that enables a person to wash clothes utilizing less water than washing clothes by a manual method. What is further needed is a device that accomplishes these features that is transportable and economically accessible to a wide variety of persons.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a non-electric manual washing device that allows the user to wash clothes in a manner that does not significantly damage the clothing being washed and requires less manual effort than washing clothes by traditional methods. An additional object of the invention is to provide such a manual device that is transportable and economically accessible by a wide variety of persons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the broadest form, the device of the invention can be a washing body attached to a handle for up and down agitation of clothes in a container with water and soap.

The clothes-washing device of the invention can further include a handle that is connected to a washing body, a sheath and a splash cone by a connection means. The washing body is made up of a generally concave disc having a plurality of apertures. This disc is connected to a generally cylindrical tube that extends from a central portion of the disc to an end that is threaded for connection with the handle. The apertures are dimensioned so that those apertures closest to the tube are smaller than those apertures that are located farthest away from the tube.

The sheath is generally conically shaped and is configured to be placed over the washing body so that one edge of the sheath is adjacent to the outer circumference of the washing body and the other end circumvolves the handle. To accomplish this, the sheath has a first end larger than its second end and a series of holes which penetrate the sheath wall in positions circumvolvingly located near each of the first and second ends of the sheath. A generally conically shaped splash cone attachment may be fitted over the second end of the sheath. The splash cone has a second end configured to circumvolve the handle and is dimensioned to be generally shorter than the cone shaped sheath.

In use, when the washing body and sheath cone are plunged below the surface of a liquid, the liquid passes through the apertures into a chamber defined by the washing body and the conically shaped sheath. Lifting the device from the water causes the liquid to drop from the chamber through the apertures. Repeatedly plunging the device within a container having a desired amount of water and clothes causes the liquid to flow into and out of the chamber and agitates the liquid. The shape of the washing body and the sheath cone create a vacuum effect and pull the liquid through the clothes. The flow of the liquid in and out through the clothes improves the rate at which the clothes can be cleaned or rinsed, while making the washing process fairly easy for the operator.

When clothes are to be washed, they are added to a container such as a tub or bucket. Liquid such as water is then added to the tub or bucket, and a desired type of soap or detergent may also be added. The invented device is then added to the mixture of clothes, water and detergent and alternatively plunged in and out of the water/clothes mixture. This action agitates the mixture of clothes, detergent and water in a manner that cleans the clothes by alternatively pushing and pulling liquid through the clothes. Over a period of time, this action removes soil from the dirty clothes and suspends the soil in the water. When the clothes have achieved a desired level of cleanliness, they are rinsed, removed from the container, wrung out and dried.

This device provides a non-electric clothes-washing device that can wash clothes without electricity in a way that limits damage to the clothes, requires less physical labor and less water than other non-electric washing methods. The device is also configured so as to be relatively lightweight and transportable from one location to another. This device provides all these advantages and can also be manufactured in a way that allows it to be economically affordable to a variety of persons. Additionally, each of the conical components of the device could be made to lie flat until assembly.

Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIGS. 1–3.

Referring now toFIG. 1, a perspective assembly view of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, a handle12having a first end14extending to a second end16is shown. This handle12is connected by a connection means18to a washing body20that fits within a sheath22which in turn fits within a splash cone24. The washing body20, the sheath22and the splash cone24all connect to the handle12. The washing body12is connected by the connection means18.

While in this embodiment the handle12is shown as having a relatively short length, it is to be understood that the length of the handle may be variously modified to accommodate a variety of different requirements dependent upon the application or the person utilizing the device. For example, the handle may be altered to be taller or shorter depending upon whether or not its use is intended to be by a person who is standing or sitting. The configuration of the handle may also be modified to incorporate a variety of grips and grasping and/or gripping means. Likewise, the size of the device can be varied for use in both large and small containers.

In this embodiment, the means for connection18, which interconnects the handle12and the washing body20, is a threaded connection means. This allows the handle12to be alternatively connected and disconnected from the other portions of the device. While a removable type of connection is used in this embodiment, it is to be understood that the device is intended to also be configured for use with a fixed connection means, such as gluing, friction fitting, molding, as well as other conventional forms of adjustable connection. Thus, any means or device which accomplishes the task of maintaining a connection between the handle12and the washing body20may be used. This connection between the handle12and the washing body20also acts to hold the sheath22and the splash cone24in place relative to each other.

The washing body20has a generally concave disc shaped strainer26with a plurality of apertures28defined within it. These apertures28are preferably dimensioned so that those apertures28located nearest to the handle12or the central tube30are smaller than those apertures28located away from this central tube30. The tube30is used in conjunction with the handle and extends from a generally centrally located portion of the strainer26to a tube end (shown inFIG. 2). This tube end is configured to connect with the handle12through the connection means18. While in this embodiment the washing body strainer26is a generally concave shaped disc, it is to be understood that any shape may also be used for the strainer26, the sheath22or the splash cone24as long as these pieces20,22,24are configured to interconnect and to perform the desired functions. The shape of the strainer26assists in cooperation with the sheath22to pull liquid into a chamber50formed by the sheath22and the strainer portion26of the washing body20.

