Patent Publication Number: US-2017356114-A1

Title: Portable, Compact, Flexible and Reusable Washing Machine and Dryer for Small Articles of Clothing

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the general field of washing and drying small articles of clothing when away from home or apartment. When one travels, often, he or she stays in a hotel. Sometimes the hotel has public laundry facilities, often not, but frequently the hotel has a service for allowing the traveler to place his or her necessaries into a laundry bag and to have the same laundered overnight. This is usually extremely expensive and not necessarily convenient if the “dirty clothes” are “created” in the morning of the check out. Many hotels and inns have laundry facilities for the guests or travelers but these large machines are often located away from one&#39;s room, in use by another guest, expensive and almost always, too big for small loads. When one stays at a hotel, in addition to one&#39;s night clothes i.e., pajamas and the day before underwear, socks, etc., the traveler often creates additional dirty laundry by taking a jog, working out at the hotel&#39;s gym or exercise facilities either the night before or even during the morning, right before check out. This then creates really malodorous clothes and taking them, as is, home after traveling is unappealing even in a closed plastic bag. Also, if the traveler is moving from hotel location to hotel location or staying multiple nights in the same hotel, there is a need, without the cost and the time of using the hotel&#39;s “public” washing and drying equipment and without paying the high cost to have the hotel do the laundry itself, to have clean clothes, for wear the next day, especially if the traveler travels “light” and may need additional sets of socks, underwear, bras, and/or if the traveler wants to exercise in the gym or at the exercise facilities for more than a single day. Yet, the traveler doesn&#39;t want to pack multiple sets of exercising clothes. 
     Thus, to provide a small, convenient, device which can be packed by the traveler and used, as needed, for small articles of clothing, e.g., a DRI-FIT® T-shirt, a pair of underwear, exercise shorts, socks, a sports bra, etc. would be considered highly beneficial. Travelers would be thrilled to be able to “do their laundry” at their convenience, within their room, without waiting nor paying for a machine, without using a large machine and then transferring the same to a dryer, or without paying high rates to the hotel for their laundry service—if the device provided was small, convenient, easy to use, compact, and, of course, capable of providing some measure of laundering to the soiled clothes. 
     The present invention is such a device—a portable, packable, compact, washer and dryer mechanism for travel purposes, which can be reused, if needed, but which surely is convenient and easy to use and allows those “on the road” to launder their clothing sufficient so that the same can be worn again, if needed, in the gym, in business, for additional exercise, casually for the trip home, etc. until a more thorough laundering is performed by the commercial washer and dryers in homes and laundromats. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a portable, small, lightweight, packable, and even reusable device and mechanism which allows a consumer to wash his or her small articles of clothing and then to dry them (or at least partially dry, allowing the clothes to at least be de-soiled when brought home or further air dry overnight), in a minimum of time, with no contact between the user&#39;s hands and soap and water, and conveniently. This will allow a traveler, whether on business or pleasure, to reuse and rewear components of clothing which do not necessarily require a thorough washing for reuse. So, for example, if the traveler wears a DRI-FIT® (quick drying) T-shirt, a pair of running shorts, a sports bra (obviously for women) and a pair of socks for exercise, especially of the “wicking” type, without the present invention, the clothes become quickly soiled and quite malodorous. Rewearing the same is often not only difficult for the owner/traveler but can be offensive to others exercising or even walking nearby. The present invention is a simple mechanism for allowing a quick and somewhat thorough washing, rinsing and drying of the small articles of clothing, socks, underwear, undershirts, etc. in the privacy of one&#39;s room in a hotel, without direct contact with soap, water, dirty water, etc. so that the clothes can be worn a second time or at least returned home with at least part of the odor removed. 
     Basically, the present invention is a simple “kit” comprised of a foldable, plastic, heat resistant, disposable or reusable and then disposable, inexpensive plastic and preferable transparent bag, with a large top opening and, preferably a water sealing closure, like a ZIPLOC® plastic bag sold by SC Johnson Co., for preserving leftover food. The size of the bag should be sufficient to allow at least a pair of underwear, a pair of socks, a T-shirt, a pair of shorts, a bra, a sports bra, etc. to be placed therein as the plastic bag is, in effect, in this invention, the washing machine. Preferably a complete exercise outfit, or a pair of underwear and a bra are able to be placed into the bag, the washing machine. Of course larger and smaller bags can be developed and are considered within the scope of the present invention. 
