US1800825A - Laundry hamper - Google Patents

Description

Patented Apr. 14, 1931 ARTHUR J. FELTA'ULT, 0F BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY LAUNDRY HAMPER Application led October 25, 1928. Serial No. 314,878.

My present invention relates generally to receptacles, and has particular' reference to a laundry hamper ot unique character and construct ion.

lt well known that available space is e-X- tremely small in many of the residential apartments of `the present time. This is particularly true with respect to closet space. The proper and convenient location of the ordinary type ot laundry hamper is therefore quite a problem.

To locate such conventional hampers in bathrooms presents a similar problem since such bathrooms are by no means roomy.

It is therefore an object otl my present invention to provide a laundry hamper of a character and construction which will render it peculiarly adapted to employment in apartments of the type mentioned. It is a more particular object to provide a hamper which is adapted by its structural nature to be permanently associated with the Wall of a bathroom, thereby positioning' the hamper in a convenient place while at the same time utilizing a portion of the valuable space ordinarily occupied simply by the wall of the bathroom and hence normally unavailable.

Briefly, my invention relates to a built-in receptacle which is so constructed and associated with a wall as to render it peculiarly efficient for the purpose of accumulating lauiulry or the like over relatively short periods of time'.

The laundry hamper constructed in accordance with my present invention is composed ot two complementary and separably associated sections, one ot which is embedded in the wall of the bathroom and the other of which bulges slightly outwardly into the room. A maximum amount ot storage space is thereby provided with a minimum amount ot obstruction, it any, to the room itsel'l". (lne ot the principal 'features ot my invention lies in providingl the sections with means :tor permittincT total withdrawal or removal of the front section by merely pulling; thereon or h v similarly manipulating it in an eri'treniely simple nianner. This instruction renders my device particularly eilicicnt in connection with the relatively small bathrooms ot modern apartments, permitting' the periodic removal of the contents or" the hamper in an expeditious and uncumbersome manner.

Another particular lfeature lies in providing' an aperture in .said front section for permitting' insertion, t'rom time to time, ot the laundry which to he iurculnulatod, a suit-- able closure lid being provided in such a manner as to retain such aperture normally closed while at the same time pcrn'iitting' the inscrtion ot laundry to be ell'ected in a simple manner.

Further features oi' my invention reside in the particular simple structural nature ol.' the` sections, the provision ot suitalfile attach-- ine' portions and means tor accomplishing` the desired ends, the rovision of ventilating openings, and in general, all those particular strmtural characteristics which render my device attractive in appearance, inexpensive to manufacture, simple to install, and highly eliicient in tull'lling the conteniplatcd functions.

I achieve the toregoiiig,r objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out in the manner illustratvely eX- emplilied in the accompanying drawings in which-- Figure l is a perspective view oi. a laundry hamper constructed in accordance with my present invention and associated with a wall of a bathroom;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along the line of Figure l and Figure 3 .is a cross-sectional View taken substantially alone; the lino 3h53 ot Figure 2.

`For illustrative purposes l have shown a tyl `ral wall which consist ot' spaced upright studsr l() and ll to which: ntablc metal lath is att-ached in the usual manner. ilpplied t0 the lath is the plaster l2 and over the lat-ter are the tiles Lil. `Dependingl upon the particular .size ot hamper, suitable horizontal studs 1t and l5 are associated with the main vertical studs so as to provide a structure somewhat in the nat ure of a. frame for acconnnodating the emliieddcd section of my device. u,

The rear or (anlanldcd section illustrated (itl Aforwardly disposed top wall 19, and the forwardly disposed bottom wall 20. Preferably, though not necessarily, the rear wall 16 is inclined forwardly at its upper and lower ends to provide the rear wall portions 21 and 22 merging respectively with the to and bottom wall portions 19 and 20. Suita le attaching devices such as the bolts or screws 23 extend through the side walls of this embedded section and into permanent engagement with the frame composed of the studs within the wall.

