Patent Application
20160158816
Aspects of the present application relate to containers, particularly commonly available buckets that are typically sold and/or used by individual consumers (e.g., for home improvement projects). More specifically, certain implementations of the present disclosure relate to bucket washing attachments, which may be used to facilitate laundry and clothes washing in portable and convenient manner, such as using commonly available buckets (e.g., 5-gallon buckets).
Existing methods and apparatuses, if any exist, for facilitating portable laundry and clothes washing may be costly, cumbersome and inefficient. Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such approaches with some aspects of the present method and apparatus set forth in the remainder of this disclosure with reference to the drawings.
System(s) and/or method(s) are provided for mixing material by use of container (e.g., bucket) washing auger attachments, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.
These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present disclosure, as well as details of illustrated implementation(s) thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.
As utilized herein, the term “and/or” means any one or more of the items in the list joined by “and/or”. As an example, “x and/or y” means any element of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. In other words, “x and/or y” means “one or both of x and y.” As another example, “x, y, and/or z” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. In other words, “x, y and/or z” means “one or more of x, y and z.” As utilized herein, the terms “block” and “module” refer to functions than can be performed by one or more circuits. As utilized herein, the term “example” means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, or illustration. As utilized herein, the terms “for example” and “e.g.,” introduce a list of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations.
The washing attachment 100 may be designed and/or manufactured such that it may apply to and used in suitable container, particularly those readily available for home improvement projects for example, to facilitate portable washing operations. In particular, the washing attachment 100 may facilitate laundry and clothes washing in a convenient and cost-effective manner when dedicated laundry appliances (or services) may not be available or when use of such appliances (or services) may not feasible. For example, washing attachments implemented in accordance with the present disclosure (e.g., the washing attachment 100) may enable utilization of readily available buckets (e.g., 5-gallon bucket or similar size containers commonly sold) in a laundry washing type application, particularly in situations where laundry washing may be desired or needed, but traditional means for doing so (use of dedicated appliances or access to dedicated services) may be not be possible. Example use scenarios for these washing attachments may comprise laundry washing during outdoor activities (e.g., camping, tailgating, etc.); in laundry washing during emergency situations; laundry washing in absence of electric power (e.g., power outages); degreasing used rags in automotive services to be reused again, etc. To further enhance utility and portability, washing attachments in accordance with the present disclosure (e.g., the washing attachment 100) may particularly be designed or implemented for use in conjunction with tools that have portable power supply—e.g., drills with (re-chargeable) batteries. Accordingly, use of washing attachments in accordance with the present disclosure (e.g., the washing attachment 100) may allow a simple and inexpensive way for performing washing by providing laundry (textile) agitation when to-be washed items are immersed in liquid emulsion (water, detergent, any other solvent) contained in a sealed readily available container (e.g., typical consumer buckets).
In the example implementation shown in
The containers that may be used in conjunction with washing attachment implemented in accordance with the present disclosure (e.g., the washing attachment 100) need not be limited to any particular design, shape, and/or make. Such containers would minimally need to have, however, a space with an opening to which the washing attachment 100 may be applied, to facilitating enclosing the space such that the space may be used when mixing material. For example, the container 110 shown in
The characteristics of the containers which may make them suitable for use in conjunction with washing attachments implemented in accordance with the present disclosure (e.g., the washing attachment 100 shown in
In some implementations, containers used in conjunction with the washing attachments may incorporate handling means (e.g., a handle), which while originally intended for use when utilizing the container for their intended uses, may also be used in support of the laundry washing functions performed using the washing attachments—e.g., to enable and/or provide ease of handling of combinations of the containers and the washing attachments. For example, with reference to the embodiment shown in
In some implementations, securing means (e.g., clamps, clips, or the like) may be used to facilitate and/or enhance sealing of containers used in laundry washing (in conjunction with the washing attachment). For example, with reference to the embodiment shown in
In some implementations, some of the elements of the washing attachment 100 as described herein may be available as separate components. For example, the washing component 104 may be available as a separate component, thus allowing for offering of different washing components (e.g., of various size and/or shapes) that may be attached to the movement component 102 when needed, to be selected based on the selected (or available) container, or characteristics thereof, to provide the overall “washing attachment.” This may be desirable to enable using the same attachment shaft with varying sized and/or shaped components (e.g., washing augers of various sizes and/or with adjusted sizing characteristics).