     The bag, as said, is provided with a large top opening and a sealing closure. Clothes are meant to placed into the bag through the opening and removed from the opening of the bag after the laundry step is completed and full, partial or even no drying is done. The step of laundering and partial or full drying is meant to occur with the clothes in the bag. The bag is initially empty although it can internally be provided with a frangible inside wall or separating plastic layer which isolates the bulk of the volume of the inside of the bag from a small compartment on the inside for holding a quantity of soap or, alternatively, as will be explained, the plastic bag can be provided by the consumer with a “drop in” small frangible mini-bag of soap or detergent. In either event, the bag is provided with an amount of soap or detergent which, when the frangible layer of the bag or the mini-bag (within the larger bag) is crushed, torn, or breaks, releases the quantity of soap or detergent into the main cavity of the larger bag. First, of course, the clothes are placed into the bag through the large opening at the top. Then a mini-packet of soap or detergent is placed inside or the bag is originally equipped with the aforementioned compartment of soap, separated initially from the main volume of the bag by a frangible layer or separating wall. Of course, the bag can also be provided with a quantity of soap therein which will merely mix with water when inserted into the bag when the same in poured therein. The clothes are placed in the bag and then the top opening is sealingly closed by the standard liquid sealing closure. Thus, within the bag are the dirty clothes, a quantity_of soap (either in the bag originally or separated from the clothes by a frangible wall or a small frangible envelope with soap is placed therein. Water is then provided to the bag and the bag is sealed. 
     In addition to the top seal, the bag is preferably provided with two sealing openings or valves, although only a single valve may be all that is required. But, the present preferred embodiment contemplates that a first valve, with a screw on and off cap be provided into and through the side wall of the bag. This valve, when the cap is unscrewed and removed, allows the user/consumer, to hold the bag (with the clothing already placed into the bag) under a stream of water (as provided by a sink or tub faucet) until the water level in the bag, with the clothes, reaches a predetermined and easily visually seen level. Then, the water is turned off, the screw cap reinstalled and the consumer is holding a sealed plastic bag with dirty clothes therein with a quantity of water and soap, too. Alternatively, the consumer can provide water through the same top opening and into the bag. By “mashing” or hitting at the bag, the consumer then ruptures the frangible seal, either of the mini packet enclosing the soap or the separating layer between the soap and the clothes and water. Now, the consumer can start the wash cycle, by rolling, smashing (lightly), kneading of the sides of the flexible transparent bag until the frangible seal breaks and the soap is released into the water. The consumer will flip, turn, crush, mash, and rotate, the bag with its contents of soap, water, and dirty laundry, much like a laundress years ago would wash laundry by using rocks, soap and water on the sides of rivers and lakes. The soapy water will cause the dirt of the clothes to be removed from the clothes and become entrained into the water, which becomes dirty. The user/consumer can unscrew the cap to drain the dirty water or the user can merely unzip the top closure and pour the dirty water out and down the sink or tub. The bag, with clothes, can be refilled with fresh water, either through the top opening or the valve (both then closed) and the clothes re-mashed, kneaded, or hit, so as to further effect a rinse of the clothes. That water, too, can then be drained out of the bag, either through the valve or through the top opening. This rinse cycle can be done once, twice, or not at all. After a suitable amount of kneading of the bag with clothes and water, likely just a minute or two, the water is drained. The clothes are wet but considerably cleaner than before. They can be taken home as is or they can be fully dried in the bag or partially dried in the bag and then air dried. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the first valve, with screw cap tightly thereon, can allow for air to be squeezed into and out of the inside of the bag, without allowing water to escape. But, when the cap is removed, water can easily flow out of the bag for draining. The ability of the bag to have air squeezed out and then sucked back in may be important to squishing the dirty laundry within the soapy water to beneficial effect. But, simple trials of an available ZIPLOC® baggie with an item of clothes, some water, and detergent have revealed that with the closure of the bag closed the clothes within the bag of water and soap can be moved by squishing, hitting, kneading, etc. even without any air being allowed to pass into and out of the interior. 