The forward edges `0f the side, top, and bottom wall portions 17--20 are arranged to lie substantially flush with the exposed outer surface of the bathroom wall, and these edges are provided with outwardly disposed flanges adapted to overlie the adjacent marginal portions of such outer surface. The entire section is preferably made of an integral piece of sheet metal, and the flanges last mentioned are preferably constructed so as to merge with one another to provide the continuous marginal flange 24. Such flange enhances the outer appearance of the device and also facilitates the proper mounting of the rear section within the wall. i

The complementary front section which I have illustrated may similarly be formed of an integral sheet metal' element suitably constructed'as a closure for the forwardly open embedded section. The front section comprises the front wall portion 25 which is parallel to but slightlyv spaced forwardly` from the outer surface ofthe bathroom wall. At its upper and lower ends, the front Wall 25 is inclined toward the bathroom wall for the dual purpose of obviating objectionable and possibly obstructing corners and also facilitating the provision of the means for inserting laundry into the device.

The lower inclined portion 26 of the front Awall 25 is preferably provided with `a series of Ventilating openings 27, and the upper inclined portion 28 is provided with an aperture 29, preferably rectangular and extending across the entire width of the device. The forward section is also provided with the opposite side wall portions 30 and 31.

Marginally arranged around the front section are two flanges one of which, designated by the reference numeral 32 extends rearwardly and is adapted to enter the embedded section, telescoping snugly within the forward portions of the walls 17-20. This is an attaching flange as will be presently described in greater detail. The other flange 33 is arranged to lie in a single plane parallel to the outer surface of the bathroom wall and is adapted to overlie the marginal flange 24 when the sections are in normal association. The flange 33 enhances the outer appearance of theentire device and also facilitates the ventilation o proper supporting and positioning of the outer section. with respect to the embedded section.

Laundry is adapted to be inserted into the hamper t rough the aperture 29. To retain this aperture normally yet yieldably closed I provide a closure lid 34 preferably hinged as at 35 to the upper marginal edge lof the aperture 29. I may provide either springmeans or any other suitable instru- -mentality for normally pressing the lid 34:

outwardly so as to seal the aperture 29. In Figure 2 I have illustrated a construction wherein a weighted web 36 is carried by the rear side of the lid 34, whereby the center of gravity of the entire hinged lid is normally positioned directly beneath the line of hinging 35. It will be obvious that merely pressing upon the lid 34 will permit insertion of laundry, the lid automatically returning to its normally closed position after the pressure has been released.

The interior of the hamper is suitably ventilated during the collection of laundry therein by means of the openings 27 .and also by means of the additional openings 37 preferablyy arranged in an ornamental manner on the front wall portion 25.

To permit the periodic removal ofthe accumulated laundry, I provide means for totally withdrawing or removingfthe front section from its normal association with the rear section. I have shown a pair of pins 38 extending upwardly from the wall 20 of the embedded section, and I provide an opening or openingsin the lower portion of the flange l32 to permit removable application anden-- gagement of this flange over the pins38. The upper Wall portion 19 is provided with a spring 39 adapted to engage frictionally and yieldably within a' suitably prepared opening 1n the upper portion of the flange .32. The engagment of the flange 32 at the spaced top and ttom portions tthereof serves to hold the outer section firmly against-the inner section. Y

To facilitate the withdrawal of the outer section I prefer to provide a pair of'openings 40 in each of theside walls 30 and 31 of the outer section, and I may also pro-` vide a pair of openings 41 in the front wall 25. These o ningsnot only enhance thefwthe hamper, but they are' so constructed and positioned as'to permit `the insertion of one or more fingers of al person manipulating the device.

Thus, to empty th hamper, the outer section is grasped by means of the openings 40 or 41 and a pull is then exerted which accomplishes a release of thespring 39 from the' flange 32. As soon as the flange 32 is clear of the embedded section, a slight lift -upon the outer section will. disengage the flange 32 from the pin or pins 38 and thereby permit total separation f the two-com#k plementary sections. The laundry will then fall upon the floor 42 of the bathroom, and the inclination of the portions 22 and 2G will facilitate this removal of the accumulated laundry.

The outer section is then reapplied by a reverse series of manipulations. It is to be noted that this procedure of emptying the hamper is extremely convenient and capable of performance within a very limited space. Regardless of the height or width of the entire device, it may be completely emptied in a quick and expeditious manner regardless of the smallness of the room with whose wall it is associated.

