Patent Abstract:
A clothes hamper includes a hamper body extending from a generally closed end to a generally open end with an interior chamber defined within the hamper body. A rack assembly defines one or more hanging elements and is sized and configured to fit within the interior chamber. An extension assembly is positioned within the interior chamber and is configured to facilitate movement of the rack assembly between a retracted position within the interior chamber and an extended position wherein at least a portion of the rack assembly is outside of the hamper body.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/300,146, filed Feb. 26, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a hamper. More particularly, the invention relates to a hamper for receiving and drying wet clothes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A question faced by many athletes is what to do with post workout clothes that are thoroughly soaked through by perspiration. People that work outdoors in the hot sun or in rainy conditions face a similar problem. Swimmers are another example of people that often have wet clothes. Since daily laundry is typically not an option, the wet clothes pile up between laundry days. If the wet clothes are placed in a hamper with the normal laundry, the moisture, smell and bacteria may be transferred to the normal laundry. While a second, common hamper may be considered, such does not solve the problem since the wet clothes just sit in the hamper without getting dry, but instead remaining in a wet pile. By laundry day, the clothes remain wet and allow for bacteria, mold, or bad odor to develop. Some people instead choose to place the clothes in the bathroom, bedroom or laundry room on the floor or to hang, but it is an eyesore. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, there is a need for a storage device for wet clothes that is aesthetically pleasing while allowing the clothes to dry out. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a wet clothes drying hamper which allows the user to store soaked clothes in an aesthetically pleasing way, and have them dry for the next laundry day. No more wet piles of clothes on the floor or hanging in the bathroom, or wet, smelly clothes when doing laundry. 
         [0006]    In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a clothes hamper including a hamper body extending from a generally closed end to a generally open end with an interior chamber defined within the hamper body. A rack assembly defines one or more hanging elements and is sized and configured to fit within the interior chamber. An extension assembly is positioned within the interior chamber and is configured to facilitate movement of the rack assembly between a retracted position within the interior chamber and an extended position wherein at least a portion of the rack assembly is outside of the hamper body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary wet clothes drying hamper in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view along the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1  with the extension and rack assemblies omitted. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the wet clothes drying hamper of  FIG. 1  with the extension and rack assemblies in an extended position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the wet clothes drying hamper of  FIG. 1  with the draw open, the extension and rack assemblies in an extended position, and the basket body omitted. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the wet clothes drying hamper of  FIG. 1  with the extension and rack assemblies in a retracted position with the cedar panels omitted. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an exemplary wet clothes drying hamper in accordance with another embodiment of the invention with the extension and rack assemblies in an extended position and the basket body and cedar panels shown transparently. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an exemplary wet clothes drying hamper in accordance with another embodiment of the invention with the lid removed. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along the line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7  showing the telescoping pole assembly in a retracted position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 8  showing the telescoping pole assembly in an extended position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout. Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. The following describes preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, it should be understood, based on this disclosure, that the invention is not limited by the preferred embodiments described herein. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , an exemplary wet clothes drying hamper  10  in accordance with embodiment of the invention will be described. The hamper  10  generally includes a basket  12 , a cover  20 , a rack assembly  30  and an extension assembly  40 . The basket  12  is preferably a normal size hamper body  14  extending between a closed end  11  and an open end  13 . The basket  12  is shown having a rectangular configuration but may have any desired configuration, eg, square, round, oval, whichever looks the best and holds the most clothes. Preferably it has aesthetically pleasing modern looking exterior. The cover  20  extends across and generally closes the open end  13  of the basket  12 . In the present embodiment, the cover  20  is attached to and moves with the rack assembly  30 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , but may be removable independent of the rack assembly  30 . The cover  20  includes a pair of slots  21 . The slots  21  provide for air flow, but also define a handle which allows the cover  20  to be gripped and moved to the open position illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0019]    The basket body  14  preferably is made of high quality plastic or other desired materials and has passages  15  therethrough to allow for ventilation. In the present embodiment, a cedar strip or panel  16  extends over each passage  15 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the cedar panels  16  are spaced from the interior surface of the basket body  14 , for example, via standoffs, such that air may flow into and out of the basket  12 , as indicated by the arrows. The cedar panels  16  are configured to absorb moisture and odor and provide a pleasant smell. While cedar panels are described herein, the invention is not limited to such and may include other natural or synthetic moisture and/or odor absorbing materials. Additionally, the passages  15  are not limited to the size, configuration or number illustrated. For example, alternatively the basket body  14  may have a mesh configuration with a plurality of small passages. The panels  16  could then be placed in desired locations within the basket  12 , independent of the location of the passages. 