     The invention further contemplates, in the preferred embodiment, a second or primary valve which is larger than the water inlet and drain valve (which can be eliminated, if desired, by use of the main, top opening as the means to allow water to get into and out of the bag). The primary and larger valve is meant to be opened and the other valve (or top) opened, too. The primary valve is larger and possibly with a circumferential lip for a screw on cap. The cap is unscrewed when the drying cycle of the bag is used but screwed on during the washing cycle (just described above). The primary valve, when opened, with its circumferential lip is meant to allow the cylindrical end of a hair dryer to connect therein. In one embodiment, this primary valve is provided with its own frangible separating wall which will not open unless and until either a manual tab is removed or the heat of the hair dryer is directed thereon. This ensures that the valve is closed until intentionally opened. This mechanism is intended to eliminate any possibility of water being provided to the hair dryer. The water is allowed to flow out, first, through the top opening or the first, smaller and non-primary valve and then the second or Primary valve is intentionally opened, with the hair dryer attached thereto. This allows the heated air output of the hair dryer into the interior cavity of the bag, with the clean but wet clothes therein. Preferably, the clothing can be squished within the bag to have excess water drained out first through the top opening or through the first or smaller, non-primary valve. Then, the hair dryer is activated (switched on). As mentioned, in the preferred embodiment there is a mechanical separation between the end of the hair dryer and the wet clothes to ensure against water coming into contact with the electrical aspects of the hair dryer. Nevertheless, hair dryers are commonly provided in hotel rooms, usually, near sources of water (i.e., in the bathroom) so that the use of a hair dryer with the present invention is thought to be quite easy and convenient. The hair dryers often have GFCI devices to ensure against electrical shock. 
     Now, the bag, with the primary valve used for connecting the hair dryer and the other or first, smaller and non-primary valve or top of the bag open, will allow passage of a hot, dry stream of air into though the bag and past the wet clothes. The heated and now somewhat moisture laden air is allowed out of the bag through the open top opening or through the open first, smaller and non-primary valve. Since it is anticipated that the clothing preferably washed and dried by the present invention may be wicking exercise clothing, or lightweight bras, underwear, etc. the drying of the wet clothes, by the air of the hair dryer is expected to be a short process. The clothes will dry and then can be removed. Alternatively, the clothes can be partially dried and taken home but not now malodorous or can be air dried over the tub and used later or the next day. 
     In effect, the bag of the present invention, with the frangible layer of plastic initially isolating the soap or detergent, but which can be released into the water, acts as a mini-washing machine and then the same device, after the water is drained, with a hair dryer connected to the primary valve, acts as a dryer. A portable, compact, reusuable (with new packets of mini-quantities of soap or detergent) washing machine and dryer is provided to great utility to the traveler, whether on business or pleasure. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     There are large, mechanical washing machines and dryers. These can not be easily packed by a traveler for use in a hotel room. They are not always available to the traveler. 
     Some travelers have taken their dirty laundry to the wash basin in a bathroom of their hotel room, or into a tub, poured in liquid soap or created soap from a bar of soap, and with water in the basin or tub, sloshed their clothes in the soapy water solution. This however, is messy, places ones hands in contact with the water, soap and dirty clothes, and is inconvenient. It is a weak solution to a real problem and uses non-measured quantities of soap and water for the process. The present invention is expected to use a transparent, lightweight bag which will have markings and directions on the outside of the bag, indicative of the maximum quantity of clothes to be placed therein, the quantity of water to be placed therein, for washing and/or rinsing, with a mini-packet of soap or detergent to be placed into the bag, unless the bag itself is provided with a small compartment within the large compartment separated by a frangible membrane for selective release of the soap, and directions, step by step for the washing and rinsing and drying operation. 
