Patent Publication Number: US-2019169791-A1

Title: Method of collecting, transporting and cleaning with reusable laundry bag

Description:
This claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/594,615, filed Dec. 5, 2017 and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a method of laundering soiled textiles, and relates specifically to such a method utilizing a reusable laundry bag for collecting, transporting and laundering soiled textiles. 
     The cleaners of a healthcare facility play a vital role in limiting the spread of infections among patients. In an effort to reduce employee injuries while also improving cleanliness, healthcare facilities are now using lightweight microfiber cleaning products. While reducing employee injuries and improving cleanliness, there remains the desire to further protect the textile service providers who collect, transport and launder the soiled microfiber products. Limiting the providers&#39; exposure to the soiled product will reduce risk of injury and infection. 
     Traditionally, plastic bags have been used to contain soiled textiles from the healthcare industries. The plastic bags may be small bags, which are then placed in a larger can, or they may be large trash bags placed in cans. Typically, the provider picks up the bags by hand and transfers them to a truck. While carrying flimsy plastic bags, the provider is at risk of needle sticks and exposure to pathogens if the plastic bag tears. The provider then hauls the bags to the central laundry facility, where they are unloaded. Employees rip open the bags and dump the soiled textiles into a washing machine or into a sling, a potential exposure path for the worker to sharps and pathogens. Additionally, disposal of bacteria-laden bags becomes a major problem, and landfill sites are increasingly burdened with materials such as plastic bags. 
     Solutions to these problems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,435,311 and 8,691,257, each incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. These patents disclose a sling having an open end disposed in a container. Soiled textiles are deposited in the sling in the container. When the sling and container are full, they are transported to a laundry facility where the sling and soiled textiles are removed from the container by a crane and ultimately the soiled textiles are deposited out of the sling and into a washing machine for cleaning. 
     These patents also disclose a water-soluble bag within the sling into which the soiled textiles are deposited and held. The water-soluble bag holds the textiles and is likewise deposited into the washing machine where it dissolves in the washing process. However, the water-soluble bag can leave unwanted residue on the laundered textiles and may leak in the totes or containers or in the sling transfer process. 
     What is needed is a method of handling and cleaning soiled textiles that decreases occupational exposure to chemicals and pathogens, and decreases the potential for injuries to healthcare cleaning workers and providers while avoiding residue on the laundered textiles and added mess and exposure to the workers. Thus, a systematic process for protecting the service providers and processing and cleaning the soiled healthcare facility textiles is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the use of a reusable bag for containing soiled textiles. In one embodiment, the bag has an open end, a closed end, and sides extending therebetween. The method also includes the use of retention straps to secure the bag in a tote or container. 
     This invention further relates to the use of a receptacle for collecting soiled textiles, comprising a container having an open end, a closed end, and sides extending therebetween, the use of a sling having an open end, a second end, and sides extending therebetween, being disposed inside the container, and the use of a reusable bag having an open end, a closed end, and sides extending therebetween, being disposed inside the sling. 
     One advantage offered by the use of reusable bag over the prior art is that it does not leave unwanted residue on the laundered products and offers a significant cost savings because the bag is reusable. It is estimated that the reusable bag will result in an annual cost savings of over $480 per tote with an average savings of $3.73 per use over the prior art water soluble bags. 
     Moreover, operational efficiencies are realized with this invention due to the elimination of the leaks from the bag and of cleaning the totes or containers when the prior art water soluble bags leak or slip entirely into the tote. The reusable bags of this invention have passed the Hohenstein Institute&#39;s criteria for hygienic cleanliness when processed with the CDC Healthcare formula. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIGS. 1-3  are views of a reusable bag of various embodiments of this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the interior of a portion of one of the bags from  FIGS. 1-3  showing a pair of retention straps; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a container of one embodiment of the invention with the lid in the open position; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 5  with the lid in the closed position; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a sling of one embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a reusable bag being inserted into the sling in the container; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the container of the invention lined with a sling and a reusable bag; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the retention straps on the reusable bag being secured to the container; 
         FIGS. 11-13  are perspective views of an upper portion of the reusable bag being wrapped around an upper portion of the container; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the lid of the container being secured closed after soiled textiles have been deposited into the reusable bag and sling in the container; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the retention straps being released after the container and soiled textiles have arrived at a washing facility; 
         FIGS. 16-18  are perspective views of the upper portion of the reusable bag being released from the upper portion of the container and inserted into the sling in the container; 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the sling of the invention containing a reusable bag with soiled textiles therein being removed from the container; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the reusable bag of the invention containing soiled textiles released into a washer; and 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a washing machine, washed laundry transfer mechanism, and dryer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a reusable laundry bag  121  according to one embodiment of this invention constructed from a single sheet by folding a sheet  122  of generally rectangular configuration along a bisecting line  123  and seaming the bag at its sides  124 ,  125 . The bag  121  has an open end  106 , a closed end  107 , and sides  108  and  109  therebetween. While the bags in  FIGS. 1-3  are depicted as rectangular in shape, it will be understood that it may be made in any desired shape. For example, it will be appreciated that the bag  121  may be constructed from a generally tubular body provided with such a seam at the bottom of the bag. The bag  121  may also be reinforced to decrease the risk of leakage during handling. For example, an extra sheet may be added to the bottom of the bag, where the liquids are most likely to accumulate and cause the bag to prematurely rupture. 
