Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F95/00—Laundry systems or arrangements of apparatus or machines; Mobile laundries 
  • D06F95/002—Baskets or bags specially adapted for holding or transporting laundry; Supports therefor
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/12—Casings; Tubs
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D21/00—Nestable, stackable or joinable containers; Containers of variable capacity
  • B65D21/08—Containers of variable capacity
  • B65D21/086—Collapsible or telescopic containers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a laundry container which is particularly suitable for containing dirty laundry, to be placed in the room where the washing machine is located, such as a bathroom, a kitchen or a specially designed laundry room.
• dirty laundry containers are normally baskets that are used to collect laundry to be washed.
• the quintessential laundry basket is made of wicker. It usually consists of a structure with an oval or square base, an average height of 50 or 60 cm, and a good capacity. It is sealed with a lid made of the same material and may contain a fabric bag inside .
• the fact that the basket is not completely airtight means the clothes can breathe and all the unpleasant odours are not trapped inside.
• the wicker material often clashes with the style of the bathroom, which makes it aesthetically displeasing, in addition to the fact that wicker may wear over time due to the moisture in the bathroom and can also be hazardous due to the presence of splinters and points which are typical of wooden materials.
• the lid is often removed to make the basket more practical to use, but this results in the dispersion of unpleasant odours in the room in addition to an unpleasant view of dirty laundry.
• plastic baskets which have the same dimensions as the wicker baskets, and they have the same problems caused by their bulk.
• plastic baskets are often well sealed, which means they can be deemed virtually airtight. While, on the one hand, this ensures the unpleasant odours do not reach the rest of the room, on the other, it keeps them compressed inside the basket, making them "explode” once opened.
• plastic it suitable for a range of colour solutions and also shapes, which means there is a possibility of greater personalisation of this piece of furniture, which, therefore, may be more suitable and closer to the style of the entire room.
• Another type of laundry basket currently available on the market consists of a combination of wood/metal and cloth: there are baskets which have a wood or metal frame and a cloth bag. In particular, very often these structures, if empty, can be folded up so as to occupy less space. These laundry baskets also pose various problems. Indeed, these types of baskets are particularly cumbersome because of their frame, aesthetically speaking they are rather "rustic" so they do not fit in with stylish or modern bathrooms and very often they do not have a top lid, which means the dirty laundry is visible and although the cloth bag allows the laundry to breathe, it does not to retain the unpleasant odours.
• the choice of where to place the laundry becomes vital and this can be, for example, under the window or, at least, next to the washbasin, but never next to the toilet; furthermore, it is also necessary to consider the overall dimensions: there are baskets of all sizes, but before purchasing one with the capacity in mind, one should also consider whether the space in the bathroom is sufficient. In small, modern apartments nowadays, this is the room with the least free space.
• the aim of the present invention is essentially to solve the problems of the known technique by overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks by means of a laundry container which can be applied to and engages with a vertical surface in a quick, practical and simple way, takes up little space, and is extremely functional.
• a second aim of the present invention is to produce a laundry container which can provide a good capacity which changes with the insertion of dirty laundry.
• a further aim of the present invention is to produce a laundry container whose appearance can be customised with various colour combinations, graphics and images and which is particularly attractive and pleasing.
• Another aim of the present invention is to produce a laundry container which is easily adaptable and can fit into any kind of setting, which is suitably sized to be able to contain different quantities of laundry, i s not bulky, and - at the same time - is practical and functional .
• a further aim of the present invention is to provide a laundry container which can be applied to any vertical wall , such as the side wall of a washing machine, a wall, a door, the inside of a door on a piece of furniture, etc.
• a further but not final aim of the present invention is to produce a laundry container which is easy to manufacture and works well .
• FIG. 1 shows, schematically, a perspective view of a laundry container according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 shows, schematically, a front view of the laundry container in Figure 1 in the operating condition
• FIG. 3 and 4 show a detail of the container in question in, respectively, the operating and resting conditions
• FIG. 5 shows, schematically, a perspective view of a variant of the laundry container according to the present invention
• FIG. 6 shows, schematically, a perspective view of the container in Figure 5 in the operating condition
• FIG. 7 shows, schematically, a perspective view of a further variant of the laundry container according to the present invention.
• FIG. 8 and 9 show the container in Figure 7 in, respectively, the resting and operating conditions
• FIG. 10 shows, schematically, a perspective view of a still further variant of the laundry container according to the present invention.
• 1 denotes a laundry container as a whole, according to the present invention.
• the laundry container 1 in question essentially consists of a first vertical wall 2 and a second wall 3 , which are mutually j oined by a pair of flexible walls 4 and 5.
• the first vertical wall 2 is designed to be engaged with a vertical surface, such as the side panel of a washing machine or dryer, a wall, a door, a door on a piece of furniture, etc. and to do this fastening means 6 are provided.
• the said fastening means 6 consist of a Velcro strip, an adhesive strip or adhesive elements, a pair of hooks or pins, a ring, or any other means which can assure, in an equivalent manner, the same action.
• the second wall 3 is rotatably engaged with the first wall 2 by means of rotatable pins or a hinge element 7, as shown in Figure 2 or in Figure 6.