The washing attachment 100 may be applied to cheap, readily available containers (e.g., standard 5-gallon bucket), such as when these container and the mixing insert 100 have matching characteristics (e.g., the shape and/or size of the container's opening and the insert's enclosing section match; the washing attachment 100 may be secured to the container using the securing means 116; the container is suitable for intended use, etc.).
Accordingly, use of the washing attachment 100 may enable converting such cheap, readily available containers into a simple and portable laundry washing solution (e.g., for washing laundry in situations where access to typical laundry appliances and/or services may not be possible or desirable). This may be a particularly desirable option for outdoor scenarios, thus allowing for performing laundry washing even when there may be no access to power outlets.
In an example use scenario, the articles to be washed may be placed into the internal space of container 110, water and cleaning material (e.g., washing detergent) may be poured into the space, and the washing attachment 100 may then be applied to the container. This may comprise coupling the movement component 104 to the movement component 102, if these components are offered as separate components. Further, the washing attachment 100 may be secured to the container 110, and the internal space may be secured. For example, the movement component (shaft) 102 may be passed through the container's lid 114 (and further secured, if possible, as described in more details with respect to
The washing attachment 200 may be substantially similar to the washing attachment 100 of
The attachment auger 204 may comprise a particular structure (e.g., shape and/or dimensions) which may be particularly designed and/or configured to facilitate laundry washing in accordance with particular anticipated use scenarios, and to specifically do so in optimal manner. For example, the attachment auger 204 may be designed and/or configured in anticipation of application of the washing attachment 200 to certain types of containers (e.g., 5-gallon buckets) having internal space in which the laundry washing is performed, and with the washing attachment 200 being driven by particular anticipated driving means (e.g., power drills). Further, the structure of the attachment auger 204 may be particularly designed to achieve optimal washing conditions (e.g., generating optimal washing movements) under anticipated use conditions for yielding optimal washing results.
In the example implementation shown in
The rotation of the attachment shaft 202 and the attachment auger 204 then generates the necessary washing movement within the internal space of the bucket 210. In particular, the helical structure 206 protruding from the conical-shaped body of the attachment auger 204 may act as a propellant (e.g., screw or thread type of action) when the washing attachment 200 is rotated, which may create rotational movement within the internal space of the container/bucket 210. When the attachment 200 is subject to rotational movement 230, the action of the helical structure 206 may cause a mixture of water, detergent and laundry articles (items to be washed) to circulate in the flow direction 240 indicated in
As noted above, the design of the attachment auger 204 may be specifically configured based on the anticipate use conditions. Thus, the design of the helical structure 206 of the attachment auger 204 may be based on the anticipated use conditions—e.g., the anticipated driving means (power drills) and container to which the attachment is applied (e.g., 5-gallon buckets), and to particularly provide optimal washing operations based on the anticipated use conditions. For example, the helical structure 206 of the attachment auger 204 may be designed to achieve the optimal rotational speed within the space—that is the speed where the power of detergent and mechanical rubbing would yield optimal washing results.
In an example implementation, the spacing between spiral blades (pitch) of the helical structure 206 may be approximately 0.9 inches, which may be optimal for use with drills having speed revolutions of approximately 400 RPM (rotation per minute). Such configuration may result in an axial speed of agitation of 30 feet/min, which may correspond to optimal rotational speed.
Due to the conical shape of the body of the auger attachment 204, the channel formed by the “washer attachment” and the inner wall of the bucket, may narrow down towards the bottom of the buck. Axial velocity of the water/laundry mixture may accelerate because of this, thus resulting in “tangential component”. This tangential component, increased velocity and kinetic energy and continued action of the attachment auger may provide enough energy for constant vigorous cyclic motion. In addition, the tangential component of the velocity also reduces the fluid turbulence as it hits the bottom of the bucket. The turbulence is much higher if the fluid hits the bottom at 90° angle. This quick motion is conducive to the mechanical “rubbing” of the garments against each other and cleaning action of the detergent.
The washing attachment 300 may be substantially similar to the washing attachment 100 of
While the present method and/or system has been described with reference to certain implementations, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present method and/or system. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present method and/or system not be limited to the particular implementations disclosed, but that the present method and/or system will include all implementations falling within the scope of the appended claims.