The sheath22is configured to connect about the handle12and fits over the washing body20. This combination of the sheath22and the washing body20defines a chamber50. The sheath22has a first end34, which is dimensioned to be generally larger than the second end (shown inFIG. 2) A sheath wall44interconnects the first end34and the second end (not shown) of the sheath. The sheath wall44extends from the first sheath end34preferably at an angle of about 60° and has a series of holes38located near each of the first34and second ends (shown inFIG. 2) The shape of the washing body20and the sheath22provide a form of suctioning power that forces liquid into the chamber50through the apertures28of the strainer26when the device is plunged into a liquid. The holes38located near the second end36of the sheath allow for passage of air into and out of the chamber50and facilitates a rapid filling of the chamber50with liquid.

A splash cone24is adapted to interfit with the handle12and to cover the holes38located near the top end of the sheath22(shown inFIG. 2). This sheath cone24has a first end40extending to a second end42along a wall46. This splash cone24is configured to control the splashing of water and material out of the chamber50through the holes38located near the second end of the sheath cone36. If the level of the liquid within the chamber50rises to the height of the holes located near the second end of the sheath cone22, the splash cone24directs the liquid as it leaves the chamber50through the holes38downward along the sheath22.

Referring now toFIG. 2, a cutaway side view of an assembled device10is shown. In this figure, the washing body20, the sheath22and the splash cone24are all connected to the tube30which is connected to the handle12. The second end32of the tube30is configured for connection with the connection means18. The washing body20and the tube30are covered by a generally conically shaped sheath22, which has a first end34extending to a second end36along a wall44. The second end36of the sheath22is configured to connect around the handle12. The sheath22and the washing body20define a chamber50, which fills with liquid when the device10is submerged or partially submerged within a liquid. The sheath22is held in a desired position over the washing body20by the connection between the handle12and the washing body20provided through the connection means18and the tube end32.

The second end36of the sheath22is covered by a splash cone24. The splash cone24has a first end40extending to a second end42along a wall46. The splash cone24is connected about the handle12near its second end42. In this embodiment, the wall of the splash cone46is configured to be shorter than the wall of the sheath portion44. While in this embodiment the splash cone24is configured to be shorter than the sheath22, it is to be distinctly understood that this is an illustrative demonstration only and that the length of the splash cone24may be variously embodied to meet the necessities or desires of the user.

The connection means18attaches the handle12to the tube end32of the washing body20. This connection maintains the sheath22and the splash cone24in a desired position and allows the device10to be alternatively lifted and lowered by the handle12. While in this embodiment all of the pieces connect around the tube30and handle12, it is to be distinctly understood that there are other methods for connecting these pieces together and are also contemplated by this invention.

Referring now toFIG. 3, a bottom view of the invention is shown wherein the disc shaped strainer26of the washing body20is shown. While in this embodiment these apertures28are shown to be generally oval shaped, it is to be understood that the apertures may be any shape including square, circular, etc. Likewise, while in this embodiment the apertures28are dimensioned so that those apertures28located nearest to the central portion of the disc26are smaller than those apertures situated more distant from the center, it is to be understood that the size, shape and configuration of the apertures may be variously embodied to meet the needs of the user.

Referring back toFIG. 2, in use, the washing body20and sheath22are plunged below the surface of a liquid. Upon initial submersion, liquid is forced through the apertures28within the strainer portion26of the washing body20into the chamber50defined by the washing body20and the conically shaped sheath22. If sufficient downward pressure is placed upon the handle12, the chamber50of the device is pushed further into the liquid and liquid rises within the chamber50up towards the handle12. The holes38located near the second end36of the sheath22assist in allowing air to pass out of the chamber50and allow this escaping air to be replaced with liquid. When the liquid within the chamber50reaches the height of the top holes38of the sheath22, this liquid leaves the chamber50through the holes38and is directed downward away from the handle12by the splash cone24.

When the device10is submersed or partially submersed in a body of liquid, it is then raised by the handle12and the liquid within the chamber50exits the chamber through the apertures28and the holes39surrounding the larger first end34of the sheath22. The holes38located near the second end36of the sheath allow air to enter the chamber50and assist to push the liquid out of the chamber through the apertures28. By alternatively raising and lowering the device10within the liquid, liquid enters and exits the chamber50through the apertures28. This action drives water through the clothing, causing the soil in the clothing to be suspended in the liquid. Repeated lifting and lowering of the device10suspends a majority of the soil in the liquid and cleans the clothes.

This device10can be utilized as a part of a process for washing clothes. In this process, the clothes that are to be washed are added to a container such as a tub or bucket. An amount of liquid, usually water, together with a cleaning agent such as a detergent is then added to the tub or bucket. The exact amount of liquid to be added is dependent upon the exact necessities of the user but an effective amount usually is present when about four inches of water are present within the tub or container. The device is then placed within the mixture of clothes, water and cleaning agent and alternatively lifted and lowered for a period of time. This alternative lifting and lowering action drives water through the clothes and cleans the clothes by releasing soil from the dirty clothes into the water. When the clothes have achieved a desired level of cleanliness, they may be washed in a repeat cycle or rinsed, removed from the container, wrung out and dried.

While in this description the clothes are added first to the tub or container, then the liquid and then the cleaning device, it is to be understood that these steps may be taken in any order depending upon the necessities and preferences of the user of the device.

This device provides a non-electric way of washing clothes in a way that limits damage to the clothes and requires less physical labor and less water than most traditional handwashing methods. This device is also designed in such a way so as to provide these advantages in a way that enables them to be economically affordable to a wide variety of persons.

While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.