Abstract:
The invention is a product that allows one to determine precisely how many times a particular garment has been worn. By removing the guesswork from the “wash-or-wear equation,” the consumer knows the garment is sufficiently clean, and will generally be able to extend the wearing of the garment between cleanings. Use of the invention will result in the conservation of resources in terms of reduced consumption of water, energy, detergent/softeners, and dry cleaning services; it will also increase the life span of garments as well as cleaning/drying appliances.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to an apparatus for use with garments to track wear and to reduce the frequency of cleanings. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Often consumers go to their closets and are unsure as to the cleanliness of certain garments. Unable to recall how often the garment has been worn the consumer will tend to under utilize and over wash the garment. What is needed is a convenient device that serves as a “Good Steward” that promotes improved garment utilization and the conservation of resources as it relates to garments that can be worn multiple times before being cleaned. Garments for which this system is applicable include formal garments such as suites and dresses, garments worn for a short period of time, and garments worn in cool climates. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention is a product that allows one to determine precisely how many times a particular garment has been worn. Optional features can include indicators for the last day of use in a week. By removing the guesswork from the “wash-or-wear equation,” the consumer knows the garment is sufficiently clean, and will generally be able to extend the wearing of the garment between cleanings. Use of the invention will result in the conservation of resources in terms of reduced consumption of water, energy, detergent/softeners, and dry cleaning services; it will also increase the life span of garments as well as cleaning/drying appliances. 
         [0004]    In one embodiment, the product comprises a card or planar surface member that can be made from a plastic stock or a paper stock or similar material, with an optionally attached closed lanyard loop at the top, a strip of material formed as a string lanyard or a ribbon like or generally flat lanyard, and an optional clear plastic protective sheathing. Connected to the top of the card is a loop which is sized and configured to slip over the top of any size clothes hanger. The loop can be formed from the same material forming the strip and be made from the same continuous length of material. The strip coming down from the loop and/or near the top edge of the member and continues through an opening or aperture on top back of the card. The strip then runs down the face of the card and exits through an opening or aperture on the bottom front side of the card; and the strip extends a sufficient length such as a few inches below the bottom of the card so that a person may hold onto the depending portion to raise the card back to the initial start position or a person can slide the card down along the extended strip as the garment is worn. 
         [0005]    The card and strip material may optionally be substantially surrounded by a taut thin plastic sheathing, which may be open on the top and bottom of the card or have appropriate apertures for attachment points and passing through the lanyard. This keeps the lanyard material taut, which is especially helpful for use with garments in drawers or shelves. 
         [0006]    There are a number of spaced apart horizontal lines on the front face of the card. For example, there may be seven lines indicative or representative of the seven days in a week. Alternative length lines may also be used, that is, the length of each line may vary. For example, if there are seven spaced apart lines, then four may be full length lines and three may be shorter lines. At the bottom of the card below or adjacent to the first line, there is an indicia indicative of the garment being clean. It could be text such as “I′M CLEAN” imprinted on the card or it could be a symbol or both text and a symbol. Above the top line or adjacent the top line, there is an indicia indicative of the garment having sufficient use to be sent to the cleaners or washed. It could be text such as “WASH ME” or “CLEAN ME” imprinted on the card or it could be a symbol or both text and a symbol. 
         [0007]    The strip material when formed as a generally flat material such as a ribbon like material that runs through the card should have a clearly visible mark that by default is set and reset at the bottom of the card. A slight pulling down on the card results in the effect of the mark moving up. As the mark moves up it crosses the horizontal line which will register how often the garment has been worn or the last day of the week it was worn. 
         [0008]    As an example of how the invention would work, when a newly cleaned garment is placed on a hanger, the mark is set on “I′M CLEAN”. Each time the worn garment is returned to the hanger, the consumer pulls slightly downward on the card to register this use. The downward movement of the card has the effect of the mark on the strip of ribbon like material or flat lanyard moving up one line closer to the “WASH ME” setting (on the top front of the card). When the mark reaches, “WASH ME”, the garment is removed from the hanger for cleaning. 
