Patent Publication Number: US-10760205-B1

Title: Laundry container with a contaminant reduction cover

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In a typical industrial laundry facility, clean laundry (such as uniforms, linens, and towels) is moved from place to place in large bags that are transported by an automated material handling system. For example, clean laundry may be discharged from a washing machine into such a bag, and then moved to a dryer and deposited in the dryer. Clean laundry also may be discharged from a dryer into such a bag, and then moved to a folding station and deposited at the folding station. 
     The top of each laundry bag typically is left open, which exposes clean laundry to dirt, dust, lint, and other particulates that are ambient in the industrial laundry facility. The presence of dirt, dust, lint, and other particulates in clean laundry reduces customer satisfaction and presents a potential health hazard if the end user of the laundered uniforms, linens, and/or towels is allergic to or otherwise sensitive to such things. 
     Moreover, in order to control dirt, dust, lint, and other ambient particulates, a typical industrial laundry facility undergoes periodic “blowdowns,” where the machinery and structural elements of the industrial laundry facility are exposed to pressurized air for the purpose of directing the dirt, dust, lint, and other particulates to a collection station where the dirt, dust, lint, and other particulates can be removed from the industrial laundry facility. While the “blowdown” process is effective in reducing the presence of dirt, dust, lint, and other particulates in the industrial laundry facility, it may have the side effect of temporarily exposing the open laundry bags to an even greater concentration of dirt, dust, lint, and other particulates, which may exacerbate customer dissatisfaction as well as the aforementioned health hazards. 
     For the foregoing reasons, it is desired to provide a system for reducing the exposure of clean laundry to ambient dirt, dust, lint, and other particulates. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure includes disclosure of a laundry container with a contaminant reduction cover. In at least one embodiment, such a laundry container comprises a rigid rim; a bag comprising a mouth and a base and enclosing a volume, the mouth affixed to the rigid rim; a covering piece, the covering piece having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge of the covering piece secured to the bag adjacent the mouth, the second edge of the covering piece inserted into the volume, the second edge comprising a sheath; an arm, the arm hingedly attached to the rim and extending from the rim, the arm comprising first and second passageways extending longitudinally therethrough; and a rope, the rope threaded through the first and second passageways and the sheath. 
     In at least one embodiment, a laundry container according to the present disclosure comprises a rope guide affixed to the rim, the rope guide comprising a hollow tube and a latching mechanism, the rope threaded through the hollow tube. In at least one embodiment, such a laundry container also comprises a rope catch affixed to the rope, the rope catch configured to engage with the latching mechanism. 
     In at least one embodiment, a laundry container according to the present disclosure comprises an arm that is rotatable from a relaxed position to an actuated position. 
     In at least one embodiment, a laundry container according to the present disclosure comprises a covering piece that can transition from a relaxed position wherein the covering piece is within the volume of the bag, to an actuated position wherein the covering piece covers at least a majority of the mouth. 
     In at least one embodiment of a laundry container according to the present disclosure, when a force is exerted on the rope, the rope retracts from the sheath, thereby moving the second edge of the covering piece to a cinched arrangement. In at least one embodiment of a laundry container according to the present disclosure, the engagement of a rope catch and a latching mechanism holds the second edge of the covering piece in the cinched arrangement after the force is removed. 
     In at least one embodiment of a laundry container according to the present disclosure, when a force is exerted on the rope, the rope retracts from the first and second passageways, thereby moving the arm to an actuated position. In at least one embodiment of a laundry container according to the present disclosure, the engagement of a rope catch and a latching mechanism holds the arm to the actuated position after the force is removed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will be more apparent and better understood by reference to the following descriptions of the disclosed methods and systems, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a laundry container with a contaminant reduction cover according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of a laundry container with a contaminant reduction cover according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  shows a partially cutaway side view of a laundry container with a contaminant reduction cover according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  shows a top view of components of a laundry container with a contaminant reduction cover according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of components of a laundry container with a contaminant reduction cover according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of components of a laundry container with a contaminant reduction cover according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of components of a laundry container with a contaminant reduction cover according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of components of a laundry container with a contaminant reduction cover according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of components of a laundry container with a contaminant reduction cover according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of components of a laundry container with a contaminant reduction cover according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of a laundry container with a contaminant reduction cover according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  shows a top view of a laundry container with a contaminant reduction cover according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 13  shows a partially cutaway side view of a laundry container with a contaminant reduction cover according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended. 
       FIGS. 1-13  show laundry container  10  and its components, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Laundry container  10  according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises bag  12  enclosing a volume  13 . Bag  12  is constructed of a material, such as, for example, nylon, polyester, cotton, canvas, and the like, suitable for handling laundry or other intended contents. Bag  12  comprises base  14 , mouth  16 , outer surface  42 , and inner surface  44 . In at least one embodiment, base  14  is permanently closed, so as to retain laundry or other contents within bag  12 . In such an embodiment, laundry or other contents may be loaded into and removed from bag  12  only by way of mouth  16 . In another embodiment, base  14  is equipped with a mechanism to open and close base  14 . For example, base  14  may be equipped with a drawstring closure or a closure deploying hook and loop fasteners. In such an embodiment, the mechanism of base  14  may be closed when it is desired to retain laundry or other contents within bag  12 . The mechanism of base  14  then may be released to open base  14  and discharge the laundry or other contents through base  14  of bag  12 . 
