Abstract:
A basket for carrying an item, the basket comprising:
       a proximal panel having a top portion and a bottom portion, a distal panel having a top portion and a bottom portion, two side panels extending between the proximal panel and the distal panel and each side panel having a top portion and a bottom portion, and a bottom panel connecting the proximal panel, distal panel and side panels together at their bottom portions;   wherein the side panels are longer than the distal panel and the proximal panel;   wherein each of the two side panels comprise a handle; and   wherein the proximal panel comprises a concave surface.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This patent application claims benefit of pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/529,958, filed Sep. 01, 2011 by Craig Souza for ERGO-SLING[TM] LAUNDRY BASKET (Attorney&#39;s Docket No. SOUZA-2 PROV), which patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to household goods in general, and more particularly to an improved ergonomic laundry basket. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Carrying laundry around a single family home, multi-unit dwelling or to and from a Laundromat is a common task. Many variations of conventional laundry baskets have been developed to assist with this task, yet most remain subject to several shortcomings. In particular, conventional laundry baskets can become very heavy and cumbersome to carry when loaded with laundry, and consequently are often difficult to grasp, lift and hold. Accordingly, a user must often exert a significant amount of effort to lift and hold a loaded laundry basket, and the exertion of that effort can sometimes lead to muscle strain or other bodily injury. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a novel improved laundry basket which is easier to grasp, lift and hold so as to reduce the amount of effort required to carry a laundry basket and to reduce the chance of muscle strain or injury. 
         [0005]    An additional problem associated with prior art laundry baskets is that they can be difficult to maneuver through doorways and other narrow spaces as a result of the design and/or configuration of the basket and the position of the handles thereon. 
         [0006]    Looking now at  FIGS. 1-4 , there are shown four conventional laundry baskets  5 . Maneuvering through a doorway while carrying conventional laundry baskets  5  presents a particular challenge for many people. The problem commonly occurs because conventional laundry baskets are typically designed with handles  10  at or near the extremities of the longest dimension  15  of the basket, which is typically configured to be substantially wider than the carrier&#39;s torso. Accordingly, a person carrying a conventional laundry basket must place his or her hands well outboard of his or her torso. In many cases, however, a doorway through which the carrier desires to pass is not wide enough to accommodate the longest dimension of the laundry basket, let alone wide enough to accommodate the conventional laundry basket and the added width of the carrier&#39;s hands and forearms that are disposed outboard of the widest dimension of the basket. 
         [0007]    As a result, the carrier of a conventional laundry basket will often be forced to shift his or her grip on the laundry basket from his or her preferred position or will be forced to turn sideways or otherwise contort his or her body in order to pass through the doorway. Neither of these alternatives is particularly attractive, as they can cause the carrier to either drop the basket or assume a less natural carrying position leading to additional strain and potential injury. Shifting one&#39;s grip on the basket or turning sideways may also distract the carrier, which can create a potentially dangerous situation as such movements are often undertaken at a doorway in close proximity to a staircase (e.g., at a doorway to a staircase leading to a basement laundry facility). 
         [0008]    Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide an improved laundry basket that is more easily maneuvered from location to location, and particularly, through doorways. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    These and other objects of the present invention are addressed by the provision and use of a novel ergonomic laundry basket, also sometimes called the Ergo-Sling™ laundry basket. The Ergo-Sling™ laundry basket includes specially designed handles and a contoured panel configured to rest against a user&#39;s body to allow a user to more easily lift, hold and carry the Ergo-Sling™ laundry basket. The Ergo-Sling™ laundry basket is also specially configured to make it easier for the user to navigate narrow spaces (such as doorways) making the Ergo-Sling™ laundry basket easier to maneuver and more user-friendly than conventional laundry baskets. 
         [0010]    In one preferred form of the present invention, there is provided a basket for carrying an item, the basket comprising: 
         [0011]    a proximal panel having a top portion and a bottom portion, a distal panel having a top portion and a bottom portion, two side panels extending between the proximal panel and the distal panel and each side panel having a top portion and a bottom portion, and a bottom panel connecting the proximal panel, distal panel and side panels together at their bottom portions; 
         [0012]    wherein the side panels are longer than the distal panel and the proximal panel; 
         [0013]    wherein each of the two side panels comprise a handle; and 
         [0014]    wherein the proximal panel comprises a concave surface. 
