Patent Publication Number: US-2023160137-A1

Title: Laundry sorting and processing system and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/281,124 titled “LAUNDRY SORTING AND PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD” and filed Nov. 19, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY 
     The present disclosure relates generally to laundry accessories, and more particularly, to a laundry sorting and processing system which is simple in design, easy to assemble, and which enables a user to sort, process and organize laundry. The disclosure further relates to laundry sorting methods using the laundry sorting system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Laundry washers and dryers are frequently used to clean clothing and other items made of cloth or other fabric. Such laundry appliances are typically stored in a laundry or utility room, closet, or other area in the home. Many utility rooms or other laundry areas in homes, however, are often small, poorly arranged, and inefficient. 
     In addition to the typical clothes washer and dryer, some laundry areas may include a built-in sink and cabinets. However, conventional laundry areas may lack space and facilities for performing sorting and storage of soiled clothes. Conventional laundry areas may also lack the space and facilities for sorting, processing, and organizing the cleaned and dried laundry. 
     In practice, conventional laundry practices are cumbersome, time-consuming, and often disorganized and require excessive space. In homes in which families reside, piles of clean clothing may be formed in one or more piles in the laundry area. Each member of the family may be required to search for his or her garments of clothing among the pile or piles. 
     Various types of equipment have been used to organize laundry after it is cleaned and dried. Some of these include sweater racks, accordion hanging racks, rolling shelves, rolling laundry carts, and the like. Many of these devices, however, may be inconvenient to store when not in use, or may be insufficiently dimensioned to optimize the space of the laundry area. Some types of laundry organizing equipment may require tools and/or mounting hardware for installation. 
     Accordingly, there is need for a laundry sorting and processing system which is simple in design, easy to assemble, and enables a user to sort, process, and organize laundry. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is directed to a laundry sorting and processing system which is simple in design and easy to assemble and enables a user to sort, process and organize laundry. The laundry sorting and processing system may allow to separate soiled and clean laundry according to one or more categories such as, but not limited to, the owner of the laundry, the type of laundry item, etc. The laundry sorting and processing system may include soiled laundry and clean laundry containers and a plurality of preferably washable, laundry bags which may be removably placed inside the soiled laundry containers to receive soiled laundry, and thereafter be washed jointly with or separately from the soiled laundry. The laundry bags, the soiled laundry containers and/or the clean laundry containers may include an indicator used to distinguish the owner or user of the containers, the type of laundry items, etc. For example, the indicator may be a color of the laundry bags, the soiled laundry containers and/or the clean laundry containers that can be used to distinguish the owner or user of the containers, the type of laundry items, etc. The soiled laundry containers and clean laundry containers may be analogous, and may be interchangeable. While the laundry sorting and processing system could also be used in a laundry closet, laundry room, and/or utility space, this laundry sorting and processing system may be preferably targeted for use at a site of a user getting dressed. The site of a user getting dressed may most commonly be a bedroom or a closet attached to a bedroom. Further, based on many homes, apartments, and living spaces lacking the space or resources required for a dedicated laundry room, it is useful to incorporate the functions of such a dedicated space into existing furniture and existing spaces (such as closets) using the laundry sorting and processing system described herein. 
     In an illustrative implementation of the embodiments described herein, a laundry sorting and processing system which is simple in design and easy to assemble and enables a user to sort, process and organize laundry may include a main support frame. A plurality of soiled laundry containers may be supported by the main support frame. A plurality of clean laundry containers may be supported by the main support frame beneath the respective soiled laundry containers. A plurality of laundry bags may be nestable in the respective soiled laundry containers. Each laundry bag may be sized and configured to receive a load of soiled laundry. The soiled laundry may be placed in the laundry bags nested in the respective soiled laundry containers, which may separate the laundry according to categories such as the owner of the laundry, for example. The laundry bags which contain the soiled laundry may be removed from the respective soiled laundry containers, closed and placed in a laundry washer/dryer to wash and dry the laundry. The laundry bag may be removed from the laundry washer/dryer, after which the cleaned and dried laundry may be removed from the laundry bag and placed in a corresponding one of the clean laundry containers for subsequent retrieval by the owner of the laundry. 
     In a second aspect, the laundry bags may be meshed. 
     In another aspect, the main support frame may include a plurality of support posts and at least one container support frame supported by the support posts, and the soiled laundry containers and clean laundry containers may be supported by the container support frame. 
     In another aspect, each container support frame may include a pair of elongated, parallel longitudinal frame members and a pair of elongated, parallel transverse frame members extending between the longitudinal frame members. 
     In another aspect, the container support frames and the soiled laundry containers and the clean laundry containers on the container support frames may be arranged in vertically spaced-apart laundry container rows on the main support frame. 
     In another aspect, a frame panel may be supported by the longitudinal frame members and the transverse frame members of each container support frame. The frame panel may separate the clean laundry containers from the soiled laundry containers in each laundry container row. 
     In another aspect, the frame panel of each container support frame may include a plurality of elongated, parallel, spaced-apart frame panel members extending between the longitudinal frame members of the container support frame. 
     In another aspect, frame collars may connect the transverse frame members to the longitudinal frame members of each container support frame, and the support posts of the main support frame may extend through the frame collars. 
     In another aspect, container access spaces may be disposed between the laundry container rows. 
     In another aspect, container rails (e.g., space-apart container rails and/or adjacent container rails) may be provided on each container support frame, and each clean laundry container may slidably engage the container rails. 
     In another aspect, the container rails may include a first pair of side container rails and a middle container rail and/or a second pair of side container rails positioned between the first pair of side container rails. 
     In another aspect, each soiled laundry container may have a plurality of container sidewalls. 
     In another aspect, each soiled laundry container may include a container bottom, four container sidewalls, a container interior formed by the container bottom and the container sidewalls and a container flange included in and/or extending from the container sidewalls, and the container flange may engage the container rails. Any and/or all of the container sidewalls may be include one or more air vents. 
