Oversized,Convertible Laundry Duffel Bag

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a laundry bag which is convenient for use for holding laundry until a “load” needs washing and, then, is easy to transport, empty and reuse at the laundry site. The bag has a drawstring for easy closure and a zipper on the body for easy access for placing items therein and, especially, for emptying. Straps allow the bag to be easily carried either as a backpack or a hand-held duffel. The zipper spans substantially the length of the laundry bag and thus provides a wide opening for placing articles (laundry) in and removing articles from the bag. Preferably, however, the bag has a flat base which allows it to stand upright so that laundry can be placed therein. When the bag is intended to be carried to the laundry site, the drawstring will close off the opening or mouth and the straps used for easy conveyance. The bag can be emptied by use of the end to end zipper. The laundry bag may have multiple zippers too. The straps on the bag are parallel and long enough such that they may be used to carry the bag on the user's shoulders as a backpack as well. Preferably, the straps are padded and adjustable for comfort. The straps can be held like handles for transporting the laundry bag (with or without laundry) in a duffle bag manner with the padded straps for the shoulders (when worn as a back pack) providing cushioning for the hands (when carried as a duffel bag). The straps also preferably include a mechanism for joining the straps, which enables the straps to be carried in one hang as a duffel, providing the user with options of how to carry the bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable laundry storage is a necessity in residences that have communal laundry rooms or that do not have washing machines on site. In such residences, the occupant must carry laundry from his home to the distal washing machines. Often, too, even in homes with laundry machines washers and dryers, the closet or corner of a bedroom or bathroom serves as a hamper for collecting dirty laundry Then, the hamper or clothing must be carried to the laundry area. Portable laundry bags are among the most popular way of storing and transporting laundry in these situations. They are used widely in dorm rooms, high rise residential buildings, apartments, etc. where laundry rooms are located on only one floor, in the basement, or in another building. They are also used widely in apartment buildings with communal laundry machines or where tenants use local laundromats. Additionally, many dry cleaners provide their customers with portable laundry bags for easy collection of dirty or soiled clothing, drop off, pick up and delivery.

The standard laundry bag has one open end or mouth which is opened and closed by a drawstring. Often the string of the drawstring is attached to the opposite end of the bag as its base so that it also functions as a carrying strap. Yet, carrying by a drawstring can be difficult and cause stress and fatigue to the hand(s). Laundry bags can be quite heavy, however, and carrying the weight of the bag by the thin string and then that my hand (even over a shoulder) can be very uncomfortable. The drawstring also provides very little structural support and the bulky bag often swings awkwardly on the user's shoulder as he/she carries it. It is bulky and awkward, weighs on a single shoulder and held thereover by a hand which is pulled upwardly by the downward weight of the bag over the shoulder.

Even further, standard laundry bags can be difficult to unload. These bags are often narrow but tall and, as a consequence, the opening or mouth end is very small. Even a drawstring encircling the entire mouth or opening is sometimes difficult to loosen and that makes removal of the clothing difficult. This means only a few articles can be removed at a time. Additionally, clothing often becomes tangled in the bag and/or the drawstring, and when this happens an entire bundle of clothing is tried to be pulled out at a time. Inevitably, this bundle of clothing gets stuck in the small opening or mouth of the bag and that is frustrating and time consuming, adding time to untangle the articles.

Of course, one can use a laundry hamper or plastic basket but those have disadvantages, too. They do not become compact after the laundry is removed and they are heavy. A laundry bag which is lightweight, can be easily opened for placing laundry therein, then easily closed and then, easily transported, where, at the laundry cleaning site can be removed quickly and easily, is seemingly highly desirous.

The problems raised by laundry bags on the market today create a need for a comfortable, easy to carry bag that can be opened and unloaded quickly. The present invention is directed to providing a lightweight laundry bag, with a simple wide mouth, quickly closeable by a drawstring, with padded straps that the user can carry as is most natural for him, as either backpack or a duffle bag, and that has a large longitudinal zipper spanning substantially the length of the bag. The zipper, in addition to the standard drawstring opening, provides a second, larger opening for quickly unloading the bag.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