         [0020]    At the closed end  11  of the basket  12 , an absorbent mat  28  is preferably provided to collect moisture which may drip from clothes supported on the rack assembly  30 . The mat  28  is preferably a thick, industrial absorbent mat made from, for example, cellulose or meltblown polypropylene. In the illustrated embodiment, the mat  28  is supported on a support surface  25  of a pull-out draw  24 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pull-out draw  24  includes a handle  26 , which may extend from the draw surface, may be a hole in the surface or any other desired structure which allows the draw  24  to be gripped and pulled from the basket body  14  to access the absorbent mat  28 . The draw  24  may include side walls  27  (see  FIG. 4 ) which extend partially or fully along the sides of the support surface  25  to maintain the position of the mat  28 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the rack assembly  30  has a configuration which complements the interior configuration of the basket  12 . In the present embodiment, the rack assembly  30  includes four corner posts  31  which are supported on and extend from a portion of the extension assembly  40 , as will be described in more detail hereinafter. A plurality of shelves  32   a,    32   b,    32   c  are supported by the posts  31  in spaced relation to one another. While three shelves are illustrated, the invention is not limited to such. For example, the hamper  10 ′ illustrated in  FIG. 6  includes two shelves  32   a,    32   b.  In other respects, the hamper  10 ′ is substantially the same as the hamper  10  of the present embodiment. Each of the shelves  32   a,    32   b,    32   c  includes a plurality of hanging rods  34  extending between end rods  33  which connect to respective posts  31 . The configuration of the shelves  32   a,    32   b,    32   c  allows a user to lay clothing across multiple hanging rods  34  or drape a piece of clothing over one or more of the hanging rods  34 . Portions of the rack assembly  30 , for example, the shelves  32   a,    32   b,    32   c,  may be made from moisture absorbing materials, for example, cedar. The rack assembly  30  is not limited to the illustrated shelves and may have other configurations, including configurations which have other types of hanging elements, e.g. hooks, cords, planar surfaces with through holes and the like. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the exemplary extension assembly  40  will be described. In the present embodiment, the extension assembly  40  includes a scissor lift assembly  50  extending between bottom rails  42   a,    42   b  and top rails  44   a,    44   b.  The bottom rails  42   a,    42   b  are secured on the bottom surface  11  of the basket  12 . The posts  31  of the rack assembly  30  are connected to respective ones of the top rails  44   a,    44   b.  As such, the rack assembly  30  moves between the retracted position within the basket  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , and the extended position extended from the basket  12 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , as the scissor lift assembly  50  is retracted or extended. 
         [0023]    The illustrated scissor lift assembly  50  includes a pair of lower fixed pivot arms  52   a,    52   b,  each with one end pivotally attached to a respective bottom rail  42   a,    42   b  at a fixed pivot location  53   a,    53   b.  A pair of lower sliding pivot arms  54   a,    54   b  cross the fixed pivot arms  52   a,    52   b,  with mid-pivots  56  connecting the respective arms  52   a,    54   a  and  52   b,    54   b.  One end of each lower sliding pivot arm  54   a,    54   b  has a wheel  55  or the like that rides in a track  45  of the respective bottom rail  42   a,    42   b.  The wheels  55  slide within the tracks as the scissor lift assembly  50  is extended or retracted. A plurality of intermediate pivot arms  58  are pivotally connected to the lower fixed and sliding pivot arms  52   a,    52   b,    54   a,    54   b  at end-pivots  57 . The intermediate pivot arms  58  may be pivotally connected to one another at mid-pivots  56 , if desired for additionally stability. Stability bars  51  may also extend between some or all of the arms as desired. 