     In another aspect, each container rail may have a pair of connectors configured to engage the respective longitudinal frame members of each container support frame. Examples of connectors can include rail hooks, removably couplable connectors (referred to herein as “quick attach” connectors), and/or screws (e.g. Chicago binding screws). 
     In another aspect, the laundry bags may include an indicator (e.g., color coding, bar code, QR code, label, etc.) to identify laundry corresponding to a particular owner of the laundry. 
     In another aspect, each laundry bag may be flexible, malleable and conformable to the size and shape of each soiled laundry container. 
     In another aspect, each laundry bag may include a laundry bag bottom, laundry bag sidewalls extending from the laundry bag bottom and a laundry bag interior formed by the laundry bag sidewalls and the laundry bag bottom. 
     In another aspect, a respective bag closure device may be carried by each laundry bag of the plurality of laundry bags, the bag closure device configured to secure said each laundry bag in a closed position. 
     In another aspect, a bag closure device may be provided on the laundry bag sidewalls of each laundry bag to secure the laundry bag in the closed position. 
     In another aspect, the bag closure device may include a flexible, securable closure strip. 
     In another aspect, the closure strip of the bag closure device may have a closure strip head and a closure strip slot sized and configured to receive the closure strip head in securement of the bag closure device. 
     In another aspect, a closure tether may connect the bag closure device to the laundry bag. 
     In another aspect, the soiled laundry containers and the clean laundry containers may be various sizes. 
     In another aspect, the soiled laundry containers and the clean laundry containers may be arranged in multiple columns. 
     In another aspect, the main support frame of the laundry sorting and processing system may be configured as a piece of furniture, and the plurality of soiled laundry containers and the plurality of clean laundry containers may be carried by the piece of furniture. 
     In another aspect, wherein each soiled laundry container of the plurality of soiled laundry containers may include a container bottom, a plurality of container sidewalls, wherein at least one of the plurality of container sidewalls comprises an air vent, a container interior formed by the container bottom and the container sidewalls, and a pair of container flanges included in at least an opposite pair of container sidewalls of the plurality of container sidewalls. Each container flange of the pair of container flanges may extend along an opposite longitudinal direction of a respective container sidewall of the opposite pair of container sidewalls. Each container flange of the pair of container flanges may be configured to receive at least part (e.g., a sidewall) of one of the plurality of laundry bags. 
     In another aspect, the soiled laundry containers and clean laundry containers may be removable from the piece of furniture. 
     In another aspect, the piece of furniture may include a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls and a bottom wall and a top wall extending between the sidewalls, and the soiled laundry containers and the clean laundry containers may be insertable between the sidewalls and between the bottom wall and the top wall. 
     In another aspect, handle slots may extend through the respective sidewalls of the piece of furniture for carrying purposes. Any and/or all of the sidewalls may include one or more air vents. 
     The above and other preferred features, including various novel details of implementation and combination of events, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying figures and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular systems and methods described herein are shown by way of illustration only and not as limitations. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the principles and features described herein may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of any of the present inventions. As can be appreciated from the foregoing and the following description, each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more such features, is included within the scope of the present disclosure provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually inconsistent. In addition, any feature or combination of features may be specifically excluded from any embodiment of any of the present inventions. 
     The foregoing Summary, including the description of some embodiments, motivations therefor, and/or advantages thereof, is intended to assist the reader in understanding the present disclosure, and does not in any way limit the scope of any of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures, which are included as part of the present specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below serve to explain and teach the principles described herein. 
         FIG.  1    presents a top front isometric view of a laundry sorting and processing system in accordance with a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention, more particularly showing a pair of laundry bags prior to being nested in a respective pair of soiled laundry containers; 
         FIG.  2    presents a top front isometric view of the illustrative laundry sorting and processing system illustrated in  FIG.  1   , more particularly illustrating laundry bags placed in all soiled laundry containers, and further illustrating placement of different types of soiled laundry in different laundry bags; 
         FIG.  3    presents an exploded, top front isometric view of a main support frame of the laundry sorting and processing system of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    presents a top front isometric view of a middle container rail and a pair of side container rails suitable for slidably mounting the clean laundry containers on the main support frame in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  5    presents a cross-sectional, front elevation view of a pair of soiled laundry containers and nested laundry bags of the top container row of the assembly of  FIG.  2   , the container row comprising a pair of clean laundry containers beneath the respective soiled laundry containers in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  6    presents a top front exploded isometric view of the illustrative laundry sorting and processing system of  FIG.  1   , more particularly illustrating removal of the nested laundry bags with soiled laundry therein from the respective soiled laundry containers; 
         FIG.  7    presents a front perspective view of a laundry bag filled with soiled laundry and closed shut by deployment of a bag closure device on the laundry bag; 
         FIG.  8    presents a front view of a laundry apparatus, more particularly illustrating placement of the closed laundry bag illustrated in  FIG.  7    in the laundry apparatus for joint washing and/or drying of the laundry bag and the laundry items contained therein; 
         FIG.  9    presents a top front isometric view of the illustrative laundry sorting and processing system of  FIG.  1   , more particularly illustrating removal of clean laundry from an clean and opened laundry bag, and placement of the clean laundry in a clean laundry container; 
         FIG.  10    presents a top front isometric view of a laundry sorting and processing system in accordance with a second illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the system including soiled laundry containers and clean laundry containers arranged in multiple columns; 
         FIG.  11    presents a top front isometric view of a laundry sorting and processing system in accordance with a third illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the system including a main support frame configured as a piece of furniture such as, but not limited to, a cabinet or dresser, with a plurality of soiled laundry containers and a plurality of clean laundry containers removable from the piece of furniture; 
         FIG.  12    presents a top front isometric view of the laundry sorting and processing system illustrated in  FIG.  11   , with the laundry containers shown extracted from the piece of furniture and a pair of laundry bags shown nested in a respective pair of soiled laundry containers; and 
         FIGS.  13 A and  13 B  present views of illustrative container flanges included in container sidewalls of a laundry container; 