         [0009]    The product, which stays on the hanger, is reset by holding the card in one hand and the strip of ribbon like material or flat lanyard in the other hand and pushing the card all the way up the strip of ribbon like material or flat lanyard until the mark is set to “I′M CLEAN.” 
         [0010]    The invention can also be used with clothing and textiles that are folded and are horizontally stored or shelved such as sweaters and tablecloths. The consumer would use both hands to operate invention. The invention could be placed underneath or in between the folded garment or textile. 
         [0011]    In making the invention, the strip of ribbon like material or flat lanyard texture and card opening could be configured to effect a sensation of resistance and release associated with pulling down on the card as one passes each horizontal line on the card. In addition, it is contemplated that where some closets or bureau draws are not well lighted, day-glow type color coating on the mark of the strip of ribbon like material or flat lanyard and the horizontal lines of the card can be provided. 
         [0012]    One way to provide for the effect of resistance is to include features on the strip of ribbon like material of flat lanyard that has regularly spaced “raises” on the strip of ribbon like material or flat lanyard, and/or regularly spaced variation to the thickness or width of the strip of ribbon like material or flat lanyard, when passing though the holes at the top and/or the bottom of the card will result in a moderate sensation of stop and go as one pulls down on the card. 
         [0013]    The above invention can also be covered by a film of plastic to better protect the invention. 
         [0014]    In still another embodiment similar to that described above, the lanyard extends through the upper aperture of the card and extends along the back side of the card and out the lower aperture to the front of the card. There is a pivotable arm having two parallel members saddling the card  12  and joined at an apex  30   c  that is pivotably attached near a side edge of the card  12  near the middle of a vertical length of the card  12 . The back side arm, typically near the tip of the arm, is attached at an intermediate location along the lanyard portion running down the back side of the card. As the card is pulled down, the arms move up and vice-versa. The arm on the front face of the card points to the indicia on the card similar to the indicia described in the aforementioned embodiment above. The indicia can be optionally located to form a half-moon dial face if desired. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment similar to those described above, the garment clean indicator comprises a planar member, with a loop formed from a lanyard attached near the upper edge of the planar member. The formed loop is for use in hanging the device from a hanger; an arm being pivotable attached to the planar member and manually operable; and as above, the planar member has garment worn indicia thereon representative of number of times a garment associated with the garment clean indicator has been worn, has garment cleaning needed indicia near the top edge representatively communicating to a user that said associated garment is ready to be cleaned and further has cleaned garment indicia near the bottom edge representatively communicating to the user that the associated garment is clean and ready for wear. The pivotable arm serves as a means for indicating a wear status of the garment by being manually turned to point to a desired indicia. 
         [0016]    If a protective plastic sheathing is used, the manual operation of the pivoting arm is simply done by manually moving the small segment of the arm on the other side of the pivot point from a segment opening in the side of the protective sheathing. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the garment clean indicator comprises a planar member having a loop formed from a lanyard attached near an upper edge of the planar member for use in hanging said device from a hangar. The planar member has a notched portion along an intermediate side edge location of said planar member. A circular dial face overlies a front side surface of the planar member and rotably attaches at a center of the dial face to the planar member. The dial face is manually operable by rotating it. The dial face has garment worn indicia thereon representative of number of times a garment associated with the garment clean indicator has been worn, has garment cleaning needed indicia representatively communicating to a user that the associated garment is ready to be cleaned and further has cleaned garment indicia representatively communicating to the user that the associated garment is clean and ready for wear. The rotatable dial face serves as a means for indicating a wear status of the garment by being manually turned to point a desired indicia toward a reference mark. The dial face may be configured to underlie the card and in that case the dial face can be manually rotated to allow for a visual observation of a desired indicia in a window or notched area. 
