Improved bag for transporting textiles and loading and unloading washing and drying machines

Abstract

The invention relates to a top-opening bag (1) for carrying textiles, the bag having a semi-rigid flap (2) which is cut off to be positioned along a lower portion of a front opening (102) of a machine (100) for washing or drying laundry, the flap being provided with means (4) for holding the flap against the wall of the machine around the door opening so as to allow textiles to be transferred between the bag and the drum of the machine, the flap (2) additionally being attached to a rear vertical wall (8) of the bag, said wall being made of a sheet of a semi-rigid material. The flap (2) and the rear vertical wall (8) are connected to one another by a rectangular strip (7) of a material that is more flexible than the semi-rigid material.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to equipment for families or professionals in personal services or textile processing. It concerns a bag-type receptacle for removing laundry or other textiles from a front-loading washing or drying machine. Conversely, the bag can be used to bring laundry or other textiles to the machine and load its contents into the machine before starting it. The receptacle according to the invention can be used with dry or wet textiles.

[0002] As is known, receptacles such as bags or bins may include a system for attaching the receptacle to the machine, allowing the receptacle to be attached to the machine in a removable manner and thus freeing the user's hands to facilitate the transfer of laundry out of or into the machine.

[0003] However, attaching or detaching the washing machine's laundry basket is not straightforward, as it requires a fastening system. For example, document US9850622B1 proposed a basket with a rigid attachment at the front opening, often shaped like a porthole, but this system is difficult to install and store after use. Furthermore, there are gaps between the basket and the front panel of the machine, so when transferring laundry from the machine to the basket, some items can fall out.

[0004] The inventors proposed in document FR3065233A1 to install a flap on a flexible bag to be placed against the front face of the machine, this flap having been cut to follow the front opening. Importantly, the flexible bag can be folded and stored without any difficulty or constraint when not in use, and is very easy to put in place when needed.

[0005] It has been proposed that the flap be hinged to the rear vertical wall of the bag using an accordion-like fold that adjusts the bag to the height of the opening relative to the ground on which the bag is placed. The accordion fold is made from the same material forming the various walls of the bag, including the vertical wall to which the flap is hinged.

[0006] However, the accordion folding mechanism proposed in this solution can be improved, as the frequent use of such a fold is awkward and leads to a poorly folded or even creased product that is positioned in a potentially disappointing way when placed on the machine, or when it is subsequently stored.

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art indicated above.

[0008] To solve this problem, it is proposed to replace the continuity of a single material folded like an accordion with a succession of two materials, one of which is more flexible than the other, which constitutes the bulk of the bag's material and interrupts it at the joint.

[0009] Thus, a top-opening textile transport bag is proposed, having a semi-rigid flap cut to be placed along the lower part of a circular porthole of a front-opening washing or drying machine, and equipped with means for retaining the flap on the wall of the machine surrounding the porthole so as to allow the transfer of textiles between the bag and the drum of the machine, the flap being further fixed to a rear vertical wall of the bag made of a sheet of a semi-rigid material.

[0010] Remarkably, the flap and the said rear vertical wall are connected to each other by a rectangular strip of a material more flexible than the said semi-rigid material.

[0011] Optionally, the flexible material is a nylon fabric, while the semi-rigid material is a polypropylene sheet.

[0012] Optionally, said band is a twill-weave fabric grooved parallel to the hinge direction of the flap relative to the rear vertical wall.

[0013] Optionally, the band is sewn to the flap from the inside.

[0014] We thus retain a main material of the bag, which consists of a sheet of semi-rigid material, for the vertical walls, and we combine it with a second, more flexible material which can be folded as desired without leaving crease marks to adjust the height.

[0015] The material used for the walls is polypropylene in the form of 160 g / m2 thick sheets. For example, recycled polypropylene (PP5) is chosen.

[0016] The second material is a twill nylon fabric. The twill weave is designed for a groove running lengthwise along the nylon strip, positioned horizontally under the machine opening, parallel to the hinge. This allows for easy, crease-free folding at any height, without the creases limiting the available folding heights. The nylon fabric is 1.5 mm thick, and each groove and stitch thickness is 3 mm. This nylon strip can be 7 cm by 54 cm. Different dimensions can easily be used, although these are particularly suitable for practical results.

[0017] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, features, details and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following explanatory description made with reference to the accompanying drawings given solely by way of example illustrating one embodiment of the invention and in which: There figure 1 represents a perspective view of a receptacle for transferring laundry according to the invention; The figure 2 represents a perspective view of the receptacle of the figure 1 fixed to the wall with a front loading or unloading opening of a washing machine.

[0018] [ Fig. 1 With reference to the figures, a bag 1 according to the invention for transferring laundry to or from a washing and / or drying machine 100 with a front-loading or front-loading opening will now be described. The porthole 101 is visible in figure 2 .

[0019] Bag 1 is generally rectangular in shape. It is made primarily of 160 g / m² polypropylene sheets that form semi-rigid walls. These sheets are double-layered, with hems on their edges.