         FIG.  14    presents a view of a laundry sorting and processing system in accordance with the third illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG.  15    presents a view of an illustrative connector. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. While the present disclosure is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The present disclosure should not be understood to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the system as oriented in  FIG.  1   . Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     The present disclosure is directed toward a laundry sorting and processing system which is easy to assemble and use, and enables a user to efficiently sort, process and organize laundry. The present disclosure also relates to laundry sorting and processing methods. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS.  1 - 9   , a laundry sorting and processing system  100  is illustrated in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown for instance in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the laundry sorting and processing system  100  may include a main support frame  102 . A plurality of soiled laundry containers  120  and a plurality of clean laundry containers  160  may be supported by the main support frame  102 . A plurality of laundry bags  132  may be received in the respective soiled laundry containers  120 . In some embodiments, the laundry bags  132  may be meshed, or formed of a net- or mesh-like material. Each laundry bag  132  may be sized and configured to receive a load of soiled laundry  152  ( FIG.  2   ) prior to washing and drying the laundry  152 . The soiled laundry  152  may initially be placed in the laundry bags  132  nested in the respective soiled laundry containers  120 . The soiled laundry containers  120  may separate the soiled laundry  152  according to categories such as the owner of the laundry  152 , for example. The laundry bags  132  which contain the soiled laundry  152  may subsequently be removed from the respective soiled laundry containers  120 , closed and placed in at least one laundry apparatus  156  ( FIG.  8   ), such as a washing machine optionally followed by a tumble dryer, a two-in-one washing and drying machine, or the like, to wash and dry the laundry  152 . After washing and drying, the laundry bag  132  may be removed from the laundry apparatus  156  and opened, after which the cleaned and dried laundry  152  may be removed from the laundry bag  132  and placed in a corresponding one of the clean laundry containers  160  for subsequent delivery to or retrieval by the owner of the laundry  152 . As illustrated in  FIGS.  1 - 4   , in some embodiments, the clean laundry containers  160  may be supported by the main support frame  102  beneath the respective soiled laundry containers  120 . Each soiled laundry container  120  may be arranged above the corresponding one of the clean laundry containers  160 . Elements of the laundry sorting and processing system  100  described herein may be comprised of materials such as metal (e.g., aluminum), plastic, composites, and/or wood. As an example, the container rails  166 ,  168  and associated connectors (e.g., rail hooks  170  or other connectors) may be comprised of and/or include plastic and may be configured to avoid permanent deformation (e.g., in order for the rails to be re-usable with the laundry sorting and processing system  100 ) when coupling and decoupling with the laundry sorting and processing system  100 . The container rails  166 ,  168  and associated connectors may be temporarily deform during coupling and decoupling with the laundry sorting and processing system  100 . 
     In different embodiments, the main support frame  102  may have varying designs or constructions which are conducive to supporting the soiled laundry containers  120  and the clean laundry containers  160 . For example and without limitation, and with reference to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , in some embodiments the main support frame  102  may be formed by a plurality of legs supporting a plurality of shelves or container support frames. Specifically, the main support frame  102  may include a plurality of vertical support posts  104 . At least one container support frame  106  may be supported by the support posts  104 . Each of the one or more container support frames  106  may extend between the support posts  104 , as shown for instance in the present embodiment. For example, the present embodiment includes three container support frames  106 , spaced apart with one another and extending horizontally between the vertical support posts  104 . The soiled laundry containers  120  and the clean laundry containers  160  may be supported by the at least one container support frame  106 . For example, as shown, a subset of soiled laundry containers  120  may be arranged on top of or resting on each container support frame  106 , and a corresponding subset of clean laundry containers  160  may be suspended from each container support frame  106 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1  and  3   , each container support frame  106  of the main support frame  102  may include a pair of elongated, parallel, spaced-apart longitudinal frame members  108 . A pair of elongated, parallel, spaced-apart transverse frame members  110  may extend between the longitudinal frame members  108 . The longitudinal frame members  108  and transverse frame members  110  may be arranged in perpendicular relationship and form a rectangular or square arrangement. Frame connectors or collars  112  may connect the transverse frame members  110  to the longitudinal frame members  108  of each container support frame  106 . The support posts  104  of the main support frame  102  may extend through the frame collars  112 . 
     As further shown in  FIG.  1   , in some embodiments, the container support frames  106 , with the soiled laundry containers  120  and the clean laundry containers  160  carried by the container support frames  106 , may be arranged in vertically spaced-apart laundry container rows  150  on the main support frame  102 . For instance, the depicted embodiment includes three laundry container rows  150 . Each laundry container row  150  is formed by subset of soiled laundry containers  120  and a subset of corresponding clean laundry containers  160 , carried by a same container support frame  106 ; for instance, in the present embodiment, each container row  150  consists of two soiled laundry containers  120  and two clean laundry containers  160 . 
     Alternatively or additionally to the longitudinal frame members  108  and the transverse frame members  110 , each container support frame  106  may include a frame panel  114 . The frame panel  114  may separate the clean laundry containers  160  from the soiled laundry containers  120  in each laundry container row  150 . Alternatively or additionally, the frame panel  114  may support the soiled laundry containers  120  and/or the clean laundry containers  160  in each laundry container row  150 . In some embodiments, container access spaces  130  may be disposed between the laundry container rows  150  to facilitate access to the soiled laundry containers  120  in each laundry container row  150 . The container access spaces  130  are formed between the soiled laundry containers  120  and the clean laundry containers  160  of each pair of adjacent laundry container rows  150 . 
     In some embodiments, the frame panel  114  may be supported by and between the longitudinal frame members  108  and the transverse frame members  110  of each container support frame  106 . In some embodiments, the frame panel  114  may be a solid panel or board. In other embodiments, such as the present embodiment, the frame panel  114  may comprise at least one, and more preferably, a plurality of openings. For example, the frame panel  114  of each container support frame  106  may include a plurality of elongated, parallel, spaced-apart frame panel members  116  which may extend between the longitudinal frame members  108  of the container support frame  106 , as shown for instance in  FIG.  3   . Alternatively, the frame panel members  116  may extend between the transverse frame members  110  of the container support frame  106 . In other embodiments, longitudinal and transverse frame members may extend both between the longitudinal frame members  108  and between the transverse frame members  110 , in a crisscross or net-like pattern. 
