Manually operated device for washing clothes and the like

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6341508
  • Patent Number
    6,341,508
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, December 30, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 29, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Original Assignees
    • (Los Angeles, CA, US)
  • Examiners
    • Stinson; Frankie L.
    Agents
    • Davis; Alan R.
Abstract
The invention is a manually operated device for washing clothes and the like. In detail, the invention includes a rod shaped handle having first and second ends. A first hollow cone shaped member has a truncated top end attached to the first end of the rod and an open bottom end. This first cone shaped member includes a plurality of holes about its periphery in proximity to the top end thereof, with the plurality of holes having a first total cross-sectional area. An inverted cup shaped member is provided having a closed top end and an open bottom end, the inverted cup shaped member is mounted within the first cone shaped member such that the top end of the inverted cup shaped member is in contact with the interior wall of the first cone shaped member forming a first interior chamber. The closed top end includes a hole therethrough with a total second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area of the plurality of holes in the first cone shaped member. A second hollow cone shaped member having a truncated first end with a hole therethrough and a second end in contact with and joined to the closed top end of the inverted cup forming a second chamber therebetween. The second hollow cone has a corrugated surface between the top and bottom ends thereof. The second cone shaped member preferably includes flow passages between the corrugations on the second end thereof in communication with the second chamber.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The invention relates to the field of washing devices for clothes and the like and, in particular, to a manually operated washing device.




2. Description of Related Art




The automatic washing machine is universally accepted as the most practical home clothes cleaning device. However they are expensive and require electrical power. This rules out their use in areas where there is no readily available electrical power, which is particularly the case in the poorer third world countries. What makes these powered washing machines effective is the cleaning action of the agitation system. In the top loading machines, the back and forth rotation of a finned central column or its up and down motion circulates the soapy water through the soiled clothes removing the dirt and/or stains. In the front loading machines, it is the tumbling action caused by the fins mounted within the drum.




Many manually operated devices for washing clothes and the like are also effective, for example, the corrugated washing board. However, its use requires a great deal effort. An individual must remove the wet clothes from the tub and “rub” the clothes across the corrugated washing surface. Some what less effective are the numerous manually operated rotating drum type devices where the clothes, soap and water are added to the drum and a hand crank is used to rotate it. Both vertical and horizontal rotating drums are available. However, these are generally limited in size for use on tabletops. If they become much larger in size, it becomes difficult to crank the drum. In addition, they also become difficult to empty of water unless placed in a sink. Finally, they have not proved popular because they are prone to leaking.




Thus, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a manually operated device for washing clothes and the like.




It is another primary object of the invention to provide a manually operated device for washing clothes and the like that provides agitation action.




It is a further object of the invention to provide a manually operated device for washing clothes and the like that is simple to manufacture.




It is a still further object of the invention to provide a manually operated device for washing clothes and the like that is simple to operate.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The invention is a manually operated device for washing clothes and the like. In detail, the invention includes a rod shaped handle having first and second ends. A first hollow cone shaped member has a truncated top end attached to the first end of the rod and an open bottom end. This first cone shaped member includes a plurality of holes about its periphery in proximity to the top end thereof, with the plurality of holes having a first total cross-sectional area. An inverted cup shaped member is provided having a closed top end and an open bottom end mounted within the hollow cone shaped member such that the top end is in contact with the interior wall of the hollow cone shaped member forming a first interior chamber. The closed top end includes at least one hole therethrough with a total second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area of the plurality of holes in the first hollow cone shaped member.




A second hollow cone shaped member is provided having a truncated first end with a hole therethrough and a second end in contact with and joined to the closed top end of the inverted cup shaped member thus forming a second chamber therebetween. The second hollow cone shaped member has a corrugated surface between the top and bottom ends thereof. The second hollow cone shaped member preferably includes flow passages between the corrugations on the second end thereof in communication with the second chamber. Preferably, a third cone shaped member having a truncated top end is attached to the truncated first end of the first cone shaped member and an open bottom end extending beyond the holes in the first cone shaped member in a spaced relationship thereto.




With a large pot, tub or sink filled with water and dirty washables such as clothes and the like, the device is used in the following manner. The device is grabbed by the second end of the rod and inserted into the water until the first cone shaped member is partially immersed, preferably over a washable item. By pushing the rod down in this manner, water is forced downward through the washables. Simultaneously, water is pushed up through the second hollow cone shaped member and into the second chamber, through the at least one second holes into the first chamber and out the holes in the first cone shaped member. When the rod is pulled upward, a vacuum/suction effect is created, which again sends a rush of water up through the washables. Repeated strokes soon clean the washables.




The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which the presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an exploded side view of the device.





FIG. 2

is an assembled side view of the device shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG.


2


.





FIG. 4

is a partial view of the device shown in

FIG. 3

partially immersed in a container of water having washables therein, with the device being pushed into the container





FIG. 5

is a partial view of the device similar to

FIG. 4

partially immersed in a container of water having washables therein, with the device being pulled upward out of the container.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring to

FIGS. 1-3

, the device, generally indicated by numeral


10


, includes a first hollow cone shaped member


12


having a flat truncated top end


14


with a short shaft


16


protruding therefrom and an open bottom end


18


. A wall


20


partitions off the interior of the cone shaped member


12


at the top end


14


. Just below the wall


20


are a plurality of holes


22


spaced from each other about the periphery thereof, having a combined first total cross-sectional area. A round rod


23


having first and second ends


24


and


26


, respectively, includes a recess


28


in the first end, which engages the short shaft


16


and is held thereto by friction. The length of the rod


23


should be between 18 to 24 inches in length to insure that the device


10


can be properly griped when in use (to be subsequently discussed).