To the Applicant's knowledge, no lightweight laundry bags exist which will balance on a flat base, provide a large opening for filling, a simple drawstring for closing, a pair of straps which allow the same to be either and comfortably carried as a backpack or a duffle bag and have a large zipper extending from base to mouth for quick opening, central unloading and quickly removing all articles from the bag. Thus, it is advantageous to provide a bag which contains all of these characteristics, in a highly efficient, lightweight, convenient manner, for the urban or rural dwellers who require the same, all for the purpose of easing the chore of doing laundry remotely from the collection point of the dirty or soiled laundry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a fabric and thus lightweight laundry bag generally in a cylindrical form, with a circular ground support base, a side wall, and with a circular opening opposite the base. The top opening is provided with a drawstring for opening and closing the mouth or opening of the laundry bag, Of course, the top opening can be alternatively provided with a simple zipper across its face but then the slot defined thereby is slightly less convenient for placing dirty laundry into the cavity of the bag. A zipper running along substantially the entire length of the body of the bag, i.e., from base to top opening is provided, preferably with two zipper slides, for quick and easy opening for removal of the dirty laundry and “dumping” the same into a washing machine. Also, a pair of straps are provided, sewn or secured to the bag at the base and near the top or mouth/opening, provided for ease of carrying the bag. The straps can be provided with soft cushioned sections, near their mid-point, so that when the bag is slung over the shoulders in a back pack carrying mode, the cushions rest on the wearer's shoulders. Alternatively, the two straps can be drawn near to one another and the cushioned sections serve as comfortable carrying handles, for allowing the laundry bag to be carried as a duffel bag, by a single hand, adjacent the user's side.

The opening of the bag can be opened and closed by a drawstring. Thus, a user can store the bag upright on its base and place articles through the open end and into the bag as needed. The open end may remain open or be opened only when the user so requires. When the user is ready to transport the bag, the user will close the opening by pulling and securing the drawstring and that will secure the items inside the bag during transport. When the user is ready to unload the bag, however, he is not limited to removing the article through the drawstring or small zipper at the mouth end (opposite the base), but, instead, he may remove the articles by quickly unzipping the zipper (one or two slides) along the body of the bag, extending from base to mouth. Because the laundry bag is taller than it is wide, the zipper along the length of the body of the bag provides a larger opening to the interior cavity or central compartment and, as such, also provides an easier approach to quickly removing and dumping articles into the washing machine.

The bag is further designed to have carrying straps attached, as mentioned, one end of each near the base, the other ends near the mouth or other end. In the preferred embodiment, the straps are parallel, sewn or located adult normal shoulder width apart, and are long enough that the bag can easily be slung over the shoulders and carried as a backpack. It is further contemplated that the straps are padded and adjustable for the wearer's comfort. It is still further contemplated that the parallel straps include a strap-connecting handle that joins the two straps. Thus, when the straps are joined, they can be held in one hand and that one hand is cushioned by the softness of the padding for the shoulders, now for the hand. This design enables the user to alternatively carry the laundry bag by one hand such as a duffel bag. It should be noted that this configuration provides the user with the option of how to carry the bag so that he/she may choose the carrying manner most comfortable-either over the shoulders or as a side duffel bag.

Preferred embodiments also include convenient accessories. As in the embodiment illustrated by the drawings, the laundry bag can include a pocket for storing money, tokens, soap, softener or papers. Alternatively, the laundry bag might also include divider(s) for separating the cavity into compartments for sorting of dirty laundry into separate loads of laundry or a space to keep laundry detergent.

Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective of the preferred embodiment of the invention, a fabric laundry bag with drawstring, longitudinal zipper in a cylindrical shape, standing upright and showing the bag in its condition ready to be slung on the shoulders for carrying as a back pack;

FIG. 2 is an angled front perspective of the preferred embodiment of the invention standing upright seemingly filled with laundry; and

FIG. 3 is an angled, rear, and horizontal perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and showing the invention as it would appear in its duffel bag condition for carrying.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Description will now be given of the invention with reference to the attached FIGS. 1-3. It should be understood that these figures are exemplary in nature and in no way serve to limit the scope of the invention, as the invention will be defined by the claims, as interpreted by the Courts in an issued U.S. Patent.

As can be seen from the Figures, the invention relates to a laundry bag 100, preferably made of strong, soft and lightweight material, possibly a canvas, used for storing and transporting laundry. Laundry bag 100 is a fabric, preferably cylindrical structure made up of two ends, closed end or circular base 12 and circular, open or mouth end 14. A side wall 10 completes with the base 12 and the mouth end 14 the cylindrical structure and shape. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the laundry bag as shown is cylindrical with circular ends and one tubular side wall. Other shapes will work as well although alternatives may require multiple side walls and different shapes for the base and the mouth ends. In the preferred embodiment, the bag is sturdy enough to hold a significant weight and is thus made of a durable material, such as canvas or a “parachute” or backpack like material. It is advantageous that the material is washable such that the user is able to clean the bag easily, especially the inside cavity as it will come into contact with dirty/soiled laundry.