     As mentioned heretofore, the clean laundry containers  160  may be carried by the corresponding container support frames  106 . In some embodiments, each clean laundry container  160  may be slidably mounted with respect to each corresponding container support frame  106 . Container rails  166 ,  168  may be provided on each container support frame  106 . In some cases, the container rails  166 ,  168  may be spaced-apart. In some cases, the side container rails  166  may be spaced-together, such that a pair of side container rails  166  are adjacently positioned. Each clean laundry container  160  may slidably engage the container rails  166 ,  168 . In some cases, a pair of spaced-together side container rails  166  may be used in place of a middle container rail  168 . Each side container rail  166  may slidably engage with a single clean laundry container  160  at a time. Each middle container rail  168  may slidably engage with a pair of clean laundry containers  160  at a time. A pair of side container rails  166  may be placed in adjacent positions to replicate the functionality of the middle container rails  168  and slidable engage with a pair of clean laundry containers  160  at a time. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , in some embodiments, the container rails  166 ,  168  may include a pair of parallel, side container rails  166 . One or more pairs of side container rails  166  may be spaced-apart and/or spaced-together (e.g., adjacent) One or more middle container rails  168  may extend between the side container rails  166  in parallel, spaced-apart relationship thereto. In some cases, spaced-together side container rails  166  may extend between the side container rails  166  in parallel, spaced-apart relationship thereto in place of the middle container rails  168 . The clean laundry containers  160  may slidably engage the side container rails  166  and/or the middle container rail  168 . For instance, in the present embodiment, each laundry container row  150  includes two side container rails  166  and one middle container rail  168 , configured to slidably support two clean laundry containers  160 ; each clean laundry container  160  is slidably mounted to the middle container rail  168  and to a respective one of the side container rails  166 . In other embodiments, the laundry container row  150  may include additional middle container rails  168  and/or additional spaced-together side container rails  166  configured to slidably support additional clean laundry containers  160 . Alternatively, the laundry container row  150  may include a single clean laundry container  160 , and a pair of side container rails  166  configured to slidably support the single clean laundry container  160 . In some cases, the container rails  166 ,  168  may each include one or more ball bearings configured to enhance an ability for the clean laundry containers  160  to slidably engage with the container rails  166 ,  168 . The one or more ball bearings of each of the container rails  166 ,  168  may reduce friction between the respective side container rail  166  or middle container rail  168  and the clean laundry container  160  during slidable engagement as described herein. In some cases, the container rails  166 ,  168  may each include one or more roller bearings configured to enhance an ability for the clean laundry containers  160  to slidably engage with the container rails  166 ,  168 . The one or more roller bearings of each of the container rails  166 ,  168  may reduce friction between the respective side container rail  166  or middle container rail  168  and the clean laundry container  160  during slidable engagement as described herein. 
     Each container rail  166 ,  168  may be mounted to the corresponding container support frame  106 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG.  4   , in some embodiments, each container rail  166 ,  168  may be terminated at its respective ends by a pair of rail hooks  170 . The rail hooks  170  may be configured to engage the respective longitudinal frame members  108  of each container support frame  106 . Alternatively or additionally, the container rails  166 ,  168  may be attached to the container support frame  106  by at least one screw (e.g., Chicago binding screw), bolt, magnet, snap-fit connection, strap, cord, and/or other applicable fastening means. In some embodiments, the container rails  166 ,  168  may be alternatively or additionally attached to the container support frame  106  by one or more “quick attach” connectors (e.g., as described with respect to  FIG.  15   ) that are configured to removably couple to the container support frame  106 . For example, a quick attach connector may be a strap that can removably couple the container rails  166 ,  168  to the container support frame  106 . In some embodiments, the container rails  166 ,  168  may be alternatively or additionally attached to the frame panel  114  by one or more screws (e.g., Chicago binding screws), bolts, hooks, straps, cords, magnets, and/or other applicable fastening means. In some embodiments, the container rails  166 ,  168  may be alternatively or additionally attached to the frame panel  114  by one or more quick attach connectors that are configured to removably couple to the frame panel  114 . In some embodiments, the container rails  166 ,  168  may be alternatively or additionally attached to one or more of the panel members  116  by one or more quick attach connectors that are configured to removably couple to the panel members  116 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1  and  5   , in some embodiments, the soiled laundry containers  120  and/or the clean laundry containers  160  may have a container bottom  122 . A plurality of container sidewalls  124 , such as four container sidewalls  124 , may extend from the container bottom  122 . A container interior  128  may be formed by the container bottom  122  and the container sidewalls  124 . In some cases, a container bottom  122  may include an anti-microbial mat and/or an anti-microbial material covering at least some (e.g., all) of a surface of the container bottom  122  in the container interior  128 . A container flange  126  may extend outwardly from the container sidewalls  124 . In some embodiments, the container flange  126  may extend outwardly from left and right container sidewalls  124  and may slidably engage a corresponding one of the side container rails  166  and/or the middle container rail  168 . Alternatively or additionally, the container flange  126  may extend outwardly from front and rear container sidewalls  124 . For instance, in the present embodiment, the container flange  126  extends from all four container sidewalls  124  and along an entire perimeter of the containers. In some embodiments, such as the present embodiment, all of the soiled and clean laundry containers  120  and  160 , respectively, include the aforementioned container bottom  122 , container sidewalls  124 , and container flange  126 , and are interchangeably usable as soiled laundry containers or clean laundry containers. 
