Laundry hair and lint trapper

Abstract

A reusable hair and lint trapper for use in laundry machines comprising: a body with a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface opposite the first exterior surface; and a plurality of bristles extending axially from the first exterior surface and / or the second exterior surface. The plurality of bristles extend axially from the first exterior surface and / or the second exterior surface in a pattern to define at least one space for capturing hair and lint.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates to hair and lint trappers, and more specifically to hair and lint trappers used in washers and / or dryers.

[0002] Laundry machines, such as washers and dryers, are widespread household appliances used to clean and dry articles of clothing and fabrics in general. During normal everyday use, articles of clothing and fabrics tend to accumulate hair of either human or animal origin on their surfaces and fibers.

[0003] During washing of the articles of clothing or fabric, any accumulated hair does not break down in water and either remains on the clothing or fabric or can accumulate in the household appliances. Hair remaining on clothing (especially pet hair) after laundering is undesirable and time consuming to remove. Accumulated hair and lint can cause mechanical issues. For example, clumps of hair may enter the drain holes of a washer drum and possibly clog the drain pumps of the washer. As another example, during drying in a dryer, hair can accumulate on the dryer's filter and thus impede airflow, reducing performance and requiring frequent cleaning of the filter to maintain energy efficiency and prevent fire hazards.

[0004] Ideally, to prevent any issues from being caused by the accumulated hair in the household appliances during washing and drying, all hair should be removed from fabrics prior to washing them. However, removing all hair is a time-intensive task that is rarely performed before washing fabrics, meaning that some amount of hair is introduced in laundry machines during usual washing and drying cycles.

[0005] Furthermore, most if not all types of fabrics release lint when cleaned, and especially when dried, and accumulated lint can cause problems similar to those caused by accumulated hair.SUMMARY

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a device capable of effectively trapping hair and lint within laundry machines during washing and drying cycles which can be easily cleaned afterwards is disclosed. The device thereby preventing or at least substantially reducing the risk of accumulated hair and lint causing laundry machine issues.

[0007] A reusable hair and lint trapper for use in laundry machines and / or dryers is disclosed. The reusable hair and lint trapper comprises: a body with a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface opposite the first exterior surface; and a plurality of bristles extending axially from the first exterior surface and / or the second exterior surface. The plurality of bristles extend axially from the first exterior surface and / or the second exterior surface in a pattern to define at least one space for capturing hair and lint.

[0008] The reusable hair and lint trapper rubs against the clothing or fabrics within the laundry machine and / or dryers to trap the hair and lint that is present on clothing and fabrics that may not be released during washing or drying.

[0009] In one embodiment, the body is made of silicone material and the bristles are cylindrical in shape.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 shows a schematic of a laundry hair and lint trapper of a first embodiment.

[0011] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the laundry hair and lint trapper of the first embodiment.

[0012] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the laundry hair and lint trapper of a second embodiment.

[0013] FIG. 4 shows a top view of a laundry hair and lint trapper of a second embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 5 shows a side view of FIG. 4 including a detailed view.

[0015] FIG. 6 shows a top view of a brush pattern on the laundry hair and lint trapper.

[0016] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the brush pattern on the laundry hair and lint trapper.

[0017] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a double-sided, one piece laundry hair and lint trapper of a third embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a single-sided, laundry hair and lint trapper of a fourth embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, a hair and lint trapper 10 has a body 7 with a first exterior surface 8 and a second exterior surface 9, opposite the first exterior surface 8. Extending axially from at least the first exterior surface 8 or the second exterior surface 9 of the body 7 are a plurality of bristles 12.

[0020] The body 7 can be comprised of a first planar piece 13 with a first exterior surface 8 of a plurality of bristles 12 and a first interior surface 14 and a second planar piece 15 with a second exterior surface 9 and a second interior surface 16 as shown in FIGS. 3-5. The first planar piece 13 is joined to the second planar piece 15 by directly adhering the first interior surface 14 of the first planar piece 13 to the second interior surface 16 of the second planar piece 15. The joining of the two planar pieces 13, 15 can be achieved through heat or adhesive or a combination of both.

[0021] For example, if the first and second planar pieces 13, 15 are silicone, the first planar piece 13 is joined to the second planar piece 15 by adhering the first interior surface 14 of the first planar piece 13 to the second interior surface 16 of the second planar piece 15 and heating the first and second planar pieces 13, 15 to allow adhesion or fusion of the first and second interior surfaces 14, 16 to each other. Pressure can be applied for an appropriate amount of time to successfully fuse the first and second planar pieces 13, 15 together.

[0022] Alternatively, an adhesive can be directly applied to the first interior surface 14 and / or the second interior surface 16 of the first planar piece 13 and / or the second planar piece 15, respectively, and adjoined through applied pressure.

[0023] In another embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-2, an interposing layer 18 of material with adhesive properties is placed between the first interior surface 14 of the first planar piece 13 and the second interior surface 16 of the second planar piece 15. The interposing layer 18 can be a cotton fabric, woven fabric, non-woven fabric or any other material with a surface compatible for fusing to another material. Additionally, the interposing layer 18 can be any material that provides stability and / or stiffness such that the material prevents tearing or folding of the hair and lint trapper 10. The adhesive properties of the interposing layer 18 are activated through an application of heat.

[0024] Extending axially from at least the first exterior surface 8 or the second exterior surface 9 of the body 7 are a plurality of bristles 12. The bristles 12 can be made of silicone or other material with similar properties that allow them to withstand heat, water, and cleaning chemicals exposure without undue degradation while maintaining a firm but flexible structure and adequate friction that can effectively trap hair and lint. The bristles 12 can be clear, opaque or a color. The bristles 12 have a bristle body 12a with a length 1 and a width or diameter w, but can otherwise be of any shape. The shape of the bristles 12 provide multiple surfaces for strands of hair and lint to engage and wrap around and consequently become retained on the bristles 12 of the trapper 10. Longer strands of hair may come into contact with multiple bristles 12.

[0025] FIG. 8 shows an alternate hair and lint trapper 110 that has a body 117 with a first exterior surface 8 and a second exterior surface 9, opposite the first exterior surface 8. Extending axially from both the first exterior surface 8 and the second exterior surface 9 of the body 117 are a plurality of bristles 12. In this embodiment, the body 117 is comprised of a single planar piece 113 with a first exterior surface 8 of a plurality of bristles 12 and a second exterior surface 9 with a plurality of bristles 12. The hair and lint trapper 110 has a single piece body that does not require the adherence of two separate pieces.

[0026] FIG. 9 shows another alternate hair and lint trapper 120 that has a body 117 with a first exterior surface 8 and a second exterior surface 9, opposite the first exterior surface 8. Extending axially from at least the first exterior surface 8 or the second exterior surface 9 of the body 117 are a plurality of bristles 12. In this embodiment, the body 117 is comprised of a single planar piece 113 with a second exterior surface 9 of a plurality of bristles 12 and a first exterior surface 8. While not shown, an additional layer or material can be adhered to the exterior surface of the trapper 120 that does not contain bristles 12, for example first exterior surface 8. The additional layer 118 can be a cotton fabric, woven fabric, non-woven fabric or any other material with a surface compatible for fusing to another material. Additionally, the layer 118 can be any material that provides stability and / or stiffness such that the material prevents tearing or folding of the lint and hair trapper. The layer 118 can be adhered to the exterior surface of the hair and lint trapper without bristles through adhesive or fusing.

[0027] The body 7, 117 of the trappers 10, 110, 120 can be of any shape, such as but not limited to a parallelogram (FIGS. 1-2), a circle (FIG. 4), oval, an open shape, or a closed shape. The body 7, 117 is sized to fit within common household laundry and dryer machines. As such, the maximum dimension of the body 7, 117 is preferably less than 0.3 m (1 ft) in length. Smaller maximum dimensions, such as approximately 20 cm, can improve ease of handling of the trapper 10, 110, 120 for household use and reduce manufacturing and shipping costs. The body 7, 117 preferably has a thickness of at least 0.2 mm. The body 7, 117 can be made of a silicone material. The material used to form the body 7, 117 is preferably planar.

[0028] In regards to the hair and lint trappers 10, 110, 120, in one embodiment, the bristles 12 are preferably cylindrical in shape with a length in a range of 2.5-3.5 mm and a diameter (width) of 0.50-0.65 mm. Through testing, bristles 12 having a circular cross-section were more effective than bristles 12 having a cross-section with edges, such as a square or triangular cross-section, because strands of hair and lint are more likely to contact a curved surface rather than a linear surface, thus increasing the amount of friction between the bristle 12 and hair and lint and improving retention of hair and lint on the hair and lint trapper 10, 110, 120. Longer length bristles 12 may increase the total space within the hair and lint trapper 10, 110, 120 that is available for hair and lint to remain trapped between adjacent bristles 12, thereby allowing the hair and lint trapper 10, 110, 120 to be reused more frequently without requiring cleaning or replacement. Shorter length bristles 12 may be more robust, thereby increasing the amount of friction between the surface of the bristles 12 and strands of hair and lint and thus improving hair and lint retention.

