Patent Publication Number: US-2005121455-A1

Title: Laundry protector

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a laundry protector, and more particularly to a laundry protector having a housing with an interior, an exterior, and a laundry opening therebetween, allowing a piece of laundry to be inserted into the interior of the housing through the laundry opening. After enclosing the piece of laundry in the housing, the laundry protector may be placed within a washing machine, allowing its contents to receive protection while being washed.  
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
      Historically, washing laundry was accomplished through traditional hand-washing techniques. When hand washing a delicate piece of laundry such as a bra, an individual had to proceed cautiously to ensure that the piece of laundry remained undamaged.  
      However, with advent of washing machines, washing laundry by hand has quickly become a thing of the past. As people pile loads of laundry into washing machines, people no longer have the luxury of carefully ensuring the safety of each piece of laundry individually. Washing machines use mechanized wash cycles to wash and rinse loads of laundry. Because of the mechanized nature of an electric washing machine, delicate laundry often becomes damaged in the wash cycle.  
      Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved laundry protector for protecting laundry when placed within a washing machine. The present invention substantially fulfills this need.  
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a laundry protector, and more particularly a laundry protector having a housing with an interior, an exterior, and a laundry opening therebetween. The laundry protector also includes a plurality of washing holes in the housing, where the washing holes pass from the interior to the exterior, whereby a piece of laundry can be inserted into the interior of the housing through the laundry opening. After inserting the piece of laundry in the interior of the housing, the laundry protector may be placed in a washing machine, allowing its contents to recieve protection while being washed while water and detergent pass through the plurality of washing holes.  
      In another aspect, the laundry protector further comprises a lid attached with the housing, where the lid covers the laundry opening. The lid of the housing can be manipulated to expose the laundry opening and allow a piece of laundry to be inserted into the interior of the housing through the laundry opening.  
      Additionally, the housing is constructed of a material selected from a group consisting of plastic, rubber, and metal.  
      In another aspect, the laundry protector has a three-dimensional shape and the three-dimensional shape is selected from a group consisting of a sphere, a polygon, an ellipsoid, and a cylindrical shape.  
      Furthermore, the housing has a top portion and a flattened portion, whereby the flattened portion allows the housing to sit evenly atop a surface without rolling so that a user can easily insert the piece of laundry.  
      In yet another aspect, the laundry protector has a length and the length is more than approximately three inches and less than approximately fourteen inches.  
      In another aspect, the piece of laundry is lingerie.  
      Additionally, at least one item from a set including the lid and the housing includes a finger indentation, allowing a user to take hold of the laundry protector while opening or closing the laundry protector.  
      In another aspect, the laundry protector further comprises at least one separator in the interior of the housing, whereby the separator creates a first compartment and a second compartment thereby preventing multiple items from touching each other while being washed. Furthermore, the separator include holes therethrough, thereby allowing fluids to pass from a first compartment to a second compartment.  
      In yet another aspect, the laundry protector further comprises at least one laundry-securing device in the interior of the housing. The laundry-securing device may be used to hold a hook end of a bra in place while washing, thereby prohibiting a hook from catching or tearing delicate fabrics. Additionally, the laundry-securing device includes teeth to engage with a piece of laundry, thereby holding the piece of laundry in place about the laundry-securing device while being washed.  
      Additionally, the laundry protector further comprises a base for attaching with the housing. The base prevents the laundry protector from rolling while inserting a piece of laundry into the interior of the housing. The base is constructed such that it attaches with the housing using at least one item selected from a group consisting of a male/female screw system and a snap system.  
      In another aspect, the lid is attached with the housing through a connector.  
      In yet anther aspect, the connector comprises a hinge and a snap, where the lid is attached with the housing with the hinge, thereby allowing the lid to be swung to an open position and a closed position, wherein, when in a closed position, the snap allows the lid to be securely fastened with the housing.  
      In another aspect, the connector comprises threads in the housing and corresponding threads in the lid, allowing the lid to be screwed into and fastened securely with the housing.  
      Finally, the lid and the connector are integrally formed as a lid-connector and wherein the lid connector is constructed of rubber having a lid-lip portion for attaching with a housing-lip portion to fit securely with the housing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The nature of the laundry protector described herein will be readily apparent in the following drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a laundry protector according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is cut-away cross sectional view of the laundry protector of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the laundry protector according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of a laundry protector according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a side view of a connector according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 6A  is a side view of another aspect of a laundry protector according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 6B  is a blown-up, cut-away view of a circle highlighted in  FIG. 6A ;  
       FIG. 7  is a side view of another aspect of a laundry protector according to the present invention, where the laundry protector is attached with a base;  
       FIG. 8  is a side view of a base for attaching with a housing;  
       FIG. 9  is a cut-away cross-sectional view of another aspect of a laundry protector according to the present invention, where the laundry protector includes a separator;  
       FIG. 10  is a top view of the laundry protector of  FIG. 9 ;  
       FIG. 11  is a cut-away cross-sectional view of another aspect of a laundry protector according to the present invention, where the laundry protector includes a laundry-securing device; and  
       FIG. 12  is a top view of the laundry protector of  FIG. 11 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      The present invention relates to a laundry protector, and more particularly, to a laundry protector having a housing with an interior, an exterior, and a laundry opening therebetween, allowing a piece of laundry to be inserted into the interior of the housing through the laundry opening, and after enclosing the piece of laundry in the housing, the laundry protector may be placed within a washing machine, allowing its contents to receive protection while being washed.  
