Patent Publication Number: US-7591156-B2

Title: Apparatus for washing of items

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/644,303 filed Aug. 20, 2003, which was published as United States Patent Application Publication US2004/0034943, and is now U.S. Pat. No. 6,973,808, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from provisional application Ser. No. 60/404,584 filed on Aug. 20, 2002. This application also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from provisional application Ser. No. 60/657,241 filed on Feb. 28, 2005. All of these documents are incorporated by reference herein, in their entireties. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to apparatus used for washing of items that may include personal care and delicate items. More particularly, it relates to apparatus used for washing of items which are readily damaged by washing machines, such as personal care items including prosthetic devices and delicate items such as lingerie generally, and in particular, brassieres. 
   2. Prior Art 
   Very delicate garments, such as items of lingerie, including brassieres, panties and other similar items, can be protected from damage by hand washing. However, with the demands of a busy schedule, this not is generally a viable option. 
   Many washing machines manufactured today have some settings that may be used for more gentle washing cycles. However, these setting may not be adequately gentle to preserve the shape of delicate fabrics and to prevent other types of damage. Further, it is often desirable to run a full load of various fabrics that need cleaning, and even if a gentle wash cycle is used, the mere presence of a full load of other items, during the various washing cycles, may cause damage to delicate items. Finally delicate and generally expensive items such as prosthetic devices, such as, for example, prosthetic brassieres, need to be carefully handled during machine washing to avoid damage 
   Thus, there is a need for a way to protect the integrity of items during the machine washing process, which provides flexibility in the use of the washing machine in terms of size of load and selected washing cycles. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the invention to provide a device for protecting items while being washed in a washing machine. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a device that does not interfere with the washing process. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a device that is relatively simple to manufacture and low in cost. 
   It is yet another object of the invention to provide a method for washing items, and in particular, a brassiere. 
   These objects and others are achieved in accordance with the invention by an enclosure for items including a simple frame and a flow through mesh on the frame that allows washing water to freely flow to and from the item being washed. The mesh may be configured with a generally rectangular pocket. A stiffing strip is disposed within the generally rectangular pocket. 
   An opening for the item or items to be washed may be closed by a zipper. A pocket may be provided for the zipper pull so that when in the closed position, the zipper pull is hidden, the zipper will remain closed, and the zipper pull will not damage fabrics outside the enclosure. 
   In use, the zipper is opened. An item (or a plurality of items), such as, for example, one or two brassieres, is placed in the enclosure. The zipper is pulled closed by the zipper pull, which is then positioned within the pocket. The enclosure, including its contents, is placed in the washing machine along with the remainder of the load to be washed. The contents are protected from rough mechanical handling by virtue of being within the enclosure, but are fully washed due to the flow through nature of the mesh. After washing, the contents of the enclosure are removed from the enclosure, and dried in any number of ways well known in the art. 
   A first aspect of the invention is directed toward an apparatus for washing at least one item, comprising a frame having a dome shape when viewed from its end, especially when filed with items to be washed, and a generally semicircular shape when viewed from its side; and a flow through mesh on the frame which allows washing fluid (generally water) to freely flow to and from the item being washed; the apparatus having an opening through which the at least one item to be washed can be placed into and removed from the apparatus. The frame may have an oval shape when view from its bottom. 
   In a second aspect, the invention is directed toward an apparatus for washing at least one item, comprising; a frame having an endless pocket; a stiffener disposed within the pocket, the stiffener having a flexible peripheral shape so that flexing of the stiffener provides a pumping action to assist in circulating washing fluid through the apparatus; and a flow through mesh on the frame which allows washing water to freely flow to and from the item being washed; the apparatus having an opening through which the at least one item to be washed can be placed into and removed from the apparatus. The stiffener may have a length exceeding that of the endless pocket, so that ends of the stiffener overlap each other within the endless pocket. The ends may be covered with a smooth, bulbous protective covering. Alternatively, the stiffener may be configured so that one end of the stiffer telescopes inside the other end. 
   The apparatus may further comprise a closing mechanism for closing the opening. The closing mechanism may be one of a Ziplock® arrangement, a fabric fastener or a zipper. If it is a zipper, a pocket for a zipper pull of the zipper may be provided, the pocket being sized, shaped and positioned so that when in the closed position, the zipper pull is hidden, the zipper will remain closed, and the zipper pull will not damage items outside the enclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing aspects and other features of the present invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an enlarged, detailed cut-away view of an additional embodiment of a portion of FIG. 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,973,808. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,973,808. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The entire description of  FIGS. 1-5 ,  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  of U.S. Pat. No. 6,973,808 should be reviewed to place the following description of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  herein in context. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , it is noted that in U.S. Pat. No. 6,973,808, it was pointed out that apparatus  10  holds its shape due to extruded plastic stiffeners formed of a material such as polypropylene, and having a diameter of approximately 1.0 millimeter. A first stiffener  17  is disposed within a first endless fabric pocket  18  sewn to bottom panel  12 . The stiffener does not have to be formed as an endless loop, and may be longer than the circumference of panel  12  so that there is some overlap of its ends  19  and  21  within pocket  18 . Such overlap is extremely desirable in that it provides a flexibility in the structure which prevents the stiffener from breaking due to excessive flexing during the washing process in a washing machine. Further, movement of the ends longitudinally with respect to each other so as to slightly increase and decrease the overlap, helps to provide a gentle squeezing action which is similar to that of hand washing, and serves to help circulate or pump the washing water into, through and out of apparatus  10 . 