     In some embodiments, the container bottom  122  may include one or more air vents (e.g., holes, cutouts, etc.). The one or more air vents may enable airflow through the container bottom  122  and may enhance ventilation in the container interior  128 . In some embodiments, one or more of the plurality of container sidewalls  124  may include one or more air vents. The one or more air vents may enable airflow through the container sidewalls  124  and may enhance ventilation in the container interior  128 . In some embodiments, for soiled laundry containers  120  and/or clean laundry containers  160  having the same size and shape, the soiled laundry containers  120  and/or the clean laundry containers  160  may be stackable and/or nestable. For example, a first soiled laundry container  120  may be configured to nest within a container interior  128  of a second soiled laundry container  120 , such that the first soiled laundry container  120  can be nested and stacked within the second soiled laundry container  120 . Nesting and/or stacking capabilities for the soiled laundry containers  120  and/or the clean laundry containers  160  can enhance storage and organization of the soiled laundry containers  120  and/or the clean laundry containers  160  when the containers  120 ,  160  are removed from a corresponding container support frame  106 . 
     In some embodiments, the laundry bags  132  may each include an indicator (e.g., a unique indicator) to identify the laundry  152  which is contained therein as corresponding to a particular owner of the laundry  152  and/or a particular type of laundry  152 . In some cases, the indicator of the laundry bags  132  may be a color and the laundry bags  132  may be color coded to identify the laundry  152  which is contained therein as corresponding to a particular owner of the laundry  152  and/or a particular type of laundry  152 . In some cases, the indicator of the laundry bags  132  may be a bar code, QR code, and/or a label, where each code or label identifies the laundry bags  132  and the laundry  152  which is contained therein as corresponding to a particular owner of the laundry  152  and/or a particular type of laundry  152 . Each laundry bag  132  may include or be integrally made of a flexible, malleable mesh fabric material and conformable to the size and shape of each soiled laundry container  120 . In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , each laundry bag  132  may be formed into a generally rectangular or otherwise-shaped body matching the generally rectangular or otherwise-shaped soiled laundry containers  120 , and may include a laundry bag bottom  134 , and laundry bag sidewalls  136  extending from the laundry bag bottom  134 . A laundry bag interior  138  may be formed by the laundry bag sidewalls  136  and the laundry bag bottom  134 . In some embodiments, the laundry bags  132  may be sized to have a volume that is approximately 2-10 times greater than a volume of a respective soiled laundry container  120  in which each laundry bag  132  is nested. For example, the laundry bags  132  may be sized to have a volume that is approximately 5 times greater than a volume of a respective soiled laundry container  120  in which each laundry bag  132  is nested. 
     In some embodiments, each laundry bag  132  may include a stretchable material which facilitates extension or stretching of the laundry bag sidewalls  136  over the edges of the soiled laundry container  120 . For example, the flexible, malleable mesh fabric material may be stretchable such that the laundry bag  132  may be stretched over the edges of the soiled laundry container  120 . Preferably, at least the top edge of the laundry bag  132  is elastically stretchable, such that when the top edge or top portion of the laundry bag  132  is stretched over the edges of the soiled laundry container  120 , the top edge of the laundry bag  132  compresses against the soiled laundry container  120  and remains in place. In preferred embodiments, such as the present embodiment, the top portion of the laundry bag  132  is stretchable over the container flanges  126  and beyond (below) the container flanges  126 , as shown in  FIG.  5   , such that it may elastically compress against the container flanges  126  on both a side and a bottom of the container flanges  126  while in use. In this way, the container flanges  126  may prevent the folded-over top portion of the laundry bag  132  from sliding upward towards the top opening of the soiled laundry container  120  and thereby prevent the laundry bag  132  from collapsing into the soiled laundry container  120 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG.  1   , in some embodiments, a bag closure device  140  may be provided on each laundry bag  132 . For instance, the bag closure device  140  may be provided on one of the laundry bag sidewalls  136  of each laundry bag  132 . The bag closure device  140  may be configured to secure the laundry bag  132  in a closed position. For instance and without limitation, the bag closure device  140  may include an elongated, flexible, securable closure strip  142  which may be rubber or plastic, for example and without limitation. A closure strip head  144  and a closure strip slot  146  may be provided in the closure strip  142 . As illustrated in  FIG.  7   , the closure strip slot  146  may be sized and configured to allow the passage therethrough of the closure strip head  144  in securement of the bag closure device  140 . The closure strip head  144  may be elastically deformable and compressible. The closure strip  142  may be switched from an initial, open position ( FIG.  1   ) to a secured position ( FIG.  7   ) by manually compressing the closure strip head  144  and passing the closure strip head  144  through the closure strip slot  146 , and then releasing the closure strip head  144  to allow the closure strip head  144  to elastically expand such that it cannot slip back through the closure strip slot  146 . In some embodiments, the closure strip  142  may be elastically deformable such that the closure strip  142  tends to adopt the initial open position ( FIG.  1   ). 
     In some embodiments, a closure tether  148  may connect the bag closure device  140  to the laundry bag  132 . The closure tether  148  may attach the bag closure device  140  to the laundry bag sidewall  136  of the laundry bag  132  at an intermediate point between an upper edge of the laundry bag sidewall  136  and the laundry bag bottom  134 . As an example and without limitation, in some embodiments, the bag closure device  140  may be attached to the laundry bag sidewall  136  about 4 inches from the upper edge of the laundry bag sidewall  136 . As another example and without limitation, in some embodiments, the bag closure device  140  may be attached to the laundry bag sidewall  136  about 10% of the length of the laundry bag  132  (e.g., defined as 10% of a height of the laundry bag sidewall  136 ) from the upper edge of the laundry bag sidewall  136 . This expedient may prevent the bag closure device  140  from interfering with folding of the upper edges of the laundry bag sidewalls  136  over the edges of the soiled laundry container  120 , and preferably over the container flanges  126  as described heretofore. 
     In different embodiments, the soiled laundry containers  120  may be identically or differently sized and shaped relative to one another, and the clean laundry containers  160  may be identically or differently sized and shaped relative to one another. Furthermore, within a same laundry container row  150 , each soiled laundry containers  120  may be shaped and sized to match the corresponding clean laundry container  160  arranged therein below. For example and without limitation, in some embodiments, such as the present embodiment, each laundry container row  150  may include a relatively large, soiled laundry container  120  and an adjacent, relatively small soiled laundry container  120 . A relatively large clean laundry container  160  and a relatively small clean laundry container  160  may be disposed beneath the respective large and small soiled laundry containers  120 . 