[0020] The receptacle includes a flap 2 designed to be pressed against the front wall 102, which includes the front opening 101 of the machine, just below this opening, and temporarily fixed to the wall by means of three magnets 4, integrated into the flap 2 at different points along its length, spaced apart and positioned towards the upper part of the flap once it is in place against the machine, so as to immobilize the entire surface of the flap in a vertical position. These magnets 4 are 1.5 mm thick and are integrated into a lining of the flap material 1.

[0021] The flap 2 is attached to an upper edge 3 of the rectangular bag container 1, three sides of which are free, and the last (one of the two long sides) forms a hinge for the flap 2. The flap 2 also includes a free edge 5 in the shape of an arc, the shape of which conforms to that of the lower edge of the front opening 102 of the machine when the flap is fixed, by the magnets 4, to this lower edge. Given the existing shapes of front openings of washing and / or drying machines, the free edge 5 can be semicircular with a standard defined radius, but the exact shape can vary to fit different openings.

[0022] In this way, the transfer of laundry from the machine to the receptacle is facilitated, and the risk of laundry falling outside the receptacle during this transfer is reduced.

[0023] Furthermore, once the receptacle is detached from the machine, flap 2 can be used to close the top opening of the bag to protect the laundry. The handles are then raised above the flap closing the bag.

[0024] The fastening methods can include magnets (4) as mentioned, but also suction cups, Velcro strips, or a combination of these. Their number is chosen according to the shape of the flap (2), and in general, there are at least two.

[0025] The flap 2 comprises a strip 7 of twill weave nylon fabric. The twill weave is positioned for a groove running lengthwise along the nylon strip, parallel to the upper edge 3, the length of which forms the hinge between the flap 2 and the wall. This allows for easy, crease-free folding at any height without limiting the choice of folding heights. The nylon fabric is 1.5 mm thick, and each groove and each stitch thickness is 3 mm.

[0026] [ Fig. 2The length of the flap 2 can be modified so that the bag 1 can adapt to the height separating the front opening 101 of the machine from the ground on which the case is placed. Thus, such a receptacle, whose flap 2 is fitted with a band 7, can adapt to any type of machine with a front opening 3, that is to say, the bottom of the receptacle is able to rest on the ground while its cutout (the free edge 5) is made in the flap 2 which fits at least the lower edge of the front opening 102 when the flap 2 is fixed to the front wall 102 of the machine.

[0027] This nylon strip can be 7 or 8 cm wide by 54 cm long. The flap, on the other hand, can be 6 cm wider at its narrowest point (i.e., at least 6 cm of polypropylene) and 15 cm wider at its tallest point, these values ​​being merely examples. Thus, the strip separates the rear vertical wall 8 from the flap 2 by a maximum distance of 7 or 8 cm, which is roughly equivalent to the minimum dimension of the flap, measured perpendicularly to the rear vertical wall, which is 6 cm.

[0028] The bag's container can measure 57 cm long, 35 cm high, and 25 cm wide. The rear vertical wall is referenced as 8.

[0029] Bag 1 may include two plastic snap fasteners positioned on rigid or semi-rigid plastic reinforcements on the sides, integrated into the lining, at the top of each of the two side walls.

[0030] To facilitate transport, the bag 1 may include two carrying handles 6, for example attached respectively to two walls opposite the receptacle, the rear wall and the front wall, which are the two largest walls of the bag 1. In addition, the bag may include at least one pocket (not shown - internal or external) intended to hold household products, such as laundry detergent or stain remover, and / or drugstore products, such as clothespins.

[0031] The six carrying handles are made of polypropylene, like the bag walls, but other materials can be used for the handles. They are attached to the two large faces of the rectangular container.

[0032] The nylon band can be replaced by a band of cotton, low-density polyethylene, hemp, jute or linen.

[0033] The band is sewn to the flap on the side of the flap that is on the inside of the bag, which makes it easier to fold to adjust the height when pressed against the machine.

Claims

1. A bag (1) for transporting textiles with an opening at the top, having a semi-rigid flap (2) cut to be placed along a lower part of a front opening (102) of a washing or drying machine (100), and equipped with retaining means (4) for the flap on the wall of the machine surrounding the porthole so as to allow the transfer of textiles between the bag and the drum of the machine, the flap (2) being further attached to a rear vertical wall (8) of the bag constituted of a sheet of semi-rigid material, characterized in that the flap (2) and said rear vertical wall (8) are connected to each other by a rectangular strip (7) of a material more flexible than said semi-rigid material.

2. The bag (1) for transporting textiles according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible material is a nylon fabric, while the semi-rigid material is a polypropylene sheet.

3. The bag (1) for transporting textiles according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that said strip is a twill weave fabric grooved parallel to the direction of articulation of the flap (2) with respect to the rear vertical wall (8).

4. The bag (1) for transporting textiles according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stitching of the strip (7) with the flap (2) is done from the internal face.

5. The bag (1) for transporting textiles according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the strip separates the rear vertical wall (8) from the flap (2) by a maximum distance of the order of magnitude of the minimum dimension of the flap, taken perpendicularly to the rear vertical wall.

Images