     The reusable bag  121  may be constructed of Yuma HS-LD409 200 denier coated nylon available from Industrial Bag &amp; Specialties, Inc. of Southfield, Mich. 48075, www.industrialbag.com, although many other materials may be used for the bag according to this invention. 
     The bag  121  should be large enough to contain at least 175 lbs. of soiled textiles  100  and have capacity of at least 50 gallons. The bags  121  may hold up to 500 lbs. of laundry  100  and may have a capacity of up to 100 gallons. Various compositions known to those of ordinary skill in the art may meet this requirement. 
     The bag  121  may be colored or may comprise different markings or patterns on the surface. The colors may indicate to the user the type of soiled laundry  100  contained therein. The patterns are typically made from dyes that are not fabric substantive and do not transfer to the soiled laundry  100  during storage of the laundry in the bag or during the washing process. Alternatively, the patterns may be embossed and/or printed on the bag. 
     As shown most clearly in  FIG. 4 , the bag  121  according to various embodiments of this invention includes a pair of retention straps  120  secured to an inside surface along a back edge of the bag  121 . The retention straps  120  each include an elongate piece of heavy-duty material  118  and extend beyond the upper edge of the bag. Each retention strap  120  includes two connecting portions  126 ,  128  which may cooperate with one another to secure the bag. The connecting portions  126 ,  128  according to various embodiments of this invention may be hook and loop fasteners with one portion of the hook and loop fastener on one section of the strap and the complimentary hook and loop fastener section on the other end of the strap  120  such that the strap  120  may be folded on itself and secured by the hook and loop fastener connection. The bag  121  may also include an elastic loop strap  130  extending most, if not all, of the upper edge or hem of the bag  121 . 
     Another aspect of this invention is shown in  FIG. 5  and is a container or wheeled tote  300 . Container  300  shown in  FIG. 5  includes a body having an open end  310 , a closed end  309 , sides  311 ,  312 ,  313  and  314  and a lid  302  that is pivotally attached to a rear side of the body by a hinge  303 . The hinge  303  may incorporate a handle  308  for the wheeled container  300 . At the front of the lid  302  there is mounted a downwardly extending elongated tongue  304  having an aperture  305  in the vicinity of its free end. An apron  306  extends around the top of the open end of the container. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the tongue  304  has an enlarged head  321  positioned snugly against the upper side of the lid and passes through a slot (not shown) in the lid, the tongue being secured to the lid with respect to this slot. The lid is also supplied with an opening  310  for receiving soiled textiles  100 . 
     With the lid  302  in the closed position, the tongue  304  extends downwardly immediately behind the apron  306  so that the aperture  305  in the tongue  304  registers with the aperture  307  (see  FIG. 6 ) in the apron  306 . In this position, a padlock  409  can be threaded from behind the apron through the registering apertures  305  and  307  and the padlock secured to lock the lid  302  in the closed position. Wheels  316  may also be provided on the container  300  to allow for easier transportation of the container. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , another aspect of various embodiments of this invention is a sling  500 . The sling has an open first end  501 , an open second end  502 , and side walls  503 . The second end  502  may be cinched closed to support the bag  121  containing soiled textiles. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , a drawstring  504  is used to cinch the second end  502  closed. Straps  505  extend upwardly from open end  501  and downwardly along the side walls  5036  to support the sling  500 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8-9 , the container  300  receives the sling  500  and the bag  121 . An unshown side and sides of the open end of the sling  500  and the sides of the open end of the bag  121  are folded over the top of the container  300  as shown in  FIG. 8 . To close the lid  302 , the side of the bag  121  and the side of the sling  500  may be folded to allow the tongue  304  to pass by the bag  121  and sling  500 . The lid  302  of the container  300  is then closed and locked. The lid  302  of the container  300  serves to secure the sling  500  and bag  121  in place. The user may provide a second bag inside the first bag if additional protection is desired. 