     The prior art surely also contemplates hanging of wet clothing, after washing in the tub or basin with soap and water, on a horizontal clothesline or string, allowing the clothes to drip dry in the shower or into a tub. This is often messy and can take time and may prevents the user from using the tub or shower. And, the inventor is confident, although without specific knowledge, that the prior art may also contemplate at least some hotel guests or traveler/occupants using hair dryers for drying their clothes. This, too, is not controlled, is often done in open air and is likely not nearly as efficient as drying the wet clothes within a contained volume, i.e., the plastic (heat resistant) bag, by passing the dry and hot air, at volume, from a hair dryer past the wet clothes and exhausting the air, filled with moisture, out of the bag. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a combination washer and dryer for small articles of clothing or numbers of pieces of clothing. The device generally resembles a plastic and transparent bag with a large top opening for allowing placement in and taking out of the articles of clothing, with the opening having a closing mechanism to keep the clothes therein. Preferably, the bag is provided with a frangible seal for a section of the interior volume. The seal separates the large volume of the bag from a much smaller volume. The present invention contemplates that the smaller volue of the bag is pre-filled with liquid or granular detergent for clothes which is activated by mixing with water. The frangible separating layer is intended to be easily crushed and allow the detergent to mix with the water and clothes or the layer can be destroyed by mere provision of water into the bag. In either event, clothes are put into the bag, then a volume of water, the bag closed (the water being provided either through the top closure or through a small closable valve, and then the bag sealed. Then, the clothes and the bag are kneaded between hands, mushed about, as the water, now with soap, will tend to release the dirt from the clothing and have the same entrained in the water. According to one aspect of the invention, the water is then drained and fresh or rinse water provided for a second kneading of clothes in water in the bag. When finished, the clothes, within the bag are squeezed to remove water from the clothes and all water is then drained. Finally, the clothes are either removed for air drying or dried or partially dried within the bag. This is accomplished by connection of a hair dryer with cylindrical end, providing a source and volume of hot air, to a large valve of the bag. The hot air is pumped into the bag and moisture-laden air is exhausted either through the top opening or, preferably, through a small opening in the side wall of the bag. Indeed, that side opening is a valve, with a cap, which allows for the passage and drainage of water into and out of the bag during the washing cycle of use. In one embodiment of the invention, the valve for the air dryer is a GORE-TEX® material so that heated air can enter but water cannot exit there so as to prevent electric shock by the contact of water with the electronics of the hair dryer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the invention shown in  FIG. 1  as intended to be used in a first step of use; while 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as used in connection with a subsequent step of use and 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged and partial side view of the top corner of the bag shown in  FIG. 3 , with its first one way valve, allowing air to go in and out, but not water, and a short, cylindrical wall in the side wall of the bag for securely yet removably holding the distal and circular edge of the nozzle of a hair dryer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND DRAWINGS 
     As best seen in the Drawings, the invention comprises a bag  10 , preferably transparent, flexible (capable of being kneaded) and made of plastic material. The bag is quite similar to common ZIPLOC® food storage bags now made by S. C. Johnson. The plastic bag can be any size but it is believed that a fluid gallon is likely a reasonable size for the purposes of the present invention. In addition, currently there are plastic bags for long term storage of sweaters and articles of clothing, provided with a top closure and a valve-like opening with a closure (in this case for attachment of a vacuum so as to suck air from the bag to decrease volume for long term storage. Nevertheless, the present invention, a plastic bag is somewhat heat resistant meaning it will not melt nor degrade for its intended use even if the heat of a hair dryer is directed at the interior or the side walls. 
     The bag  10  is provided with a typical sealing closure  12  at its top and a sealing slide mechanism  14  such that when the slide is pushed to one edge of the bag the bag&#39;s top edges seal shut (in a well-known manner) and when the slide is pushed to the other edge of the bag&#39;s top edges, the bag is open to allow for ease of placing objects into the bag and removing objects therefrom. The seal mechanism, however, closure  12  with slide mechanism  14  is substantially water and air tight when closed. 
     According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, this bag  10  is provided with an interior cavity or holding compartment for clothing, preferably, large enough to hold a pair of socks, a pair of running shorts and a dri-fit shirt or woman&#39;s sports bra. As shown in the present Drawings and Figures, a pair of socks S 1  and S 2  and a jumble of clothing, a DRI-FIT® shirt and running shorts C are easily placeable in the bag, through the opening  20  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bag  10  is printed with directions  22  for the step by step use of the device and a water line  24 , to direct the user as to how much water should be placed into the bag, for washing of the clothes C. Also, a line  26  can be printed to indicate to the user that the bag should not be filled with clothes C beyond the line  26 . 
     According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bag is provided with a smaller cavity  32  within the larger cavity  30 . Cavity or volumetric area  32  is intended to be initially physically separated from larger cavity  30  by a frangible thin plastic wall  34 . The wall  34  serves to initially separate a source of soap  36  in the smaller cavity  32  from the larger cavity  30 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the thin plastic wall  34  will easily rip away or break when the bag is smashed, kneaded, or hit with a striking force to release the soap  36  into the larger cavity  30 . In another embodiment of the invention, the plastic wall  34  can be formed of a dissolvable material which when in contact with water will cause the same to allow the contained soap  36  to flow into and mix with the water in the larger cavity  30 . In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the contained soap is absent and the user merely adds a pre-measured amount of detergent, liquid, gel, powder, into the bag for mixing with the water. 