     In an illustrative application of the laundry sorting and processing system  100 , the main support frame  102  may be assembled in a laundry room, utility room or other laundry area in a home or commercial establishment. In some applications, wall mounts (not illustrated) may be used to secure the main support frame  102  to a wall (not illustrated) in the laundry area according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Once the main support frame is assembled  102 , at least one soiled laundry container  120  and at least one respective clean laundry container  160  may be arranged at one or more of the container support frames  106  to form one or more laundry container rows  150 . 
     The laundry bags  132  may be nested in the respective soiled laundry containers  120  in one or more of the laundry container rows  150  on the main support frame  102 . As illustrated in  FIGS.  2  and  5   , the upper edges of the laundry bag sidewalls  136  of each laundry bag  132  (i.e. the top portion of each laundry bag  132 ) may be extended or stretched over the container flange  126  on the container sidewalls  124  of the soiled laundry container  120 . As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , when the laundry bag  132  is deployed in the soiled laundry container  120 , the tethered bag closure device  140  may remain outside and underneath the laundry bag  132 , and thus will not interfere with the soiled laundry  152  that is placed inside the laundry bag  132 . In consequence, the bag closure device  140  is readily available for use upon subsequent removal of the laundry bag  132  from the soiled laundry container  120 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , soiled laundry  152  may be placed in the laundry bag interior  138  of each nested laundry bag  132 . In some applications, the soiled laundry  152  may be placed in the laundry bags  132  according to type of clothing, with shirts, shorts and socks placed in different laundry bags  132 , for example and without limitation, to help prioritize the soiled laundry  152  for washing and drying. Alternatively or additionally, the soiled laundry  152  may be assorted and placed in the laundry bags  132  according to the owner of the soiled laundry  152 . In some applications, the laundry bags  132  may include an indicator (e.g., unique indicator), where each particular indicator corresponds for instance to a particular owner of the soiled laundry  152  or user of the container, and/or to a type of laundry  152  (e.g., clothing versus socks) to be placed in each laundry bag  132 . Alternatively or additionally, the soiled laundry containers  120  and/or clean laundry containers  160  may include indicators to distinguish them from one another (soiled versus clean), to identify a particular user of the container or owner of the soiled laundry  152  to be placed in the container, and/or to identify the type of laundry  152  that will be placed in the container. In some cases, the indicator of the laundry bags  132  may color coding, with each color of the laundry bags  132  corresponding for instance to a particular owner of the soiled laundry  152  or user of the container, and/or to a type of laundry  152  (e.g., clothing versus socks) to be placed in each laundry bag  132 . Alternatively or additionally, the soiled laundry containers  120  and/or clean laundry containers  160  may be color coded to distinguish them from one another (soiled versus clean), to identify a particular user of the container or owner of the soiled laundry  152  to be placed in the container, and/or to identify the type of laundry  152  that will be placed in the container. Other examples of indicators include bar codes, QR codes, and labels. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  6   , after each laundry bag  132  is filled, for instance, with a specific type of laundry  152  (clothing or socks) of a specific user, the laundry bag  132  may be lifted and removed from the container interior  128  of each corresponding soiled laundry container  120 . As illustrated in  FIG.  7   , the filled laundry bag  132  may be closed, and the bag closure device  140  deployed to the securing position to secure the laundry bag  132  in the closed position. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  8   , the filled laundry bag  132  may be placed in a laundry apparatus  156  and washed and dried, such as in a conventional manner. Alternatively, the soiled laundry  152  may be removed from the laundry bag  132  and placed in the laundry apparatus  156  and washed and dried. The emptied laundry bag  132  may be placed in the laundry apparatus  156  and washed and dried alongside and separately from the laundry  152 . In some applications, when washing the laundry bag  132  jointly with the laundry  152  container therein, the laundry apparatus  156  may be operated on “extra dry” or higher heat settings to better dry the laundry bag  132  and the laundry  152  contained therein. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  9   , when washing and drying of the laundry  152  is completed, the laundry bag  132  having the cleaned and dried laundry  152  may be opened by disengagement of the bag closure device  140 . In a first mode of operation, the cleaned and dried laundry  152  may be removed from the laundry bag  132  and placed in the clean laundry container  160 , and the laundry bag  132  may then be nested in the soiled laundry container  120  for subsequent placement of soiled laundry  152  therein, as was heretofore described. In an alternative, second mode of operation, the clean laundry bag  132  with the cleaned and dried laundry  152  therein may be placed in a corresponding clean laundry container  160 ; in some embodiments, the clean laundry bag  132  may be folded over the container flanges  126  of the clean laundry container  160 . In both modes of operation, the owner of the cleaned and dried laundry  152  may subsequently retrieve the laundry  152  from the clean laundry container  160 , or alternatively, the laundry  152  may be delivered to the owner. 
     Referring next to  FIG.  10   , an alternative illustrative embodiment of the laundry sorting and processing system is generally indicated by reference numeral  200 . In the laundry sorting and processing system  200 , elements which are analogous to the respective elements of the laundry sorting and processing system  100  that was heretofore described with respect to  FIGS.  1 - 9    are designated by the same respective numerals. In the laundry sorting and processing system  200 , the soiled laundry containers  120  and the clean laundry containers  160  may be arranged in multiple, adjacent container columns  274 . Furthermore, container labels  276  may be provided on the respective soiled laundry containers  120  and/or clean laundry containers  160 . The container labels  276  may indicate the name of the owner and/or other identifying indicia (e.g., QR codes, bar codes, etc.) for the laundry (not illustrated) contained in each corresponding soiled laundry container  220  and clean laundry container  260 . While not expressly shown, it must be noted that the container labels  276  as described with reference to the present embodiment are also applicable to the remaining embodiments described in the present disclosure. 