         [0024]    The intermediate pivot arms  58  ultimately pivotally connect with upper fixed pivot arms  60   a,    60   b  and upper sliding pivot arms  62   a,    62   b.  The number of intermediate pivot arms  58  is selected based on the desired amount of extension. Each of the upper fixed pivot arms  60   a,    60   b  has one end pivotally attached to a respective top rail  44   a,    44   b  at a fixed pivot location  59   a,    59   b.  One end of each upper sliding pivot arm  62   a,    62   b  has a wheel  55  or the like that rides in a track  45  of the respective top rail  44   a,    44   b.  The wheels  55  slide within the tracks as the scissor lift assembly  50  is extended or retracted. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the bottom and top rails  42   a,    42   b,    44   a,    44   b  may have notches  46  or the like to accommodate the arms as they pivot relative to the rails. To assist with extension and retraction of the scissor lift assembly  50 , pneumatic struts  48  may extend between the bottom rails  42   a,    42   b  and respective arms  52   a,    52   b.    
         [0025]    In operation, a user grips the cover  20  via the slots  21  and extends the rack and extension assemblies  30 ,  40  such that the rack assembly  30  is in the extended position illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The wet clothes are then placed on the shelves  32   a,    32   b,    32   c  and/or hung on the hanging rods  34 . Once the clothes have been positioned on the rack assembly  30 , the cover  20  is lowered such that the extension assembly  40  is retracted and the rack assembly  30  is lowered to the retracted position, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , such that the shelves  32   a,    32   b,    32   c,  and thereby the wet clothes, are supported within the basket  12  in a non-piled configuration. The non-piled wet clothes more easily dry do to ventilation through the basket  12  along with absorption by the cedar panels  16  and the mat  28 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 7-9 , an exemplary wet clothes drying hamper  110  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention will be described. The hamper  110  includes a basket  112  and a cover  116 . The basket  112  is preferably a normal size hamper body  114  extending between a closed end  113  and an open end  115 . In the present embodiment, the basket  112  is shown having a round configuration but may have any desired configuration as in the previous embodiments. Preferably it has aesthetically pleasing modern looking exterior. The basket body  114  preferably is made of high quality plastic or other desired materials and has passages therethrough, for example, due to a mesh configuration, to allow for ventilation. 
         [0027]    On the interior, the basket  112  preferably includes cedar strips or panels  130 , or the like, which absorb moisture and odor and provide a pleasant smell. The panels  130  may take up any desired surface area, but preferably have space therebetween or holes therethrough such that air can circulate through the basket  112 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cover  116  also has a cedar panel  118  on the interior surface thereof. At the closed end  113  of the basket  112 , an absorbent mat  132  is preferably provided to collect moisture which may drip from the clothes. The mat  132  is preferably a thick, industrial absorbent mat as in the previous embodiment. 
         [0028]    A telescoping pole assembly  120  within the basket  112  defines the extension assembly and rack assembly of the present embodiment. The telescoping pole assembly  120  includes an outer pole  124  and an inner pole  126 . The inner pole  126  is secured relative to the closed end  113  of the basket  112 . The outer pole  124  includes a handle  122  which may be grasped to extend the outer pole  124  from the retracted position shown in  FIG. 8  to the extended position shown in  FIG. 9 . As an alternative, the outer pole  124  may be connected to the lid  116  such that the lid may be used to extend the outer pole  124 . A push button or the like may be provided between the outer and inner poles  124 ,  126  to lock the outer pole  124  in the extended position if desired. A plurality of hanging rods  128  extend outwardly from the outer pole  124  and are configured to hang wet clothes thereon. The hanging rods  128  may be provided in any desired configuration. 
         [0029]    In operation, a user removes the cover  116  and extends the outer pole  124  to the extended position illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The wet clothes are then hung on the hanging rods  128  and thereafter the outer pole  124  is lowered to the retracted position such that the hanging rods  128 , and thereby the wet clothes, are supported within the basket  112  in a non-piled configuration. The cover  116  may be returned to the open end  115  of the basket  112 . The non-piled wet clothes more easily dry do to ventilation through the basket  112  along with absorption by the cedar panels  130  and the mat  132 . 
         [0030]    These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It should therefore be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3