     Mouth  16  of bag  12  comprises a rigid rim  18 , which holds mouth  16  in an open position. Rim  18  may be constructed of any rigid material that is suitable for the environment into which bag  12  is deployed, such as, for example, carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, polypropylene, and the like. Rim  18  may be incorporated into mouth  16 , such as by sewing or otherwise affixing mouth  16  around rim  18 . Mouth  16  also may be releasably coupled to rim  18  by way of fasteners and/or other methods, so that bag  12  may be removed from rim  18  for cleaning, storage, etc. In at least one non-limiting embodiment of laundry container  10  according to the present disclosure, rim  18  has a generally circular shape, as is shown in  FIG. 2 . However, other shapes of rim  18 , such as rectangles and ellipses, may be used and are within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Mouth  16  of bag  12  is outfitted with covering piece  28 . In at least one embodiment, covering piece  28  is constructed of the same material as bag  12 . In other embodiments, covering piece  28  is constructed of a different material from the material of bag  12 . Covering piece  28  comprises outer dimensions sized to fit within rim  18  and the inner dimension of bag  12 . Covering piece  28  comprises a first edge  30  and a second edge  32 . First edge  30  of covering piece  28  is sewn or otherwise affixed to mouth  16  of bag  12 , or to an internal surface of bag  12  adjacent to mouth  16 . Second edge  32  terminates in sheath  34 , which extends along a majority of second edge  32 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , covering piece  28  drapes into the internal volume  13  of bag  12  until covering piece  28  is actuated as discussed hereinafter. 
     Laundry container  10  according to the present disclosure comprises arm  20 . Arm  20  is an elongate rigid or semi-rigid member comprising trunk  19 , first end  21 , and opposing second end  23 . In at least one embodiment, first end  21  is attached to hinge  22 , which is attached to rim  18 . Second end  23  extends away from rim  18 . In at least one embodiment, arm  20  is sized so that the length from first end  21  to opposing second end  23  is approximately the same as the distance from rim  18  to the geometric center of the area encompassed by rim  18 . In at least one embodiment of arm  20 , second end  23  is bifurcated to form branches  24 ,  25 . Arm  20  comprises hollow passageways  26 ,  27  that extend through arm  20 , which can be seen in shown in FIGS.  5 - 8 . Passageway  26  begins at first end  21 , extends through trunk  19 , and through branch  24  of arm  20 . Passageway  27  begins at first end  21 , extends through trunk  19 , and through branch  25  of arm  20 . 
     Laundry container  10  according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises at least one rope guide  36 , which is coupled to rim  18 . Rope guide  36  comprises hollow passageway  37  extending therethrough. Rope guide  36  also comprises latching mechanism  38 , a portion of which extends into passageway  37 . 
     Laundry container  10  according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises rope  40 . Rope  40  comprises a rope or another elongate flexible material. Rope  40  is threaded through guide  36 , passageway  26 , sheath  34 , and passageway  27 . In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a slack portion  45  of rope  40  is located outside of bag  12 . In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, rope  40  comprises rope catch  46 , which expands the size of a localized area of rope  40 . Rope catch  46  a may be a ferrule or other device affixed to rope  40 . Rope catch  46  is configured to travel freely inside passageway  37 , but also configured to engage with latching mechanism  38  inside passageway  37 . 
       FIGS. 1-3  show laundry container  10  according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure in an unactuated state. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , bag  12  is suspended from rim  18 , and there is no, or alternatively very limited, tensile force on rope  40 . The tensile force on rope  40  is insufficient to overcome the gravitational pull on covering piece  28  and arm  20 . As a result, covering piece  28  drapes slackly into the internal volume  13  of bag  12 , and second end  32  is unfurled within the internal volume  13  of bag  12 . The weight of arm  20  also causes arm  20  to rotate at hinge  22  and tip into the internal volume  13  of bag  12 . 
       FIGS. 11-13  show laundry container  10  according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure in an actuated state. To actuate laundry container  10 , a force  50  is applied to rope  40 . In at least one non-limiting embodiment, force  50  is applied to slack portion  45  of rope  40  by, for example, a mechanical device. The force  50  applied to rope  40  causes rope  40  to retract from guide  36 , passageway  26 , sheath  34 , and passageway  27 . The retraction of rope  40  from passageways  26 ,  27  causes arm  20  to rotate at hinge  22  until arm  20  is lifted out of the internal volume  13  of bag  12 . The retraction of rope  40  from passageway  26 , sheath  34 , and passageway  27  causes second edge  32  to be lifted out of the internal volume  13  of bag  12  and to be cinched into a closed arrangement, as shown in  FIGS. 11-13 . In an embodiment comprising latching mechanism  38  and rope catch  46 , force  50  moves rope catch  46  into engagement with latching mechanism  38 . Force  50  is applied until latching mechanism  38  captures rope catch  46 , thereby locking rope  40  into an actuated position. Force  50  then may be removed from rope  40 , and the interaction of latching mechanism  38  and rope catch  46  will maintain the tension on rope  40 . 
     When actuated by way of force  50  applied to rope  40 , covering piece  28  is pulled into a configuration substantially parallel with the plane of rim  18 , as shown in  FIGS. 11-13 . A slight gap may remain at the center of covering piece  28 , but in this configuration covering piece  28  forms a shield substantially preventing the flow of lint and other airborne contaminants into the internal volume  13  of bag  12 . Because rope  40  is locked into place by the interaction of latching mechanism  38  and rope catch  46 , covering piece  28  will be held in this position until rope catch  46  is release from locking mechanism  38 . 
     While this disclosure has been described as having preferred designs, the apparatus and methods according to the present disclosure can be further modified within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. For example, any method disclosed herein and in the appended claims represent one possible sequence of performing the steps thereof. A practitioner may determine in a particular implementation that a plurality of steps of one or more of the disclosed methods may be combinable, or that a different sequence of steps may be employed to accomplish the same results. Each such implementation falls within the scope of the present disclosure as disclosed herein and in the appended claims. Furthermore, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains.