This description relates to liners for an enclosed space, particularly for a locker or hexahedral-type enclosure.
Insect pests have been the bane of human existence throughout history. While, of course, being generally unsightly to many, insect pests also carry germs and disease, and their bites can cause disease and other health problems, including skin rashes and allergy symptoms. Such insect pests include bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) and cockroaches (Periplaneta americana).
Bed bugs, in particular, can be a problem. In fact, after being largely eradicated as pests in the developed world in the early 1940s, bed bugs are currently enjoying a resurgence and are becoming a common pest in homes, the workplace, and in transient lodging such as hotels and motels. The bed bug is a respecter of neither wealth, hygiene, nor status. One important method of introduction into the home is through the workplace, especially were employees have individual attached lockers in a community locker room. Bed bugs can easily migrate from one locker to another and, once into clothes or personal belongings such as carrying bags, are easily transferred to the home. Once in the home, they migrate to be close to hosts (humans or pets) and commonly in or near beds or furniture. Once introduced, bed bugs are very difficult to manage and so prevention is by far the best approach.
Various embodiments of the present invention include a liner, which generally conforms to the interior of a locker or other enclosure. The liner comprises a bag, the interior of which is accessible only by an access which is re-sealable, for example, with a zipper, hook-andloop combination (e.g., Velcro®, Velcro USA, Inc., Manchester, N.H.), or other similar closure mechanism. Magnets may be secured in holders attached to the bag, usually at or near the top, for securing the liner to the interior of a metal locker. Alternatively, rods may be attached at or near the top and secure the liner using friction on the inside surfaces of the enclosure. As many lockers have hooks or other features for hanging clothes and other personal belongings inside the locker, the bag may be formed to include pockets which protrude into the interior of the bag to accommodate the hooks and that are sized to allow the hooks to still be used to hang objects such as clothing, purses, or like objects having a carrying strap.
Additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the relevant art upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments.
The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements. The drawings are incorporated in, and constitute a part of, this specification, illustrate several embodiments consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. For purposes of illustration, drawings may not be to scale.
A standard locker 50 is shown in
The bag 12 may be of any suitable material which inhibits the migration of dust and insect pests into the interior of the bag 12. The bag 12 may comprise flexible material to aid in conforming to the locker 50 and to facilitate insertion and removal of the liner 10 from the locker 50. The entire liner 10 is preferably breathable and washable. For strength and effectiveness, the bag 12 may comprise ripstop nylon.
For ease of viewing contents of the liner 10, all, or a portion of, the front panel 18 may comprise clear material. Good results have been achieved with clear vinyl. Alternatively, the front panel 18 may be opaque.
To seal the liner 10, while still allowing access to its contents, the front panel 18 comprises a re-sealable closure 14 to close the access 34. In an exemplary embodiment, a zipper is used. Other types may also be used which inhibit the migration of insect pests of interest or dust, for example. Examples might include hook-and-loop-type closures, such as Velcro® (Velcro USA, Manchester N.H.), and re-sealable adhesives suitably applied.
In addition to enabling the liner 10 to fit in a tailored fashion in the locker 50, the pockets 16 may be sized to allow clothing and other items to be hung on the hooks 54. This may be accomplished by enlarging the pockets 16.
The pad 28 is preferably rigid or semi-rigid to help support heavier objects such as shoes, for example, without distorting the shape of the liner 10. The contour of the pad 28 may be generally in the shape of the bottom panel 30.
To attach or otherwise secure the liner 10 in the locker 50, especially one constructed of metal, the liner 10 may comprise one or a plurality of magnets 26 secured within holders 36 which may be sewn onto or otherwise connected with the liner 10. Preferably, the holders 36 are sewn into the top panel 18.
Turning now to
Turning now to
While certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in detail, it is to be understood that various modifications may be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention of scope of the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/389,299, filed Oct. 4, 2010, entitled “Locker Liner”, which application is incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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61389299 | Oct 2010 | US |