In general, laundry bag 100 is stored on the floor (in closet or bathroom, or in a corner of a room) upright on closed or base end 12 such that open or mouth end 14 extends upwardly. The open mouth is shown in FIG. 1. The closed mouth is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A drawstring is located at the mouth or open end to open and close the bag, as desired. With the bag open, FIG. 1, the user may place articles in laundry bag 100 through open or mouth end 14 when he so pleases or requires to move laundry into the bag (as expected after a day's wear). In the preferred embodiment, the open end 14 is surrounded by a hemmed in drawstring 22, a slight distance from the top edge of the mouth end 14, which works to open and close open and mouth end 14, but other mechanisms, such as zippers, flaps, or buttons, can be used as well. A mechanism, conventional in the art, is available for holding the drawstring closed, when the same is pulled to close the mouth into the condition shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Open end 14 may be left open (FIG. 1) while being stored or, alternatively, it may be left closed (FIG. 2) and opened only when necessary. When the user is ready to transport his items to be washed, he uses drawstring 22 to close open or mouth end 14 (if not already closed) and thus his items are secured inside the cavity or compartment of laundry bag 100 while laundry bag 100 is moved.

The present invention further comprises zipper 16 on the fabric structure of laundry bag 100. Zipper 16 is preferably on a side wall 10 and ideally spans the majority, if not the entire, length or height of the structure to be the largest possible length—extending between open or mouth end 14 and base or bottom end 12. One or two zipper slides can be provided for selective opening and closing of the zipper. Having the zipper extend substantially the length or height of the bag creates a very large opening when zipper 16 is unzipped and allows clothing to be easily and quickly removed, and not through the smaller opening defined by the opening at the open or mouth end 14, even if the drawstring (taking time to open) is fully loosened. Because zipper 16 is on the body of the fabric structure, unzipping zipper 16 reveals the interior cavity or compartment of laundry bag 100. The presence of zipper 16 thus provides an alternative means for quickly and fully accessing the bag's interior, allowing the user to bypass open end 14 and drawstring 22 when removing articles from inside laundry bag. It should be noted that, alternatively, the invention can include more than one zipper on the side wall 10 to create multiple openings (and cavities) if preferred. Also, although the figures show zipper 16 placed vertically on the bag, this is not required. In fact, its length (and possible utility for use with compartments) can be maximized by constructing the bag with the zipper 16 on an angle if so desired but again, extending from base end 12 to open or mouth end 14.

Further, in the preferred embodiment, laundry bag 100 is taller than it is wide. These relative dimensions ensure that laundry bag 100 covers only a small floor area while maintaining a large volume. This quality can be essential for saving space in a small dorm room or apartment. These relative height to diameter or width dimensions also mean that the opening to the cavity when the zipper opens the same on side wall 10 will be much larger than the opening of open or mouth end 14, even if the drawstring is opened to its maximum. The larger side opening provides more space to move articles through it and thus makes removing articles from the side opening of the cavity (originating from zipper 16) far quicker and easier than removing articles from open end 14. Accordingly, when the user and the laundry bag reach the laundry site or destination, the user can now more quickly access the contents of the bag by simply opening the zipper and reaching inside, rather than pulling the contents out and through a single small open end, constrained by a cinched drawstring. It should also be noted that opening of zipper 16 can be done in one motion, i.e. unzipping the zipper. Opening open or mouth end 14, on the other hand, requires loosening of the drawstring and then pulling apart the open end's opposite sides—a clearly more difficult and slower process. The simplicity of unzipping zipper 16 further adds to the improvements of the invention.

Additionally, the Figures depict laundry bag 100 having a pair of parallel straps 18 attached to the cylindrical side wall or structure. These parallel straps are preferably adult shoulder width apart, long enough and secure enough that a user could carry the bag on his back as a backpack with the straps extending over the shoulders, one strap on each shoulder similar to a backpack. To ensure the user's comfort, the straps in the preferred embodiment are padded at or about their central sections and adjustable in length. In certain embodiments standard backpack straps may be attached, although alternatives are also considered within the scope of the invention.

The preferred embodiment also includes a straps-connecting handle 20 attached to one or both of straps 18. Another mechanism, such as snaps or Velcro on the straps 18 themselves, for joining the two straps may be used as well. Straps connecting handle 20 or an alternative enable the two straps 18 to be connected together and thus carried together as seen in FIG. 3. This feature allows the user the option of carrying the bag as a duffel bag, not over the shoulders. Yet, the same padding used on the straps for comfort on a user's shoulders, provides comfort to the user's hand, when the same is carried in a duffel condition, as seen in FIG. 3. Once the straps 18 are connected, they may be held together in one hand and carried in the manner of a duffel bag. Alternatively they may also be held together on one shoulder in the manner of a large tote bag. Because the user may choose the carrying option best for him, and, yet, the padding of the handles is in contact with the stress point(s) carrying the weight, the invention is very convenient and allows a user a multiplicity of options, which may provide the user with the easy ability to switch and ease a long trek with a heavy load. Switching mechanisms of carrying a large load is often helpful.

Preferred embodiments of the invention also include accessory components, such as a pocket 26 for money or small items, e.g., small containers of detergent, fabric softeners, coins, tokens for the machines, etc. Also, dividers within the cavity can be provided to separate laundry loads, or to separate detergent from the laundry. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various additional changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular feature or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.

Oversized,Convertible Laundry Duffel Bag

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