Patent Publication Number: US-6341508-B1

Title: Manually operated device for washing clothes and the like

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to the field of washing devices for clothes and the like and, in particular, to a manually operated washing device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The automatic washing machine is universally accepted as the most practical home clothes cleaning device. However they are expensive and require electrical power. This rules out their use in areas where there is no readily available electrical power, which is particularly the case in the poorer third world countries. What makes these powered washing machines effective is the cleaning action of the agitation system. In the top loading machines, the back and forth rotation of a finned central column or its up and down motion circulates the soapy water through the soiled clothes removing the dirt and/or stains. In the front loading machines, it is the tumbling action caused by the fins mounted within the drum. 
     Many manually operated devices for washing clothes and the like are also effective, for example, the corrugated washing board. However, its use requires a great deal effort. An individual must remove the wet clothes from the tub and “rub” the clothes across the corrugated washing surface. Some what less effective are the numerous manually operated rotating drum type devices where the clothes, soap and water are added to the drum and a hand crank is used to rotate it. Both vertical and horizontal rotating drums are available. However, these are generally limited in size for use on tabletops. If they become much larger in size, it becomes difficult to crank the drum. In addition, they also become difficult to empty of water unless placed in a sink. Finally, they have not proved popular because they are prone to leaking. 
     Thus, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a manually operated device for washing clothes and the like. 
     It is another primary object of the invention to provide a manually operated device for washing clothes and the like that provides agitation action. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a manually operated device for washing clothes and the like that is simple to manufacture. 
     It is a still further object of the invention to provide a manually operated device for washing clothes and the like that is simple to operate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a manually operated device for washing clothes and the like. In detail, the invention includes a rod shaped handle having first and second ends. A first hollow cone shaped member has a truncated top end attached to the first end of the rod and an open bottom end. This first cone shaped member includes a plurality of holes about its periphery in proximity to the top end thereof, with the plurality of holes having a first total cross-sectional area. An inverted cup shaped member is provided having a closed top end and an open bottom end mounted within the hollow cone shaped member such that the top end is in contact with the interior wall of the hollow cone shaped member forming a first interior chamber. The closed top end includes at least one hole therethrough with a total second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area of the plurality of holes in the first hollow cone shaped member. 
     A second hollow cone shaped member is provided having a truncated first end with a hole therethrough and a second end in contact with and joined to the closed top end of the inverted cup shaped member thus forming a second chamber therebetween. The second hollow cone shaped member has a corrugated surface between the top and bottom ends thereof. The second hollow cone shaped member preferably includes flow passages between the corrugations on the second end thereof in communication with the second chamber. Preferably, a third cone shaped member having a truncated top end is attached to the truncated first end of the first cone shaped member and an open bottom end extending beyond the holes in the first cone shaped member in a spaced relationship thereto. 
     With a large pot, tub or sink filled with water and dirty washables such as clothes and the like, the device is used in the following manner. The device is grabbed by the second end of the rod and inserted into the water until the first cone shaped member is partially immersed, preferably over a washable item. By pushing the rod down in this manner, water is forced downward through the washables. Simultaneously, water is pushed up through the second hollow cone shaped member and into the second chamber, through the at least one second holes into the first chamber and out the holes in the first cone shaped member. When the rod is pulled upward, a vacuum/suction effect is created, which again sends a rush of water up through the washables. Repeated strokes soon clean the washables. 
     The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which the presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded side view of the device. 
     FIG. 2 is an assembled side view of the device shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a partial view of the device shown in FIG. 3 partially immersed in a container of water having washables therein, with the device being pushed into the container 
     FIG. 5 is a partial view of the device similar to FIG. 4 partially immersed in a container of water having washables therein, with the device being pulled upward out of the container. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the device, generally indicated by numeral  10 , includes a first hollow cone shaped member  12  having a flat truncated top end  14  with a short shaft  16  protruding therefrom and an open bottom end  18 . A wall  20  partitions off the interior of the cone shaped member  12  at the top end  14 . Just below the wall  20  are a plurality of holes  22  spaced from each other about the periphery thereof, having a combined first total cross-sectional area. A round rod  23  having first and second ends  24  and  26 , respectively, includes a recess  28  in the first end, which engages the short shaft  16  and is held thereto by friction. The length of the rod  23  should be between 18 to 24 inches in length to insure that the device  10  can be properly griped when in use (to be subsequently discussed). 
     Mounted within the first cone shaped member  12  is an inverted cup shaped member  30  having a center portion  32  and a side wall  34 . The center portion  32  is joined to the inner wall  35  of the cone shaped member  12  forming a chamber  37  between the side center portion  32  of the cup shaped member  30  and the cone shaped member  12 . The side wall  34  of the cup shaped member  30  extends downward but remains within the interior of the cone shaped member  12 . The center portion  32  of the inverted cup shaped member  30  includes a hole  38  that has a second cross-sectional area greater than the combined first cross-sectional area of holes  22  in the cone shaped member  12 . 
     Mounted within the inverted cup shaped member  30  is second cone shaped member  40  having a first truncated end  42  with a hole  44  therein and an open second end  46 , and a corrugated type outer surface  48  therebetween. The second cone shaped member  40  is joined to the inverted cup shaped member  30  at the junction of the center portion  32  and side wall  34  thereof forming a second chamber  49 . As illustrated, the corrugated surface  48  produces flow channels  50  between the open end  46  and center portion  32  of the inverted cup shaped member  30 . Of course, the second cone shaped member  40  could be non-corrugated and have notches at the second end  46  to provide flow channels (not illustrated). 
     A third cone shaped member  52  includes a truncated first end  54  with a hole  56  fitted over the shaft  16 . This is accomplished prior to the rod  23  being frictionally attached to the shaft  16 . The open second  58  extends downward over the first cone shaped member  12  spaced therefrom and terminates beyond the holes  22 . 
     Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, the device  10  is grabbed by the rod  23  and inserted into the water  64  until the first cone shaped member  12  is partially immersed, preferably over a washable  62 . By pushing the rod  23  down, water is forced downward through the washables. Simultaneously, water is pushed up through the second cone shaped member  40  and into the chamber  49 , through the hole  38  into the chamber  37  and out the holes  22  in the first cone shaped member  12 . The third cone shaped member  52  directs the water downward back into the container  60 . When the rod  23  is pulled upward, a suction effect is created within the chamber  37  pulling air through holes  22  and the water exits the device  10  through the hole  44  again flowing through the washable  62  in an upward direction. Repeated strokes soon clean the washables. The improved performance is due in part because of the flow area of the holes  22  in the first cone shaped member  12  being less than the flow area of hole  38  in the center portion  32 . Because of the constant exposure to water, it is best that the device be completely made of a plastic material. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it should be understood that the embodiment is merely illustrative as there are numerous variations and modifications, which may be made by those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention is to be construed as being limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The invention has applicability to laundry appliance industry.