         [0018]    If a protective plastic sheathing is used, the manual operation of the pivoting dial face is simply done by manually moving the outer edge of the dial face extending within the area of the notched portion and having that extended part of the dial face protrude somewhat through an opening in the side of the protective sheathing. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment, the card is stationary and the lanyard or ribbon is a continuous loop ribbon that is snaked through the upper and lower apertures of the card with an reference mark on the lanyard of ribbon that aligns with the appropriate indicia. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    In the accompanying drawings: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1A  is a front view of one example of the present invention in use with an associated garment and hanger; 
           [0022]      FIG. 1B  is a depiction of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1A  with the mark indicating three uses or last used on the third day of the week; 
           [0023]      FIG. 1C  is a depiction of the back side of the embodiment of  FIG. 1B ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 1D  is a depiction of an example of providing spaced-apart raised or thickened portions on the lanyard; 
           [0025]      FIG. 1E  is a depiction of another example of providing spaced-apart raised or thickened portions on the lanyard; 
           [0026]      FIG. 1F  is a depiction of an example of providing variable width portions on the lanyard; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2A  is a depiction by way of example only of another embodiment of the invention using a dial in mechanical communication with the string and further showing an already worn indication; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2B  is a depiction of the back side of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2C  is a depiction of  FIG. 2A  showing an indication that the garment has been worn four more times or at a later day of the week; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2D  is a depiction of the back side of the  FIG. 2C ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3A  is a depiction by way of example only of another embodiment of the invention using an arm that is pivotably operated manually to point to designated indicia; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3B  is a depiction of the back side of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4A  is a depiction by way of example only of another embodiment of the invention using a rotatable dial face overlying the front face of the underlying card; 
           [0034]      FIG. 4B  is a depiction of the back side of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 5A  is a depiction by way of example only of another embodiment of the invention using a rotatable dial face similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 4A  except the dial face now is in an underlying relationship to the card; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5B  is a depiction of the back side of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6A  is a depiction by way of example only of another embodiment of the invention that is the reverse of the  FIG. 1A  invention in that the card is stationary and the lanyard or ribbon is snaked through the upper and lower apertures on the card and the front and back portions of the ribbon are pulled as appropriate; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 6B  is a depiction of the back side of  FIG. 6A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0039]    Referring now to the accompanying drawings that disclose various embodiments of the present invention, which is a garment clean indicator. 
         [0040]    In the first embodiment generally depicted as representative or example only in  FIGS. 1A-1F , the product or invention comprises a card or planar surface member  12  that can be made from a plastic stock or a paper stock or similar material, with an optional attached closed lanyard loop portion  14  at the top, and a lanyard strip  16  of material formed as a string lanyard  16   a  (like that shown in  FIGS. 2A-2D ) or a ribbon like or generally flat lanyard  16   b . An optional clear plastic protective sheathing (not shown) may be included to protect the invention. Loop  14  can be formed at the top of the card  12 . Loop  14  is sized and configured to slip over the top of any size clothes hanger  20 . Loop  14  can be formed from the same material forming the strip and be made from the same continuous length of material. The strip  16  coming down from the loop  14  or near the loop  14  continues through an opening  12   a  on top of the card  12  and runs down the face of the card  12  and exits through an opening  12   b  on the bottom front side of the card  12 . Strip  16  extends a sufficient length such as a few inches below the bottom of the card  12  so that a person may hold onto the depending portion  16   c  to raise the card  12  back to the initial start position or a person can slide the card  12  down along the extended strip  16   c  as the garment  18  is worn. 
         [0041]    As mentioned above, the card and strip material may optionally be substantially surrounded by a taut thin plastic sheathing, which may be open on the top and bottom of the card  12  or have appropriate apertures for attachment points and lanyard pass-throughs. This keeps the lanyard  16  material taut, which is especially helpful for use with garments  18  in drawers or shelves. 
         [0042]    There are a number of spaced apart horizontal lines  22  on the front face of the card  12  that represent garment worn indicia. For example, there may be seven lines  22  indicative or representative of the seven days in a week. Alternative length lines may also be used, that is, the length of each line may vary. For example, if there are seven spaced apart lines  22 , then four may be full length lines  22   a  and three may be shorter lines  22   b . At the bottom of the card  12  below or adjacent to the first line  22 , there is an indicia indicative of the garment  18  being clean or “garment clean” indicia  24 . It could be text such as “I′M CLEAN” imprinted on the card or it could be a symbol or both text and a symbol. Above the top line  22  or adjacent the top line  22 , there is an indicia indicative of the garment having sufficient use to be sent to the cleaners or washed or “garment cleaning needed” indicia  26 . It could be text such as “WASH ME” or “CLEAN ME” imprinted on the card or it could be a symbol or both text and a symbol. The lines  22  can be representative of the number of times a garment  18  has been worn or indicative of the last day worn. 