Mounted within the first cone shaped member


12


is an inverted cup shaped member


30


having a center portion


32


and a side wall


34


. The center portion


32


is joined to the inner wall


35


of the cone shaped member


12


forming a chamber


37


between the side center portion


32


of the cup shaped member


30


and the cone shaped member


12


. The side wall


34


of the cup shaped member


30


extends downward but remains within the interior of the cone shaped member


12


. The center portion


32


of the inverted cup shaped member


30


includes a hole


38


that has a second cross-sectional area greater than the combined first cross-sectional area of holes


22


in the cone shaped member


12


.




Mounted within the inverted cup shaped member


30


is second cone shaped member


40


having a first truncated end


42


with a hole


44


therein and an open second end


46


, and a corrugated type outer surface


48


therebetween. The second cone shaped member


40


is joined to the inverted cup shaped member


30


at the junction of the center portion


32


and side wall


34


thereof forming a second chamber


49


. As illustrated, the corrugated surface


48


produces flow channels


50


between the open end


46


and center portion


32


of the inverted cup shaped member


30


. Of course, the second cone shaped member


40


could be non-corrugated and have notches at the second end


46


to provide flow channels (not illustrated).




A third cone shaped member


52


includes a truncated first end


54


with a hole


56


fitted over the shaft


16


. This is accomplished prior to the rod


23


being frictionally attached to the shaft


16


. The open second


58


extends downward over the first cone shaped member


12


spaced therefrom and terminates beyond the holes


22


.




Referring particularly to

FIGS. 4 and 5

, the device


10


is grabbed by the rod


23


and inserted into the water


64


until the first cone shaped member


12


is partially immersed, preferably over a washable


62


. By pushing the rod


23


down, water is forced downward through the washables. Simultaneously, water is pushed up through the second cone shaped member


40


and into the chamber


49


, through the hole


38


into the chamber


37


and out the holes


22


in the first cone shaped member


12


. The third cone shaped member


52


directs the water downward back into the container


60


. When the rod


23


is pulled upward, a suction effect is created within the chamber


37


pulling air through holes


22


and the water exits the device


10


through the hole


44


again flowing through the washable


62


in an upward direction. Repeated strokes soon clean the washables. The improved performance is due in part because of the flow area of the holes


22


in the first cone shaped member


12


being less than the flow area of hole


38


in the center portion


32


. Because of the constant exposure to water, it is best that the device be completely made of a plastic material.




While the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it should be understood that the embodiment is merely illustrative as there are numerous variations and modifications, which may be made by those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention is to be construed as being limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.




INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY




The invention has applicability to laundry appliance industry.



Claims
  • 1. A manually operated device for washing clothes and other washable fabrics comprising:a rod shaped handle having first and second ends; a first hollow cone shaped member having a truncated top end attached to said first end of said rod and an open bottom end, said first cone shaped member having a plurality of holes about its periphery in proximity to said top end thereof, said plurality of holes having a first total cross-sectional area; an inverted cup shaped member having a closed top end and an open bottom end mounted within the first hollow cone shaped member such that the top end of the cup is in contact with the interior wall of said first cone shaped member forming an interior chamber therebetween, said closed top end having at least one hole therethrough, said at least one hole in said closed top end having a total second cross-sectional area greater than said first total cross-sectional area of said plurality of holes in said first cone shaped member; and a second cone shaped member having a truncated first end with a hole therethrough and an open second end in contact with said closed top end of said inverted cup forming a second chamber therebetween.
  • 2. The manually operated device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second cone shaped member has a corrugated surface between said top and bottom ends thereof.
  • 3. The manually operated device as set forth in claim 2 wherein a third cone shaped member having a truncated top end is fitted to said rod above said truncated first end of said first cone shaped member and an open second end extending beyond said holes in said first cone shaped member in a spaced relationship thereto.
  • 4. The manually operated device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second cone shaped member includes flow passages between the corrugations on said second end thereof in communication with said second chamber.
  • 5. The manually operated device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said rod, first, second and third cone shaped members, and said inverted cup shaped member are made of a plastic material.
  • 6. The manually operated device as set forth in claim 5 including a plurality of holes in said inverted cup shaped member in proximity to said open bottom end.
US Referenced Citations (15)
Number Name Date Kind
225392 Keller, Jr. Mar 1880 A
523601 Sheehy Jul 1894 A
597333 Snow Jan 1898 A
659296 Flesher et al. Oct 1900 A
742754 Trimble Oct 1903 A
878190 Crooker Feb 1908 A
879313 Perry et al. Feb 1908 A
1099400 Sciarrett Jun 1914 A
1107939 Halliday Aug 1914 A
1109494 Whitman Sep 1914 A
1114974 Fay Oct 1914 A
1193348 Bays Aug 1916 A
1271852 Cauley Jul 1918 A
2008556 Kubista Jul 1935 A
2320230 Glisson May 1943 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number Date Country
14155 Aug 1933 AU
20931 Jan 1935 AU
106414 May 1917 GB