     As shown most particularly in FIG. to, once the bag  121  is inserted into the sling  500  within the container  300 , the retention straps  120  are secured to the handle  308  of the container  300 . Each retention strap  120  is extended and wrapped around the handle  308  and then the securing sections  126 ,  128  of each retention strap  120  are secured together to thereby secure the bag  121  to the handle  308  of the container  300  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11-13 , once the retention straps  120  are secured to the handle  308  of the container  300 , the upper portion of the bag  121  is wrapped around the front two corners of the apron  306  on the container opposite the handle  308  ( FIG. 11 ). The elastic loop strap  130  which may be part of the bag  121 , the sling  500  or an additional component of the invention may be then secured over the front apron  306  of the container  300  as shown dearly in  FIG. 12 . Once the front edge of the upper apron of the container  300  is covered by the bag  121 , the bag  121  is then pulled around the remaining upper edge of the container  300  as shown more dearly in  FIG. 13 . The elastic loop strap  130  may be completely wrapped around the front and then the back of the container  300 . 
     In one operation of the invention, the textile service provider supplies the container  300  containing the sling  500  and bag  121  to the healthcare facility. Typically, the container lid  302  is locked using the tongue  304  and a padlock  409 , such as the padlock in  FIG. 6 , securing the sling  500  and bag  121  in the container  300  before delivering the assembly to the healthcare facility. The container  300  may be marked with labels regarding appropriate textiles  100  to place therein. The provider may spot the container  300  at a collection location at the healthcare facility, or may deliver the container  300  to a central location at the facility. In addition to the container  300 , the provider may deliver clean microfiber mops and other textiles to the healthcare facility. 
     The healthcare cleaners use mops and other textile cleaning products, such as microfiber textiles, in their daily cleaning activities. The cleaners place soiled microfiber textiles in an opening provided in the lid  302  of the container  300 . As discussed previously, the bag  121  is of sufficient thickness and design so that it will support the soiled textiles  100  that may be wet from cleaning products. 
     On a regular basis, the provider retrieves the container  300  holding the soiled textiles  100  from the healthcare facility and delivers another container  300  preloaded with the sling  500  and bag  121  to the healthcare facility. The container  300  containing soiled textiles  100  is loaded onto the truck and delivered to a central washing facility. Other means of transporting the container  300  holding the soiled textiles  100  may also be used. For instance, if the laundry facility is located within the healthcare facility, then the container  300  may simply be wheeled to the laundry facility. 
     Upon arriving at the central laundry facility, the provider moves the container  300  from the truck to a staging area. The containers  300  are sorted according to the materials contained therein. For example, microfibers must be kept separate from other textiles. If washed together, the fibers of traditional textiles will fill the voids in the microfiber, rendering the microfiber ineffective. Thus, it is essential that microfiber be kept separate from other cleaning textiles. The provider may use color coded liners, slings, or containers to assist in sorting the containers. 
     Once the soiled laundry  100  within the bag  121  within the sling  500  within the container  300  arrives at the laundry facility, the lid  302  of the container  300  is opened by unlocking the padlock  409  to release the lid  302  from the body of the container  300 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , after the lid  302  is opened, the retention straps  120  will be removed from the handle  308  of the container  300 . It is advised that each retention strap  120  should be secured to itself once it is removed from the handle  308  of the container  300  so that the hook and loop fastener sections  126 ,  128  do not become fouled or damaged during the laundry process. The accumulation of lint is a common phenomenon when the hook and loop fasteners are exposed during the laundry process. 
     A shown in  FIG. 16 , the front then the back corners of the bag  121  and the elastic loop strap  130  are released from the container  300  and, as shown in  FIGS. 17-18 , the bag  121  is tucked into the sling  500  entirely while the sling  50   o  remains in the container  300 . 