         [0015]    In another preferred form of the present invention, there is provided a method for carrying an item in a basket, the method comprising: 
         [0016]    providing a basket for carrying the item, the basket comprising:
       a proximal panel having a top portion and a bottom portion, a distal panel having a top portion and a bottom portion, two side panels extending between the proximal panel and the distal panel and each side panel having a top portion and a bottom portion, and a bottom panel connecting the proximal panel, distal panel and side panels together at their bottom portions;   wherein the side panels are longer than the distal panel and the proximal panel;
           wherein each of the two side panels comprise a handle; and   wherein the proximal panel comprises a concave surface;   
               
 
         [0021]    placing an item in the basket; and 
         [0022]    carrying the basket. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    These and other objects and features of the present invention will be more fully disclosed or rendered obvious by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which is to be considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts, and further wherein: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a prior art laundry basket; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of another prior art laundry basket; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of yet another prior art laundry basket; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of still another prior art laundry basket; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the novel ergonomic laundry basket of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the novel ergonomic laundry basket of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a detail view of an exemplary construction of a side handle of the novel ergonomic laundry basket shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a top view of an alternate novel ergonomic laundry basket. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    Turning first to  FIGS. 5-7 , there is shown a novel ergonomic laundry basket  105 , formed in accordance with the present invention, which invention may also be referred to as The Ergo-Sling™ laundry basket. 
         [0033]    Laundry basket  105  generally comprises two side panels  110 , a distal panel  120 , a proximal panel  125  and a bottom panel  130 . Preferably, side panels  110  are longer than distal panel  120  and proximal panel  125 . Panels  110 ,  120 ,  125  and  130  are generally formed of a lightweight semi-rigid material, such as, for example, several kinds of plastics well known in the art. Panels  110 ,  120 ,  125  and  130  may be formed integrally with one another (e.g., through injection molding), or they may be joined with one another by methods known in the art, to form an open-top basket of the sort shown in  FIGS. 5 and 8 . Side panels  110 , distal panel  120  and proximal panel  125  typically meet their adjoining panels at approximately a right angle, and the angle may be rounded on its inside and outside edges. Side panels  110 , distal panel  120  and proximal panel  125  generally extend upwardly from bottom panel  130  and may meet bottom panel  130  at approximately a right angle, or at an angle slightly greater than ninety degrees such that the perimeter of basket  105  measured at the top edges (discussed in greater detail below) is greater than the perimeter of the bottom panel  130 . 
         [0034]    Side panels  110  are approximately rectangular in shape but may have a slightly trapezoidal shape if the perimeter of basket  105  measured at the top edges is greater than that of the bottom panel  130 , as discussed above. Side panels  110  may comprise one or more perforations  135 , or may be formed without perforations. The top portion of side panels  110  may be formed with top edges  140 . 
         [0035]    Ergonomic laundry basket  105  further comprises at least two handles  160  formed along the top of side panels  110 . Handles  160  are either formed integrally with top edges  140  or may be joined to top edges  140  by ways known in the art. Significantly, handles  160  are configured such that the distal ends  170  of handles  160  are further removed from top edges  140  than the proximal ends  180  of handles  160 . In one preferred form of the invention, distal ends  170  of the handles are removed from top edges  140  by vertical risers  171  so as to set the slope of the handles at approximately 30 degrees (see  FIG. 7 ). Handles  160  may also be covered from their distal ends  170  to their proximal ends  180  by a cushioned non-slip covering  190 . Cushioned non-slip covering  190  may be formed of foam, memory foam or other materials known in the art. In one preferred form of the invention, the length of handles  160  from their distal ends  170  to their proximal ends  180  is approximately six inches. 
         [0036]    In one embodiment, top edges  140  may also be formed with depressions  150  under handles  160 , so that it is easier for a user to grip handles  160 , as will be discussed in further detail below. 
         [0037]    Distal panel  120  may be formed with a top edge  200  similar to that of top edges  140 . 
         [0038]    Distal panel  120  may also be provided with a handle  205 . Handle  205  is either formed integrally with top edge  200  or may be joined to top edge  200  by ways known in the art. Handle  205  may also be covered with a cushioned non-slip covering  210  similar to that of cushioned non-slip coverings  190 . 
         [0039]    Proximal panel  125  may be formed with a concave surface  215 , which may “hug” the user&#39;s hips, waist or abdominal area when the user is carrying ergonomic laundry basket  105 . Top portion of proximal panel  125  may be formed with an edge  220  similar to that of top edges  140  of side panels  110  and top edge  200  of distal panel  120 . Top edge  220  may also be covered with a cushioned non-slip covering  225  similar to that of cushioned non-slip coverings  190  and  210 . 