     Application of the laundry sorting and processing system  200  of  FIG.  10    may be as was heretofore described with respect to the laundry sorting and processing system  100  in  FIGS.  1 - 9   . The laundry sorting and processing system  200  may be suitable for use in sorting, processing and organizing laundry for a relatively larger number of persons in a home or commercial setting. 
     Referring next to  FIGS.  11  and  12   , a laundry sorting and processing system  300  is shown in accordance with a third illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the laundry sorting and processing system  300  may include a main support frame  302  which is configured as, or comprises, a piece of furniture  380  (also referred to as an “item of furniture” or a “furniture item”). In non-limiting examples, the piece of furniture  380  may resemble a cabinet, dresser, or chest of drawers. A plurality of soiled laundry containers  320  and a plurality of clean laundry containers  360  may be supported by the piece of furniture  380 , and preferably selectively removable from the piece of furniture  380 . The piece of furniture  380  may include a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls  382 . A bottom panel or wall  384  and a top panel or wall  386  may extend between the sidewalls  382 . A middle wall  388  may extend from the bottom wall  384  to the top wall  386  between the sidewalls  382 . A rear wall  389  may extend from and between the top and bottom walls  386  and  384  and the sidewalls  382 . In some embodiments, the sidewalls  382 , and optionally all walls  382 ,  384 ,  386 ,  388  and  389  of the piece of furniture  380  may be generally solid, and at least one air vent  396  may extend through two or more walls of the piece of furniture  380 , facilitating airflow through the interior of the piece of furniture  380 . For instance, in the present embodiment, each sidewall  382  includes a plurality of air vents  396 , facilitating airflow across the entire width of the piece of furniture  380 . The air vents  396  may extend generally along an entire front-to-back dimension of the sidewalls  382 , either continuously or discontinuously, to facilitate airflow along substantially the entire depth (front-to-back dimension) of the piece of furniture  380 . In some embodiments, the plurality of air vents  396  may include louvers or other airflow adjustment mechanisms allowing to regulate the amount of air flowing through the piece of furniture  380 . The soiled laundry containers  320  and the clean laundry containers  360  may be insertable between each corresponding sidewall  382  and the middle wall  388  and between the bottom wall  384  and the top wall  386 . In some embodiments, at least one handle may be provided to facilitate transporting the piece of furniture  380 ; for example, handle slots  392  may extend through portions of the respective sidewalls  382  which extend upwardly beyond the top wall  386 . In some applications, wall mounts (not illustrated) may be used to secure the piece of furniture  380  to a wall (not illustrated) in the laundry area according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. 
     The soiled laundry containers  320  and the clean laundry containers  360  may be mounted for selective extension from the piece of furniture  380  or retraction into the piece of furniture  380 . As illustrated in  FIG.  12   , in some embodiments, slide rails  390  may be provided on the interior surfaces of the respective sidewalls  382  and on the interior surfaces of the middle wall  388 . Container rails  398  may be provided on the exterior side surfaces of each soiled laundry container  320  and each clean laundry container  360 . The container rails  398  on the soiled laundry containers  320  and on the clean laundry containers  360  may engage the companion slide rails  390  in the piece of furniture  380  to jointly provide an extendable and retractable mechanism for extending and retracting the soiled and clean laundry containers  320  and  360  from the piece of furniture  380 . A pull  394  may extend from or otherwise be formed in each soiled laundry container  120  and each clean laundry container  360 , to facilitate pulling the containers out of the piece of furniture  380 . 
     Application of the laundry sorting and processing system  300  may be as was heretofore described with respect to the laundry sorting and processing system  100  in  FIGS.  1 - 9   . Each soiled laundry container  320  and each clean laundry container  360  may be pulled and slid from the piece of furniture  380  for nesting of the laundry bag  332  therein, and depositing soiled or clean laundry. The air vents  396  may facilitate circulation of air between the interior and exterior of the piece of furniture  380  for venting of humidity and odors from the piece of furniture  380 . 
     In some embodiments, container flanges (e.g., container flanges  126 ) as described herein may be included in container sidewalls of soiled laundry containers (e.g., soiled laundry containers  320 ). A container flange included in a container sidewall of a laundry container may extend along a longitudinal axis of the respective container sidewall, such that the container flange is inside and/or otherwise contained within the container sidewall. A container flange may be included in a container sidewall in place of and/or in addition to a container flange extending outwardly from the container sidewall.  FIGS.  13 A and  13 B  present illustrative container flanges included in sidewalls of a laundry container (e.g., a soiled laundry container  320 ).  FIG.  13 A  presents a front illustrative container flange  426  included in a sidewall  424  of a laundry container.  FIG.  13 B  shows a back illustrative container flange  426  included in a sidewall  424  of a laundry container. In some cases, a pair of container flanges  426  may be included in a sidewall  424  of a soiled laundry container (e.g., soiled laundry container  320 ). As shown in  FIGS.  13 A and  13 B , the container flanges  426  may be embedded in (e.g., cut out of) a container sidewall  424  and may not extend outward from the container sidewall  424 . The pair of container flanges  426  may extend along opposite longitudinal directions of the sidewall  424 . In some embodiments, the container flange  426  may extend along opposite longitudinal directions in each of left and right container sidewalls  424 . Alternatively or additionally, the pair of container flanges  426  may extend along opposite longitudinal directions in each of front and rear container sidewalls  424 . 
     In some embodiments, the container flanges  426  may have a width equivalent to and/or less than a width of a container sidewall  424 . In some cases, a width of the container flanges  426  may be required to be at least three times a width and/or a diameter of voids (e.g., holes) included in a mesh material of a laundry bag (e.g., laundry bag  132 ) as described herein. The width of the container flanges  426  being sufficiently (e.g., at least three times) greater than a width and/or a diameter of voids included in a mesh material of a laundry bag may reduce wear and/or abrasion on the laundry bag. 