         [0043]    The strip material when formed as a generally flat material such as a ribbon like material that runs through the card should have a clearly visible mark  28  like a Dot (shown in the drawings by example only), Arrow Symbol, or Horizontal Line, or any such similar equivalent indicator marking that by default is set and reset at the bottom of the card  12 . Mark  28  serves as means for indicating the wear status of the associated garment. A slight pulling down on the card  12  results in the effect of the mark  28  moving up. As the mark  28  moves up it crosses one of the horizontal lines  22  which will register how often the garment has been worn or the last day of the week it was worn. 
         [0044]    As an example of how the invention would work when a newly cleaned garment  18  is placed on a hanger  20 , the mark is set on “I′M CLEAN”. Each time the worn garment  18  is returned to the hanger  20 , the consumer pulls slightly downward on the card  12  to register this use. The downward movement of the card has the effect of the mark  28  on the strip  16  of ribbon like material or flat lanyard moving up one line closer to the “WASH ME” setting (on the top front of the card  12 ). When the mark  28  reaches, “WASH ME”, the garment is removed from the hanger  20  for cleaning. 
         [0045]    The product, which stays on the hanger  20 , is reset by holding the card  12  in one hand and the strip  16   c  of ribbon like material or flat lanyard in the other hand and pushing the card  12  all the way up the strip  16   b  of ribbon like material or flat lanyard until the mark is set to “I′M CLEAN.” 
         [0046]    The invention can also be used with clothing and textiles that are folded and horizontally stored or shelved such as sweaters and tablecloths. The consumer would use both hands to operate invention. The invention could be placed underneath or in between the folded garment  18 . 
         [0047]    In making the invention, the strip  16   b  of ribbon like material or flat lanyard texture and card opening could be configured to effect a sensation of resistance and release associated with pulling down on the card as one passes each or some of the horizontal line  22  on the card  12 . In addition, it is contemplated that where some closets or bureau draws are not well lighted, day-glow type color coating on the mark  28  of the strip  16   b  of ribbon like material or flat lanyard and the horizontal lines  22  of the card can be provided. 
         [0048]    One way to provide for the effect of resistance is to include features on the strip  16   b  of ribbon like material of flat lanyard that has regularly spaced “raises” or raised or thickened portions  16   d  on the strip  16   b  of ribbon like material or flat lanyard, or variable width portions  16   e  of the strip  16   b  of ribbon like material or flat lanyard, when passing though the opening at the top of the card  12  will result in a moderate sensation of stop and go as one pulls down on the card  12 . 
         [0049]    The above embodiment can also be covered by a film of plastic protective sheathing to better protect the invention. 
         [0050]    In still another embodiment similar to that the described above and representatively depicted by way of example only in  FIGS. 2A-2D , the lanyard  16 , which typically is in the form of a string  16   a , extends from near the top of the card  12 , through the upper hole  12   a  and extends along the back side of the card  12  and out the lower aperture  12   b  to the front of the card. There is a pivotable arm  30  having two parallel members saddling the card  12  and joined at an apex  30   c  that is pivotably attached near a side edge of the card  12  near the middle of a vertical length of the card  12 . The member  30  saddles the card  12  with one arm  30   a , 30   b  on each side of the card  12 . The back side arm  30   a , typically near the tip of the arm  30   a , is attached at an intermediate location along the lanyard portion  16   a  running down the back side of the card  12 . As the card  12  is pulled down, the arms  30   a ,  30   b  move up and vice-versa. The arm  30   b  on the front face of the card  12  points to the indicia  22 ,  24 ,  26  on the card  12  similar to the indicia described in the aforementioned embodiment above. The indicia  22 ,  24 ,  26  can be optionally located to form a half-moon dial face if desired. 