• the first vertical wall 2, together with the second wall 3 can create an angle which changes from 0° when the container is in the resting condition to 90° - as shown in Figure 1 0 - in the operating condition, or possibly an intermediate angle, as shown in Figure 5.
• a handgrip 10 is envisaged, located at the top, as shown in Figure 6, or laterally, on the wall 3 , as shown in Figure 7.
• each flexible wall 4 or 5 is produced using a bellows-folded material, so as to be easily extended, or an elastic material or a soft material which can be easily folded so as to be contained within the two walls 2 and 3 , as shown in Figure 8. More specifically, on one of the flexible walls there is an opening 1 1 present, which is envisaged for the insertion of the laundry into the container.
• the opening 1 1 has any configuration, such as circular, square or any other, and can be trimmed with an edge profile 12 which bends and closes by 1 80° when the flexible wall collapses and folds, as shown in Figure 4.
• the opening can be provided with a lid, which allows the opening to be covered and therefore the container to be closed.
• a fastening element which can be constituted of a hook, a magnet, a Velcro strip, a joint, or any other equivalent element which allows the two walls to be kept in a mutually close position, as shown in Figure 8.
• the walls 2 and 3 are made of plastic, wood, or metal, so as to create a rigid wall, while the flexible walls are made of fabric or lightweight plastic so as to be able to fold up and close, or of rubber or any other material suitable for the purpose.
• the laundry container 1 features a closing wall 13 when the two walls 2 and 3 are mutually connected in a rotatable fashion, as shown in Figure 2. Furthermore, the container can also be open at the top, as shown in Figure 5 or sealed by a closing wall.
• two walls 2 and 3 are not are mutually connected as in the embodiment shown in Figure 7, wherein the two walls 2 and 3 are sealed, at the top and bottom, by a pair of flexible horizontal walls 14 and 15 which open and then close again in agreement with the flexible walls 4 and 5.
• the two walls 2 and 3 are positioned in a mutually close fashion, when the container is in the resting position, and as the container extends for the insertion of the laundry, the angle between the walls increases until it becomes a right angle, as shown in Figure 1 0, whether the j oining point of the two walls 2 and 3 is positioned at the top or at the bottom.
• the two walls 2 and 3 are side by side, although not j oined, when the container is in the resting position, while they are parallel to each other and always move mutually apart in a parallel fashion upon insertion of the laundry, as shown in Figure 7.
• the wall 3 can feature, at the bottom thereof, a pair of rubber pads which create, for the wall, a resting point and a friction point on the ground, or a pair of wheels which facilitate handling of the second wall and the container as it is being filled.
• the laundry container in question works like a conventional laundry basket; indeed it is designed to house and contain dirty laundry.
• a person When intending to use the container, a person has to fasten it to a vertical element, such as a side panel of a washing machine or a cabinet, either internally or externally, or a door or wall, by means of the fastening means 6.
• a vertical element such as a side panel of a washing machine or a cabinet, either internally or externally, or a door or wall, by means of the fastening means 6.
• the user simply has to insert the dirty laundry through the opening.
• the flexible walls Upon insertion of the laundry, the flexible walls extend until the container is completely full, while when the laundry to be washed is removed, the flexible walls close, reducing the overall dimensions of the container.
• the laundry container in question can be applied to and engages with a vertical surface, such as a side panel of a household electrical appliance or piece of furniture, or a wall or door, in a quick, practical and simple way, takes up little space, and is extremely functional.
• a vertical surface such as a side panel of a household electrical appliance or piece of furniture, or a wall or door
• the dirty laundry container helps solve a great problem, which is that of lack of space, since our homes are becoming increasingly smaller, which means finding space for everything becomes a far from easy task; indeed, it is also possible to hang it in the shower, in a hidden corner, or in a small area of free space.
• Another advantage of the present invention is the fact that the laundry container offers a good capacity which changes with the insertion or removal of the dirty laundry, which means that, because of its shape, the said container becomes a space-saving element since its dimensions depend on the degree of filling thereof.
• the container can have an aesthetic appearance which may be customised and varied according to the materials and colours used for the production thereof, in order to render the said container attractive, pleasing, discreet and adaptable to any kind of setting, style, and taste.
• the laundry container is easily adaptable and can fit in to any type of setting, as well as being able to vary in terms of dimensions according to the use thereof.
• the container takes up little space, since it is not a rigid container like those according to the commonly known technique, it can be hung up so as not to occupy floorspace, and at the same time it is practical and functional and can also be placed inside a piece of furniture by applying it to a wall or an inside door.
• the container promotes an orderly containment of the laundry, keeping it out of sight, and limiting the diffusion of unpleasant odours through the presence of the opening on the side which allows airing therewithin but limits the release of unpleasant odours.
• a further advantage is due to the fact that the laundry container in question is easy to manufacture and works well.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Supports Or Holders For Household Use (AREA)
• Accessory Of Washing/Drying Machine, Commercial Washing/Drying Machine, Other Washing/Drying Machine (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=56894083

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (19)

• 2016
  • 2016-05-05 IT ITUA2016A003191A patent/ITUA20163191A1/it unknown
• 2017
  • 2017-05-03 EP EP17739326.1A patent/EP3452655A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2017-05-03 US US16/097,989 patent/US20190145044A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2017-05-03 WO PCT/IT2017/000093 patent/WO2017191664A1/en unknown

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