     At the central laundry facility, an employee wheels the container  300  holding the sling  500 , the bag  121 , and soiled textile products under an unloading device as shown in  FIG. 19 . The employee may don personal protective equipment (PPE), as required. Loops  821 ,  822 ,  823  and  824  are disposed on a hook mechanism  825  located on a crane  826 . Additionally, a release cord  828  for a cinched end  802  of the sling  801  is hooked onto an automated release mechanism  827 . The sling  5   oo  is then raised out of the container  300 , and stopped just above the container. An end  802  of the sling  500  remains cinched closed to support the bag  121 . Typically, the sling  500  would be stopped at a height of 4-6 feet above the ground. Prior to sending the sling  500  and textiles  100  to the washing area, an associate may check the sling  500  and bag  121  for any leakage. If leaks are found, the sling  500  is returned to the container  300 . The associate then obtains a second container  300  preloaded with an empty bag  121  and sling  500  (similar to the system of  FIG. 7 ), raises the sling  500  containing the soiled textiles  100  out of the first container  300 , moves the second container  300  under the leaking sling  500 , opens the bottom of the sling  500 , and transfers the bag  121  and soiled textiles into the second container  300 . Additionally, the first container  300  holding the sling  500  may be disinfected using a bleach solution, with the container surfaces kept moist with the bleach solution for at least 10 minutes. If the bag  121  has leaked, the sling  500  typically is washed. The sling  500  is washed separate from the microfiber products to prevent fibers from the sling filling the voids of the microfiber products, rendering them ineffective. The operator then sends the sling  500  with soiled textiles  100  and bag  121  to the wash room. The sling  500  travels on a rail  806  to a staging area, and finally to a washing machine. However, the reusable bag  121  of this invention reduced and/or eliminates leakage compared to the prior art. 
     As shown in  FIG. 21 , the sling  500  travels along a rail  806 , stopping at a position above a washing machine  903 . An automated release mechanism  827  releases the bag  121  and the soiled textiles  100  therein into the washing machine  903 . Depending upon the washing machine&#39;s capacity, a single load may consist of multiple bags  121  containing soiled textiles  100 . 
     Pursuant to the Center for Disease Control Guidelines for hospital laundry, the soiled textiles  100  are washed in 160° F. water for 25 minutes with 50-150 PPM total available chlorine. More typically, the textiles are washed at 165° F. for 25 minutes, followed by 8 minutes of washing at 145° to 150° F. in a chlorine solution containing 5-12 ounces of 10-12% chlorine bleach per hundred weight of soiled product. The load is then rinsed using three 2-minute rinse cycles, one with hot water, typically 130° F., followed by two cycles of cold water, or water less than 90°. 
     Once the bag  121  with the soiled textiles  100  enters the washing machine, the time it takes for the bag  121  to release its contents depends generally on the contents and design of the bag, but also on a number of other factors such as the quantity of liquid contained in the bag, the weight and nature of the load which is placed in the bag, and the functional characteristics of the washing machine. Typically, the bag  121  releases its contents within 90 seconds of entering the washing machine. The bag  121  may be used with both front-loading and top-loading automatic washing machines and also with non-automatic washing machines. 
     After the textiles are washed, they are transferred to a dryer  933 . As shown in  FIG. 21 , washed textiles  931  are unloaded from the washing machine  903  onto a conveyor system  932 . The conveyor system  932  transfers the textiles to the dryer  933 . Other systems for transferring the washer textiles from the washing machine to the dryer  933  may be utilized. For example, if the facility does not have a conveyer system available, the unloading of the washing machine and transferring to the dryer may take place by hand. After drying, the textiles are sorted and checked for foreign objects, such as a foreign textile or sharps. 
     Under ordinary operating conditions, as the above description shows, the provider does not touch the soiled textiles. The soiled textiles are confined in the bag  121  and sling  500  from the time they are collected until they exit the washing machine  903 . Only then, after the textiles are disinfected, washed, and dried, are they checked for foreign objects, such as needles. Even if a needle stick occurs, the risk of infection is virtually eliminated because the needle has been through the wash and disinfecting cycle. The reduced handling of the soiled textiles described herein reduces a providers&#39; exposure to pathogens. 
     From the above disclosure of the general principles of this invention and the preceding detailed description of at least one embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which this invention is susceptible. Therefore, we desire to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.