      The following description, taken in conjunction with the referenced drawings, is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. Various modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of aspects. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the aspects presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. Furthermore it should be noted that unless explicitly stated otherwise, the figures included herein are illustrated diagrammatically and without any specific scale, as they are provided as qualitative illustrations of the concept of the present invention.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a laundry protector  100  according to the present invention. The laundry protector  100  comprises a housing  102  with an interior  104 , an exterior  106 , and a laundry opening  108  therebetween. Due to the side view of  FIG. 1 , the laundry opening  108  is shown sideways in this particular illustration. The laundry protector  100  may be any suitable three-dimensional shape, non-limiting examples of which include a sphere, a polygon, an ellipsoid, and a cylindrical shape. Additionally, the laundry protector  100  may be any suitable length or dimension allowing the laundry protector to fit within a washing mashing, a non-limiting example of which includes a length of more than three inches and less than fourteen inches.  
      The housing  102  may be constructed of any suitable durable material, non-limiting examples of which include plastic, rubber, and metal. A lid  110  is attached with the housing  102  and covers the laundry opening  108 . The lid  110  may be constructed of any suitable durable material, non-limiting examples of which include plastic, rubber, and metal. The lid  110  is attached with the housing  102  through a connector  112 . The connector  112  may be any suitable mechanism or device for connecting one object with another, non-limiting examples of which include a hinge with a snap (i.e. male/female joint system), and threads. For example, in the case where the lid  110  is attached with the housing  102  with a hinge  114 , the lid  110  may be swung open and thereafter closed to be securely fastened with the housing through use of a snap  116 . When a hinge  114  is used, the hinge  114  may be separately formed and thereafter attached with the lid  110 , or integrally formed with the lid  110 , such as a living hinge. In another example, in the case where the connector  112  uses threads, threads are included in the housing  102  with corresponding threads in the lid  110 , allowing the lid  110  to be screwed into and fastened securely with the housing  102 .  
      Additionally, a plurality of washing holes  117  pass from the interior  104  to the exterior  106  of the housing  102 . The washing holes  117  may be any suitable size or placed at any suitable location to allow water and detergent to pass therethrough.  
      The lid  110  of the housing  102  can be opened to expose the laundry opening  108 . Once opened, a piece of laundry can be inserted into the interior  104  of the housing  102  through the laundry opening  108 . After closing the lid  110  and enclosing the piece of laundry in the interior  104  of the housing  102 , the laundry protector  100  may be placed in a washing machine, allowing its contents to receive protection while being washed, with water and detergent passing through the plurality of washing holes  117 . The piece of laundry may be any piece of laundry capable of fitting within the interior  104  of the housing  102 , non-limiting examples of which include lingerie such as a bra and nylon stockings.  
      Furthermore, the housing  102  has a top portion  118  and a flattened portion  120 . The flattened portion  120  allows the housing  102  to sit securely atop a surface without rolling so that a user can easily insert the piece of laundry into the housing  102 . The flattened portion  120  may be located at any suitable location along the housing  102 . For example and as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the flattened portion  120  may be located on a bottom of the housing  102 . In another aspect, the flattened portion  120  may be located on a side of the housing  102  which allows the laundry protector  100  to be easily loaded at an angle.  
      Additionally, the laundry protector  100  may optionally include finger indentations  122 . The finger indentations  122  allow a user to take hold of the laundry protector  100  while opening or closing it. The finger indentations  122  may be located at any suitable location allowing a user to take hold of the laundry protector  100 , non-limiting examples of such locations including in the housing  102  and the lid  110 .  
       FIG. 2  is a cut-away cross-sectional view of a laundry protector  100 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the lid  110  may be manipulated to expose the laundry opening  108 . Once exposed, the piece of laundry  200  may be inserted into the interior  104  of the housing  102 .  
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the laundry protector  100  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , finger indentations  122  may be included in the lid  110 , allowing a user to easily manipulate the lid  110 .  
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the laundry protector  100  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , finger indentations  122  may be included in the bottom of the housing  102 . In this particular illustration, the finger indentations are included in the flattened portion  120  of the housing  102 .  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a laundry protector  100  with a connector  112 . As stated above, the connector  112  may be any suitable mechanism or device for connecting one object with another, non-limiting examples of which include a hinge with a snap and threads. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , when the connector  112  uses threads  500 , threads  500  are included in the housing  102  with corresponding threads  500  in the lid  110 . The threads  500  allow the lid  110  to be screwed into and fastened securely with the housing  102 . A spacer  502  may be optionally included with the threads  500 . The spacer  502  may be a compressible rubber, allowing the lid  110  to be secured against the housing  102 . In this form, when the lid  110  is removed, the piece of laundry  200  may be inserted into the interior  104  of the housing  102 . Once inserted, the lid  110  may be screwed back into place and thereby protects the piece of laundry  200 .  