I contemplate that devices of the present character will be associated with the room during the construction of the building, thereby providing a built-in and permanent receptacle which greatly enhances the desirability of the particular apartment with which it is associated. Since the usual walls are about seven inches thick, I have found it satisfactory to construct devices having an effective depth of approximately eight inches. Such devices are preferably thirty inches high, approximately twenty or twenty-four inches wide, and have proven to be extremely satisfactory from the standpoint of accumulating the usual amount of laundry.

I am fully aware that built-in receptacles are not by themselves new and I make no claim herein to built-in receptacles broadly. So far as I am aware, however, a construction of the present character is novel in its several features whereby the resent contemplated purposes may be e ciently and practically carried into effect.

It will be obvious that changes in the details herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is therefore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A laundry hamper comprising a pair of complementary telescopic and wholly se 3- arable sections one of which is adapted to e embedded in a wall of a room and has a rear Wall whose upper and lower portions extend obliquely forwardly, and the other of which sections bulges outwardly from said rstnamed section and is provided with a feeding aperture near its upper edge.

2. A laundry hamper comprising a pair of complementary se arable sections one of which is adapted to b of a room and comprises a rear wall and forwardly disposed top, bottom, and side walls whose forward edges are adapted to lie sube embedded in a walll stantially Hush with the outer surface of said wall, said edges carrying outwardly disposed flanges adapted to overlie the adjacent marginal portions of said outer surface; the other section bulging outwardly away from said first-named section and comprising two marginal flanges one of which extends horizontallyinto the' first-named section and the other of which extendsV vertically and is adapted to overlie the outwardly disposed flanges of said tirst-named section, said outer section being provided with a feeding aperture near its upper edge.

3. A laundry hamper comprising a pair of complementary separable sections one of which is adapted to be embedded in a vertical wall of a room, and the other of which sections bulges outwardly away from said first-named section, said second-named section having a feeding aperture and having also a marginal attaching Harige adapted to extend rearwardly therefrom into said firstnamed section; and means cooperating with said attaching flange for separably associating said sections to permit total removal of said second-named section by pulling and lift-ing thereon; said means comprising a pin carried by the first-named section and adapted to engage said flange.

4. A laundry hamper comprising a rear section adapted to be embedded in a substantially vertical wall of'a room and having an opening substantially flush with the exposed surface of said wall, the bottom of said embedded section being in substantially horizontal alignment with the bottom edge of said opening, a complementary front section constructed as a closure for said` open-k ing andl coextensive in area with the latter and provided with an aperture for the de posit oflaundry into the hamper, land a closure lid for said aperture.

5. A laundry hamper comprising a pair of complementary sheet-metal sections, one of said sections being adapted to lie embedded in a bathroom wall and comprising rear, side, top, and bottom walls, the other section adapted to bulge outwardly into the room and being constructed as a front closure for said embedded section, said front section including an apertured portion extending diagonally downwardly from the upper edge thereof, means for Separably associating said sections to permit total removal of the front section bypulling. and lifting thereon, and a yieldable closure lid ywithin the hamper for normally sealingsaid apertured portion.

6. A laundry hamper-comprising a. pair of .complementary sheetfmetal sections, one of said sections beingadaptedto `be embedded in a substantially vertical bathroom wall and comprising-reen side,top`,jand bottom walls, the other section being ada ted to bulge outwardly into the room and eing constructed as a front closure for said embedded section,

said front section including an apertured ortion extending diagonally downwardly rom the upper edge thereof, a closure lid hinged to said aperturecl portion for sealing the aperture thereof, yieldable means for retaining said lid in sealing position, an attaehing ange carried by the front section and adapted to extend rearwardly into telescopic relationship with said side, top, and bottom Walls of.tl1e embedded section7 and means for detachably engaging said attaching flange to permit total removal of the front section when the hamper is to be emptied.

In Witness whereof I have signed and sealed this specifica-tion this 20 day of October, 1928.

ARTHUR J. FELTAULT.

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