         [0040]    Preferably, top edges  140 , top edge  200  and top edge  220  are formed integral with one another. 
         [0041]    As previously described, basket  105  also features concave panel  215  on proximal panel  125 . Concave panel  215  allows the user to more comfortably carry the basket against the user&#39;s body, thereby further distributing the weight of ergonomic laundry basket  105  and the items placed therein. Concave panel  215  may also be fitted with friction-enhancing “gripping strips” (not shown) to lessen the likelihood of ergonomic basket  105  sliding along the user&#39;s torso and to increase safety. The increased friction offered by such “gripping strips” serves to reduce the load on user&#39;s arms and wrists. 
         [0042]    In another embodiment, and looking now at  FIG. 8 , distal panel  120  may be formed with a convex surface  201  which extends distally from bottom panel  130 . Convex surface  201  provides additional space within basket  105 . 
         [0043]    To lift and carry laundry basket  105 , a user may position himself or herself such that the user is facing concave surface  215  of proximal panel  125 . User then grasps handles  160  at the tops of side panels  110  and lifts basket  105  such that cushioned non-slip covering  225  on top edge  220  is resting against the user&#39;s hips, waist or abdomen. 
         [0044]    In some circumstances, a user may find it useful to carry ergonomic laundry basket  105  with only one hand, allowing the other hand to remain free for accomplishing tasks such as opening or closing doors or switching lights on or off. In this circumstance, a user may carry ergonomic laundry basket  105  with one hand by lifting the basket in the manner disclosed above, placing concave surface  215  against the user&#39;s waist, hips and/or abdomen and, while holding concave surface  215  against the user, shifting one hand from handles  160  to handle  205 . 
         [0045]    The position of handles  160  on top edges  140 , and the configuration of handles  160 , is a significant advance over the prior art. By angling handles  160  such that distal ends  170  are removed from top edges  140 , a user&#39;s wrists are allowed to remain in a more natural and less stressful position when gripping handles  160  than they otherwise would be if the user was gripping handles  10  of conventional laundry baskets  5  which are not so configured. 
         [0046]    Furthermore, by forming handles  160  at an angle, handles  160  also allow a user to transfer some of the weight of the basket and its contents from the arms and wrists of the user to the rest of the body (e.g., to the hips, waist and/or abdomen), via the contact between user and cushioned non-slip covering  225  and concave panel surface  215 . These elements cooperate to offer increased comfort for the user. In addition, handles  160  are also covered with cushioned non-slip covering  190  that allow a user to maintain a firm and comfortable grip on handles  160 , which are also sized so as to make it easier for a user to grip and hold. 
         [0047]    Thus, laundry basket  105  is an ergonomic laundry basket that makes it easier for a user to grasp, lift and hold the basket so as to reduce the amount of effort required to carry a laundry basket and to reduce the chances of muscle strain or injury. 
         [0048]    Additionally, laundry basket  105  is an ergonomic laundry basket that makes it easier to maneuver from location to location, and particularly through doorways. 
         [0049]    Laundry basket  105  is configured to be carried such that side panels  110  of ergonomic basket  105  extend distally in front of the user. This is a significant improvement over prior art laundry baskets, which are configured to have the longest dimension (e.g., longest dimensions  15  of conventional baskets  5 ) extending laterally across the user&#39;s torso and approximately perpendicular to the user&#39;s direction of travel when carrying the basket. 
         [0050]    Significantly, by configuring ergonomic basket  105  to have handles  160  at the tops of side panels  110  which extend distally in front of the user while concave surface  215  of proximal panel  125  rests against the user, the user is able to keep his or her arms and hands closer to one another while carrying ergonomic basket  105  than he or she would otherwise be able to if carrying conventional laundry baskets  5  of  FIGS. 1-4 . This feature reduces the overall carrying width (i.e., the width of the basket plus the width of user&#39;s hands and/or forearms) of the ergonomic basket  105 , thus making it easier for the user to maneuver. In particular, this feature of laundry basket  105  makes it significantly easier for a user to pass through doorways while carrying laundry basket  105  and without having to shift his or her grip from the preferred position or be forced to turn sideways or otherwise contort his or her body in order to pass through the doorway. 
       Modifications Of The Preferred Embodiments 
       [0051]    It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art while remaining within the principles and scope of the present invention.