     The bag  10  is also preferably provided with a small valve  40  in one corner of the bag  10 . This valve  40  is provided with a hinged covering or simple screw cap  42 , not shown. The valve  40  is similar to the air valve used with inflatable toys and pool floats. When open, the valve  40  will allow water to be directed into the bag but, more importantly, when open, the valve can be used to drain water from the interior and larger cavity  30 . Alternatively, of course, water can be directed into and drained out of the bag through the top opening of the bag, so long as the slide  12  is in the open position. The valve is not necessary to providing a functional device but is believed desirable, as will be explained. 
     The bag  10  is preferably also provided with a second, primary and important valve  50 . It is a passageway, when opened, between air or the inside larger cavity  30  and ambient air. In the preferred embodiment the valve  50  is provided with an upper, outwardly extending circular and cylindrical short wall  52  which is sized to accept a nozzle N of a typical electricity powered hair dryer HD (with an on-off switch, a grip, and a cord for plugging the same into a wall outlet for electric power). The short wall  52  is meant to be tight around the nozzle N and held there by friction so that when the dryer HD is activated, substantially all of the hot forced air is going into the bag and into the interior cavity  30 . The preferred embodiment contemplates that the valve  50  has a barrier  54  which allows for hot air to easily pass through and into the bag but does not allow water to flow out. The barrier  54  can be a form of GORE-TEX® material which is believed to have air passable (breathable) characteristic but is water impervious. This is believed to provide a safety feature to the use of the invention. This primary valve  50  can be provided with a hinged cap or a threaded cap, too, although not required for use. 
     In use, the bag  10  is opened. Clothes C and/or socks S 1  and S 2  are placed therein. Then, water is provided to the interior of the bag by having the water pass through the large opening at the top of the bag or by having the source of water connected to or in fluid communication with the smaller valve  40 . Clothes C and the socks S 1  and S 2  are placed into the bag but preferably so that the clothes and socks do not extend beyond line  26 . Water is provided into the bag, too, but not beyond line  24 . The bag  10  is then sealed shut, as shown in  FIG. 2 , with the slide of the closure mechanism shown on the right side of the bag. The valve  40 , if opened for the pouring of water into the bag, is now closed. Of course, for these prior steps, the primary valve  50  is either closed or the barrier  54  is sufficient to ensure that water poured into the bag does not flow out of the bag through the valve  50 . In an alternative embodiment where no soap is integrated into the interior of the bag, prior to placing the clothes C and socks S 1  and S 2  into the bag, a small amount of liquid, gel or granular/powder of detergent is provided and, preferably, up to but not exceeding a printed_soap fill line  60 . 
     With the bag, clothing and socks, in the water, and the bag sealed shut, the frangible material  34  is broken, either by smashing or kneading the same, by the action of the water dissolving the separating wall or some other mechanical means (a pull tab can be released) which allows the soap to flow into the water of the larger cavity. The soap will be in the water and further kneading and turning of the bag and its contents will cause the soap and water solution to start to remove dirt from the clothes C and socks S 1  and S 2 . The water will become dirty. After some short but reasonable time, say, 1-2 minutes, the bag is opened. This can be done by sliding the slide  12  to the left or by opening the valve  40 . The dirty water is drained into a tub or sink. Then, if desired, fresh and clean water can be poured back into the bag, either through the top opening or through the valve  40  and the closure and/or valve shut. A second kneading should then occur which is, in effect, a rinse cycle for the clothes C and socks S 1  and S 2 . If desired another rinse cycle can occur. 
     Then, when the rinsing is complete, the water is evacuated from the bag, the clothes C and socks S 1  and S 2 , wringed out within the bag to remove excess water. The water is evacuated from the bag either through the top opening or through the valve  40 . Then, the top opening  20  is closed (if valve  40  is present) or partially open (if no small valve is present). A hair dryer HD is then secured with its nozzle N inserted and frictionally held by cylindrical short wall  54 . The hair dryer HD is then turned “on” and warm air enters the larger cavity to take moisture from the clothes and socks and take that away as the air is exhausted through either the open valve  40  or through the partially open top opening of the bag. The clothes and socks, C and S 1  and S 2 , are either partially dried and the items hung for further air drying, or are fully dried in a short time.