       FIG. 6A  illustrates a laundry protector  100  with another type of a connector  600 . In this aspect, the lid  110  and the connector  600  are integrally formed as a lid-connector  110 / 600 . The lid-connector  110 / 600  may be constructed of any suitable durable material, non-limiting examples of which include plastic and rubber. Additionally, the lid-connector  110 / 600  may also include washing holes  117 , where the washing holes pass from an interior to an exterior of the housing  102 .  
      The connector  600  has a lid-lip portion  602  and the housing as a housing-lip portion  604 . The housing-lip portion  604  is constructed such that the lid-lip portion  802  attaches therein, allowing the lid-connector  110 / 600  to be securely attached with the housing  102 .  
       FIG. 6B  illustrates a blown-up, cut-away view of a circle highlighted in  FIG. 6A . As shown in  FIG. 6B , the housing-lip portion  604  is constructed such that the lid-lip portion  602  attaches therein, allowing the lid-connector  110 / 600  to be securely attached with the housing  102 .  
       FIG. 7  illustrates another aspect of a laundry protector  100  according to the present invention. In this aspect, the laundry protector  100  may be removably attached with a base  700  to prevent the laundry protector  100  from rolling while inserting a piece of laundry into the interior  104  of the housing  102 . The base  700  may be constructed of any suitably durable material, non-limiting examples of which include plastic, rubber, and metal.  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a base  700 . The base  700  may be attached with the housing through any suitable mechanism or device for attaching one object with another, non-limiting examples of which include a male/female screw system, and a snap system. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the base  700  may include a screw system  800 , where the screw system  800  can be screwed into a corresponding screw system on the housing.  
       FIG. 9  illustrates another aspect of a laundry protector  100  according to the present invention. In this aspect, the laundry protector  100  further comprises at least one separator  900  in the interior  104  of the housing  102 . The separator  900  prevents multiple items from touching each other while being washed. The separator  900  may be constructed of any suitable durable material, non-limiting examples of which include plastic, rubber, and metal. Additionally, the separator  900  may include holes therethrough, allowing fluids to pass from a first compartment  902  to a second compartment  904 . Furthermore, the separator  900  may be permanently affixed or removably attached within the housing  102 . When removably attached within the housing  102 , the separator  900  may be removably attached through any suitable mechanism or device for removably attaching one object with another, a non-limiting example of which includes rails  906 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the rails  906  allow the separator  900  to be slid into and affixed with the housing  102 .  
       FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the laundry protector  100  of  FIG. 9 . As shown, the separator  900  compartmentalizes the laundry protector  100 , creating a first compartment  902  and a second compartment  904 .  
       FIG. 11  illustrates another aspect of a laundry protector  100  according to the present invention. In this aspect, the laundry protector  100  includes a laundry-securing device  1100  in the interior  104  of the housing  102 . The laundry-securing device  1100  may be any suitable mechanism or device for holding a piece of laundry firmly in place, a non-limiting example of which includes a bar. In this aspect, the laundry-securing device  1100  may be used to hold a hook end of a bra in place while washing, thereby prohibiting a hook from catching or tearing delicate fabrics. The laundry-securing device  1100  may be constructed of any suitably durable material, non-limiting examples of which include plastic, rubber, and metal.  
      Additionally, the laundry-securing device  1100  is attached with the housing  102  through use of a device-connector  1102 . The device-connector  1102  may be any suitable mechanism or device for connecting one object with another, a non-limiting example of which includes a hinge. Furthermore, the laundry-securing device  1100  may be fastened with the housing  102  through use of a device-fastener  1104 . The device-fastener  1104  may be any suitable mechanism or device for fastening one object with another, a non-limiting example of which includes a fastener tab. In this aspect, the laundry-securing device  1100  may be unfastened, allowing the piece of laundry to be placed beneath the laundry-securing device  1100 . The laundry-securing device  1100  may then be placed over the piece of laundry and fastened with the housing  102  using the fastener tab.  
      The laundry-securing device  1100  may also include teeth  1106 . The teeth  1106  are constructed such that they engage with the piece of laundry to prevent the piece of laundry from slipping out while being washed. The teeth  1106  may be any suitable size or placed at any suitable location to firmly engage with the piece of laundry.  
       FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of the laundry protector  100  of  FIG. 11 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , a bra  1200  may be firmly affixed within the interior  104  of the housing  102  through use of the laundry-securing device  1100 . In this aspect, a hook end  1202  of the bra  1200  is held against the housing  102  with the hooks facing the housing  102 , thereby preventing the hooks from catching or tearing other delicate fabrics placed within the laundry protector  100 .