         [0051]    In another embodiment similar to those described above and generally depicted by example only in  FIGS. 3A-3B , the garment clean indicator comprises a planar member  12 , with a loop  14  formed from a lanyard attached near an upper edge of the planar member  12 . The formed loop  14  is for use in hanging the device from a hanger  20 ; an arm  32  being pivotable attached to the planar member  12  and manually operable; and as above, the planar member  12  has garment worn indicia  22  thereon representative of number of times a garment  18  associated with the garment clean indicator has been worn, has garment cleaning needed indicia  26  near the top edge representatively communicating to a user that said associated garment  18  is ready to be cleaned and further has cleaned garment indicia  24  near the bottom edge representatively communicating to the user that the associated garment  18  is clean and ready for wear. The pivotable arm  32  serves as a means for indicating a wear status of the garment by being manually turned to point to a desired indicia  22 , 24 , 26 . The arm  32  is attached to the card  12  in such a way that there is sufficient compression to ensure that it remains in a designated position. A notched portion  34  of the card can optionally be provided with a small segment of the arm  32  extending beyond the arm pivot point extending into the notched area and the arm  32  could then be manipulated by rotating the end of the arm  32  extending into the notched area. If a protective plastic sheathing (not shown) is used, the manual operation of the pivoting arm  32  is simply done by manually moving the small segment of the arm  32  on the other side of the pivot point from a segment opening in the side of the protective sheathing. 
         [0052]    In another embodiment of the present invention generally depicted by way of examples only in  FIGS. 4A-4B  and a similar reversed arrangement of this embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 5A-5B , the garment clean indicator comprises a planar member  12  having a loop  14  formed from a lanyard attached near an upper edge of the planar member  12  for use in hanging the device from a hanger  20 . The planar member has a notched portion  34  along an intermediate side edge location of the planar member  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B , a circular dial face  36  overlies a front side surface of the planar member  12  and rotatably attaches at a center of the dial face  36  to the planar member  12 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 5A-5B , the dial face  36  may be in an underlying relationship to the planar member  12 . The dial face  36  is manually operable by rotating it. The dial face has garment worn indicia  22  thereon representative of number of times a garment associated with the garment clean indicator has been worn, has garment cleaning needed indicia  26  representatively communicating to a user that the associated garment is ready to be cleaned and further has cleaned garment indicia  24  representatively communicating to the user that the associated garment is clean and ready for wear. The pivotable dial face  36  serves as a means for indicating a wear status of the garment by being manually turned to point a desired indicia  22 , 24 , 26  toward the notched portion  34 . In the  FIGS. 5A-5B  embodiment, the indicia  22 , 24 , 26  can be visible in the window area created by the notch portion  34  or cut out window  38 . 
         [0053]    If a protective plastic sheathing (not shown) is used, the manual operation of the pivoting dial face  36  is simply done by manually moving the outer edge of the dial face  36  extending within the area of the notched portion  34  and having that extended part of the dial face  36  protrude somewhat through an opening in the side of the protective sheathing. 
         [0054]    In still another embodiment depicted representationally by way of example only in  FIGS. 6A-6B , is a depiction of an invention that operates in a reverse way to that of the invention of  FIG. 1A  in that the card  12  is stationary and the lanyard or ribbon  16  is snaked through the upper and lower apertures  12   a , 12   b  on the card  12  in a continuous loop configuration. The front and back portions of the lanyard or ribbon  16  are pulled as appropriate to align a reference mark  28  with the desired indicia  22 , 24 , 26 . Although not shown in  FIGS. 6A-6B , it is understood that the features depicted in  FIGS. 1D-1F  may be incorporated with the invention of  FIGS. 6A-6B , in particular, the spaced-apart raised or thickened portions  16   d  on the surface of the generally flat surface portion or spaced-apart width variations in thickness  16   e  of the generally flat surface portion, wherein as the lanyard  16  is pulled and the generally flat surface portion passes through the upper and lower apertures  12   a , 12   b , a sensation of stop and go is achieved. 
         [0055]    All of the above embodiments can also be covered by a film of plastic protective sheathing to better protect the invention. 
         [0056]    It should be understood that the preceding is merely a detailed description of one or more embodiments of this invention and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.