     In some embodiments, as was heretofore described with respect to the laundry sorting and processing system  100  in  FIGS.  1 - 9   , a top edge of the laundry bag  332  is elastically stretchable, such that when the top edge or top portion of the laundry bag  332  is stretched over at least some of the edges of the soiled laundry container  320 , the top edge of the laundry bag  332  compresses against the soiled laundry container  320  and remains in place. In some embodiments, the soiled laundry container may include container flanges  426 , such that when the top edge or top portion of the laundry bag  332  is stretched over the container flanges  426  of the soiled laundry container  320 , the top edge of the laundry bag  332  compresses against the soiled laundry container  320  and remains in place. In some cases, the top portion of the laundry bag  332  is stretchable over the container flanges  426  of the solid laundry container  320  and beyond (below) the container flanges  426 , such that it may elastically compress against the container flanges  426  on both a side and a bottom of the container flanges  426  while in use. In this way, the container flanges  426  may prevent the folded-over top portion of the laundry bag  332  from sliding upward towards the top opening of the soiled laundry container  320  and thereby prevent the laundry bag  332  from collapsing into the soiled laundry container  320 . In some cases, the container flanges  426  of the solid laundry container  320  may be of sufficient tensile strength as to substitute for the material (e.g., wood) used in the piece of furniture  380 . In some cases, the container flanges  426  extend a lifespan of a laundry bag  332  by preventing unnecessary wear. 
     In some embodiments, all of the soiled and clean laundry containers, respectively, include the aforementioned container bottom, container sidewalls  424 , and container flange  426 , and are interchangeably usable as soiled laundry containers or clean laundry containers. 
       FIG.  14    presents a view of a laundry sorting and processing system  400  in accordance with the third illustrative embodiment of the present invention. One or more elements of the laundry sorting and processing system  400  may be analogous to the respective elements of the laundry sorting and processing system  300  that was heretofore described with respect to  FIGS.  11  and  12   . In this embodiment, one or more sidewalls  424  of soiled laundry containers of the laundry sorting and processing system  400  may include container flanges  426  as described herein (e.g., with respect to  FIGS.  13 A and  13 A ). As shown in  FIG.  14   , the left and right container sidewalls  424  of the soiled laundry container each include a pair of flanges  426  extending in opposite longitudinal directions of the respective container sidewall  424 . The container flanges  426  are embedded in the respective container sidewalls  424  and do not extend outward from an edge of the respective container sidewalls  424 . Each container flange  426  extends inward in a direction of a closest edge of a longitudinal side of a container sidewall  424 . The container flanges  426  may replicate a functionality of the container flanges  126  to engage with edges of a laundry bag as described with respect to  FIGS.  1 - 10   . The container flanges  426  may be adapted for the third embodiment of the laundry sorting and processing system (e.g.,  300  and/or  400 ) by not slidably engaging with slide rails (e.g., slide rails  390 ) of the launder sorting and processing system. As shown in  FIG.  14   , a top edge or top portion of a laundry bag  432  may engage with the container flanges  426  and the edges of the left and ride container sidewalls  424 , without engaging with the edges of front and back container sidewalls. 
       FIG.  15    presents a view of an illustrative connector  500 . The connector  500  may be a “quick attach” connector as described herein. In some embodiments, container rails (e.g., container rails  166 ,  168 ) as described herein may include one or more connectors  500 , where the connectors  500  are coupled to the container rails by an anchor  502 . In some embodiments, container rails may be attached to a container support frame (e.g., container support frame  106 ) and/or a frame panel (e.g., frame panel  114 ) by one or more connectors  500  that are configured to removably couple to the container support frame and/or the frame panel. As shown in  FIG.  15   , the connector  500  may include a strap  504  than can removably couple to the container support frame and/or the frame panel. 
     Terminology 
     The phrasing and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     Measurements, sizes, amounts, and the like may be presented herein in a range format. The description in range format is provided merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as 1-20 meters should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as 1 meter, 2 meters, 1-2 meters, less than 2 meters, 10-11 meters, 10-12 meters, 10-13 meters, 10-14 meters, 11-12 meters, 11-13 meters, etc. 
     Furthermore, connections between components or systems within the figures are not intended to be limited to direct connections. Rather, data or signals between these components may be modified, re-formatted, or otherwise changed by intermediary components. Also, additional or fewer connections may be used. The terms “coupled,” “connected,” or “communicatively coupled” shall be understood to include direct connections, indirect connections through one or more intermediary devices, wireless connections, and so forth. 
     Reference in the specification to “one embodiment,” “preferred embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” or “embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention and may be in more than one embodiment. Also, the appearance of the above-noted phrases in various places in the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or embodiments. 
     The use of certain terms in various places in the specification is for illustration purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. A service, function, or resource is not limited to a single service, function, or resource; usage of these terms may refer to a grouping of related services, functions, or resources, which may be distributed or aggregated. 
     Furthermore, one skilled in the art shall recognize that: (1) certain steps may optionally be performed; (2) steps may not be limited to the specific order set forth herein; (3) certain steps may be performed in different orders; and (4) certain steps may be performed simultaneously or concurrently. 
     The term “approximately”, the phrase “approximately equal to”, and other similar phrases, as used in the specification and the claims (e.g., “X has a value of approximately Y” or “X is approximately equal to Y”), should be understood to mean that one value (X) is within a predetermined range of another value (Y). The predetermined range may be plus or minus 20%, 10%, 5%, 3%, 1%, 0.1%, or less than 0.1%, unless otherwise indicated. 
     The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements). 
     As used in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law. 
     As used in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements). 
     The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and additional items. 
     Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term), to distinguish the claim elements. 
     Particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. As one example, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Other steps or stages may be provided, or steps or stages may be eliminated, from the described processes. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the preceding examples and embodiments are exemplary and not limiting to the scope of the present disclosure. It is intended that all permutations, enhancements, equivalents, combinations, and improvements thereto that are apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings are included within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. It shall also be noted that elements of any claims may be arranged differently including having multiple dependencies, configurations, and combinations. 
     Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.