   The sharp ends of stiffener  17  may create a problem in that it is possible that over time they may penetrate the wall of fabric pocket  18 , resulting in tearing of the structure. To solve this problem, the ends  19  and  21  of stiffener  17  are dipped into a liquid polymer material, such as a vinyl, to from protective end covers  19 B and  21 B, which each has a smooth, or blunted or bulbous end. Thus, the possibility of ends  19  and  21  penetrating the wall of pocket  18  is drastically reduced or entirely eliminated. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , panels  14  and  16 , which are generally of semicircular shape, each have a respective pocket for receiving a respective extruded plastic stiffener. The result, due to the generally oval shape of bottom panel  12  is that the apparatus has a generally dome shape when closed and viewed from its end, and a generally semicircular shape when viewed from its side, when not temporarily deformed during washing, as discussed below. The dome shape is especially evident when the apparatus is filled with at least one item to be washed. When empty of items to be washed, the panels  14  and  16  may collapse somewhat toward one another at the top. 
   The dome shape is extremely advantageous in that it also serves to help circulate washing water through apparatus  10 . When the apparatus is hit from almost any angle during the washing process, by other garments in a load, or by impact with parts of the washing machine in which it is placed, temporary deformations or changes in its shape also serve to assist in circulating or pumping the washing water into, through and out of apparatus  10 . 
   A zipper  24 , having a zipper pull  26 , is sewn to the periphery of panels  14  and  16  where panels  14  and  16  are not connected to panel  12 . Zipper  24  is configured with meshing plastic teeth, as is well known in the art. Plastic teeth are used to avoid corrosion of the teeth when they are exposed to water and detergents during the washing process, and zipper pull  26  is preferably made of a plastic material as well. An elastic pocket is provided in which the zipper pull may be concealed when apparatus  12  is closed and contains a garment to be washed. Other closing arrangements such as a Ziplock® mechanism or a Velcro® fabric fastener may also be used to releasably secure the opening. 
   Apparatus  10  may then be placed in a clothes washing machine, and the items or garments contained therein will be washed along with other garments in the washing machine that are not contained within apparatus  10 . 
   In a preferred embodiment, bottom panel  12  has dimensions of approximately six inches by nine inches, as do panels  14  and  16 . While apparatus  10  may be of different dimensions, these dimensions are ideal for an apparatus that receives two bras. The foamy, composite mesh protects the garments, or other items placed therein, and assists in maintaining their shape. This is particularly important for brassieres containing prosthetic inserts, as these tend to be expensive and difficult to replace. 
   To further protect delicate items placed within apparatus  10  for washing, each of panels  14  and  16  may be configured with a rectangular pocket  40  into which is placed a flat polymer strip  42  having some flexibility. Strip  42  may be approximately one inch wide, six inches long and 0.032 inch thick. Each pocket  40  may be formed by sewing an appropriate piece of fabric, of rectangular shape, to the inner walls of panels  14  and  16 , so as to be essentially perpendicular to the plane of panel  12 , and to bisect respective panels  14  and  16 . Pockets  40  need be only large enough to surround and contain respective strips  42 , thus not greatly decreasing the surface area of each panel  14  and  16 . 
   The added stiffness of strips  42  serves to further protect delicate item being washed in apparatus  10 , by providing an enhanced bounce to the manner in which apparatus  10  bounces off the interior components of a washing machine. However, the presence of pockets  40  with strips  42  contained therein also serves to change the contour of panels  14  and  16 , having them bow inward along pockets  40 , when observed from the outside. This favorably changes the angle at which apparatus  10  bounces off the interior components of the washing machine, thus providing enhanced safety for the garments contained therein, and enhanced cleaning, due to the pumping action upon the water contained within apparatus  10  provided during the enhanced bounce. 
   It will be understood that while the invention has been described primarily with reference to an apparatus or device for washing delicate items, and in particular items of lingerie, it may have many other uses. For example prosthetic devices of many kinds may be washed and protected, and this may be done in other environments than a washing machine. For example, these additional washing environments may include disinfecting or sterilizing apparatus. Items that can be washed within the apparatus in accordance with the invention may include hair pieces, biological waste containers that must worn on the body, and a variety of other personal care items that require periodic washing. In addition, the apparatus in accordance with the invention may be used as a container for industrial or other components or parts that may undergo a washing, disinfecting, or sterilizing process. While the washing fluid in a washing machine environment is water, it may be other fluids, such as organic solvents or cleaning fluid. 
   Thus, it should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances.