Patent Application
20220364292
Embodiments of the present invention encompass systems and methods for propping the door of a washing machine open with an attachment to manually dry the interior door, drum, and gasket, and an attachment to absorb ambient moisture from the environment. Embodiments of the present invention additionally reduce the likelihood of mold and mildew forming which reduces odor and extends the life of the gasket and the machine.
Washing machines are frequently wet, allowing mold and mildew to form in the wet environment of the machine interior and the rubber gasket. Many consumers report an odor from their appliances, particularly front-loading washers. Many consumers are aware that leaving the washer door ajar can reduce the problem, but do not do so because it is inconvenient or the door slams shut. Consumers often wait until the problem has gotten severe before cleaning with bleach or other washing machine sanitizers on the market, or replacing the moldy parts. Some consumers eschew front-loading washers because of the problem. In some instances, consumers use a prop to prevent the door from closing. Although such props may provide benefits to the consumer, still further improvements are desired. Embodiments of the present invention provide solutions for at least some of these outstanding needs.
Embodiments of the present invention encompass systems and methods which include a combination of a door prop and a drying mechanism, and/or a method to absorb ambient moisture from the washing machine. The combination of leaving the washer door ajar after a thorough manual drying plus a method to absorb moisture from the environment will prevent problems which consumers currently encounter. Embodiments of the presentation invention provide systems and methods that operate to prevent mold, mildew, and odor from forming in the washing machine interior and gasket. Exemplary embodiments are simple, convenient, easy to use, affordable, durable, and gentle on the appliance. Further, exemplary embodiments can be washable/renewable, non-toxic, and/or include replaceable/replenishable parts.
In some cases, embodiments encompass a washing machine device that includes a center wand with an attachment system for a removable, absorbent material to manually dry the gasket on one end, and an attachment system for a removable, moisture-absorbing medium to be inserted into the other end. In use, such a device can rest on the washing machine door of front-loading washers to prevent the door from closing when the appliance is not in use. The product can also be used in top-loading washing machines. In some cases, a device may have an attachment system that includes a microfiber or other absorbent fabric which can be easily removed by the consumer to wash it separately. In use, the microfiber or absorbent fabric can be used to conveniently dry the drum and gasket manually. In some embodiments, a device includes a rechargeable or replaceable cartridge containing a material (optionally, non-toxic) that absorbs ambient moisture. In some cases, an attachments system of the device can be permanently affixed to the center wand, or it may be separate until snapped, clipped, or threaded to the ends of the center wand.
In one aspect, embodiments of the present invention encompass systems and methods for maintaining a laundry washing machine. An exemplary method of maintaining a laundry washing machine using a laundry door engagement system can include drying, propping, and absorbing steps. For example, a method may include drying a gasket and a drum of the laundry washing machine with a drying mechanism of the laundry door engagement system, propping open a door of the laundry washing machine with a central wand of the laundry door engagement system, and absorbing ambient moisture from a drum of the laundry washing machine with an absorbing mechanism of the laundry door engagement system. The absorbing mechanism can be attached with a proximal section of the central wand, and the drying mechanism can be attached with a distal section of the central wand. In some cases, methods can include removing the absorbing mechanism from the central wand and attaching a replacement absorbing mechanism to the central wand. In some cases, methods can include removing the drying mechanism from the central wand and attaching a replacement drying mechanism to the central wand. In some cases, the drying mechanism can include fabrics or materials manufactured from or including microfiber, cotton, chamois, flannel, wool, sponge, rayon, polyester, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the absorbing mechanism can include materials manufactured from or including charcoal, volcanic rock, clay, kitty litter, silica, gel, or any combination thereof. Kitty litter may include a bentonite, such as sodium bentonite or calcium bentonite. In some cases, the central wand includes a curved upper section, and the step of propping open the door of the laundry washing machine includes resting the curved upper section of the central wand on top of the door of the laundry washing machine. In some cases, the distal section of the central wand includes a male member, and the drying mechanism includes a female member that receives the male member. In some cases, the distal section of the central wand includes a female member, and the drying mechanism includes a male member that inserts into the female member. In some cases, the proximal section of the central wand includes a hollow receptacle that receives the absorbing mechanism.
