Patent Abstract:
A spring-loaded, multi-compartment, clothes hamper, with one or more compartments that have a spring-loaded base that is urged downward by the weight of clothing placed thereon.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based on, and claims priority to, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/857,273, filed Nov. 7, 2006, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a spring-loaded, multi-compartment, rolling clothes hamper for sorting laundry into the categories of darks, whites, and colors.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Conventional clothes hampers are made so that an individual has to bend down to retrieve the laundry from the hamper or pick up the laundry basket to load a washing machine. Conventional clothes hampers also have to be dragged or picked up to move them to a washing machine.  
         [0004]     A need therefore exists for an improved clothes hamper that an individual does not have to drag, pick up, or bend to load a washing machine.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The invention answers this need by providing a spring-loaded, multi-compartment, rolling clothes hamper, for sorting laundry into the categories of darks, colors and whites.  
         [0006]     It is thus an objection of the present invention to reduce stress of the back by providing a clothes hamper that requires no bending, dragging, or lifting to load laundry into a washing machine.  
         [0007]     Further objects, features and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The attached figures depict various embodiments of the invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side view of a hamper in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a view of the front and the inside of the clothes hamper  10  according to the present invention, shown in a horizontal orientation as it would sit upon the floor. The clothes hamper  10  comprises a lid  12  connected to a housing body  14 . A handle  16  is connected to the lid  12  and the housing body  14 . Inside the housing body  14  there is a compartment for laundry consisting of darks  18 , a compartment for laundry consisting of whites  20 , and a compartment for laundry consisting of colors  22 . Within each of the three compartments  18 ,  20 ,  22  there are flat plates  24 ,  26 ,  28 . Below these flat plates  24 ,  26 ,  28 , there are springs  30 ,  32 ,  34 . On the bottom of the housing body  14  there are rotating wheels  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 .  
         [0012]     When placing laundry into the darks  18 , whites  20  or colors  22  compartment, the increase in weight lowers the spring  30 ,  32 ,  34 . The spring tension may be adjustable using known techniques so that the user can adjust the amount of lowering to suit his/her needs and the type of clothing to be placed in each compartment (e.g., denim pants are heavier than polyester pants and thus the denim pants will lower the compartment base more quickly than polyester pants will). When retrieving laundry from the darks  18 , whites  20  or colors  22  compartment, the decrease in weight raises the spring  30 ,  32 ,  34 . An individual will be able to stand in the same upright position when retrieving laundry from the clothes hamper  10  and placing it into a washing machine.  
         [0013]     When moving the clothes hamper  10  from one area to another, an individual can pull the clothes hamper  10  by the handle  16 , using the rotating wheels  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 . The spring mechanism can be any spring mechanism used for urging flat plates  24 ,  26 , and  28  upward when they are not under load. For example, spring mechanisms such as those used in restaurants for urging stacked plates upward as the top most plate is removed will function to serve the purpose of urging the flat plates upward.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a view of the back of the clothes hamper  44 . The back of the clothes hamper  44  is perforated with ventilation holes  46  to aid in the control of mold, mildew and odor.  
         [0015]     While this invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein and as described in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3