In another aspect, embodiments of the present invention encompass methods that include drying a gasket and a drum of the laundry washing machine with a drying mechanism of the laundry door engagement system, and propping open a door of the laundry washing machine with a central wand of the laundry door engagement system. The drying mechanism can be attached with a distal section of the central wand. In some cases, methods can also include removing the drying mechanism from the central wand and attaching a replacement drying mechanism to the central wand. In some cases, the drying mechanism can include fabrics or materials manufactured from or including microfiber, cotton, chamois, flannel, wool, sponge, rayon, polyester, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the central wand includes a curved upper section, and the step of propping open the door of the laundry washing machine includes resting the curved upper section of the central wand on top of the door of the laundry washing machine. In some cases, the distal section of the central wand includes a male member, and the drying mechanism includes a female member that receives the male member. In some cases, the distal section of the central wand includes a female member, and the drying mechanism includes a male member that inserts into the female member.
In another aspect, embodiments of the present invention encompass methods that include propping open a door of the laundry washing machine with a central wand of the laundry door engagement system, and absorbing ambient moisture from a drum of the laundry washing machine with an absorbing mechanism of the laundry door engagement system. The absorbing mechanism can be attached with a proximal section of the central wand. In some cases, methods also include removing the absorbing mechanism from the central wand and attaching a replacement absorbing mechanism to the central wand. In some cases, the absorbing mechanism can include materials manufactured from or including charcoal, volcanic rock, clay, kitty litter, silica, gel, or any combination thereof. Kitty litter may include a bentonite, such as sodium bentonite or calcium bentonite. In some case, the central wand includes a curved upper section, and the step of propping open the door of the laundry washing machine includes resting the curved upper section of the central wand on top of the door of the laundry washing machine. In some cases, the proximal section of the central wand includes a hollow receptacle that receives the absorbing mechanism.
Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which:
All illustrations of the drawings are to be describing selected embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. All references of user or users pertain to either individual or individuals who would utilize embodiments of the present invention.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” when used in this specification, especially the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
A washing machine door prop for facilitating moisture absorption and evaporation and for inhibiting mold, mildew, and odor in the washing machine interior and in the gasket is discussed herein.
The present disclosure is provided for purposes of exemplification of the invention only, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments, materials, or processes illustrated by the figures or description contained herein.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by referencing the appended figures. Turning now to the drawings,
As shown in
The center wand 110 may be made from plastic, silicone, rubber, foam, nylon, metal, or a combination of these materials, but is not limited to these materials. The attachment mechanism (e.g. drying attachment 120 or moisture absorbing attachment 130) may be made from fabric, charcoal, volcanic rock, plastic, nylon, metal, and/or silicone, or a combination of these materials, but is not limited to these materials.
In some embodiments, the above mentioned components of the center wand 110 may be molded from a single piece of material such as plastic, silicone, or rubber but is not limited to this number or these materials.
As shown in
In some cases, system 100 includes a drying mechanism 120 that can be used to manually dry the washing machine interior or drum 220 and gasket 230 with an absorbent material such as microfiber or cotton, attached to the center wand structure 110 with any of a variety of coupling or fastening mechanisms, including without limitation buttons, clips, bands, elastic, cords, compression, and/or threaded screws. In some cases, system 100 includes an absorbing mechanism 130 that can be used to absorb ambient moisture with an absorbent material such as volcanic rock, silica, charcoal, or other medium, attached to the center wand structure 110 with any of a variety of coupling or fastening mechanisms, including without limitation buttons, clips, bands, elastic, cords, snaps, compression, and/or threaded screws.
Advantageously, in operation the system 100 is gentle on the washing machine so as not to cause damage to the appliance. In some instances, one or more components of the system 100 can be manufactured from or include one or more non-toxic materials.
In some cases, the system 100 may have changeable, washable, and/or replaceable parts. As shown in
All features of the described systems and devices are applicable to the described methods mutatis mutandis, and vice versa. Embodiments of the present invention encompass kits having systems for propping, drying, and/or absorbing as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the kit includes one or more systems for propping a laundry machine door, drying one or more components of a laundry machine, and/or absorbing moisture from a laundry machine, along with instructions for using the system for example according to any of the methods disclosed herein.
Each reference provided herein in incorporated by reference in its entirety to the same extent as if each reference was individually incorporated by reference. Relatedly, all publications, patents, patent applications, journal articles, books, technical references, and the like mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, patent application, journal article, book, technical reference, or the like was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof (e.g. in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding), it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results, and that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, including certain changes, modifications, alternate constructions, and/or equivalents which may be practiced or employed as desired. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/189,112 filed May 15, 2021, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63189112 | May 2021 | US |