[0029] Bristles shapes and / or additional elements attached to the bristle other than what is shown in the drawings may be used within the scope of the invention. For example, one or more bristles may have a cylindrical shape with radially extending quills or spines to aid in retention of the hair and lint onto the bristles of the trapper. It is noted that the additional elements and the shape of the bristles need to be designed so as to prevent the bristles from snagging or getting caught on the surface of fabrics in the laundry machine and the dryer. For example, providing a hook at an end of the bristle would likely catch and snag fabrics.

[0030] The bristles 12 can be arranged along one or both of the first and second exterior surfaces 8, 9 of the body 7, 117 in any pattern, which may be regular or irregular, with consistent or inconsistent spacing between each of the bristles 12, respectively. It is noted that patterns with too much space between each of the bristles 12 will not secure and keep the hair and lint trapped and too little spacing between each of the bristles 12 will not adequately remove enough of the hair and lint from the clothing due to limited space.

[0031] FIGS. 6-7 show an exemplary regular square grid pattern of the bristles 12 along one or both of the first and second exterior surfaces 8, 9 of the body 7. It is noted that the grid lines shown in FIG. 6 are for explanation purposes only. Within the regular square grid pattern are a series of horizontal rows 100a-100n and vertical columns 101a-101n. In this pattern, bristles 12 are present in every other column across an x-axis and in every other row across a y-axis. For example bristles 12a are present in columns 101a, 101c, 101e, 101g of row 100a, 100c, 100n. Bristles 12b are also present in columns 101b, 101d, 101f, 101n of rows 100b, 100n. The pattern of a bristle 12a in every other column along a first row is repeated and staggered with a bristle 12b in an adjacent, second row, with the first and second rows repeated along the exterior surface(s) 8, 9 of the body 7.

[0032] In one embodiment, the spacing 103 between bristles 12a in every other column is equal to the spacing 104 between bristles 12a in every other row. The spacing 103, 104 is between 2.0-2.5 mm, preferably 2.5 mm. The spacing 105 between bristles 12a, 12b in adjacent rows is equal to the spacing 106 between the bristles 12a, 12b in adjacent columns. The spacing 103, 104 is between 1.0-1.25 mm, preferably 1.25 mm. The diameter or width w of the bristles 12 in this embodiment is 0.55 mm, although a smaller or larger diameter may be used.

[0033] It is noted that in FIGS. 6-7 all spacing 103-106 is measured between the axial centers of each of the bristles 12, but spacing can also be measured between outer surface of the bristles 12.

[0034] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the regular grid pattern of bristles 12. The length 1 of the bristles is between 2.5-3 mm. The spacing 107 between adjacent bristles 12a, 12b in adjacent columns and measured between the outer surface of the bristles 12a, 12b is between 0.5-0.75 mm, preferably 0.7 mm.

[0035] All of the spacing 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 between the bristles allows for lint and hair to be deposited and retained and can be applied to any of the hair and lint trappers 10, 110, 120 discussed herein.

[0036] An advantage of employing the regular square grid is the simple and less expensive manufacturing process and easy cleaning using comb-shaped tools which fit within the spacing 103-107 to capture and remove the deposited hair and lint. For example, a trapper 10 having bristles 12 of a diameter of 0.6 mm and arranged in a square grid pattern having a spacing 102, 104 of 2 mm between every other column and every other row, and spacing 105, 106 between adjacent columns and rows of 1.2 mm can be easily cleaned through the use of a comb having teeth that are 1 mm wide and spaced 1 mm apart from each other, as the teeth of the comb easily fit in the spacing 105, 106 between the bristles 12 with 0.1 mm of tolerance on each side, and thus all of the spacing 105, 106 between each of the bristles 12 in one direction can be simultaneously cleaned simply by running the comb through the spacing 105, 106 along the direction perpendicular to the spacing 105, 106, with the same procedure being repeated with the trapper 10 being rotated 90 degrees in order to clean all existing spacing 105, 106 of the trapper 10. The pattern can be designed to allow easy cleaning using widely available combs, or a special-use comb can be designed specifically to clean the desired pattern.

[0037] The first planar piece and / or the second planar piece 13, 15 supporting the bristles 12 can have a thickness t in the range of 0.2 mm to 0.7 mm. Some flexibility of the planar pieces 13, 15 is desirable as any curvature of the planar pieces 13, 15 will result in the bristles 12 changing direction relative to each other as they remain perpendicular to the exterior surfaces 8, 9 of the planar pieces 13, 15, thus potentially introducing tension in strands of hair and lint which increases friction and the likelihood of strands of hair and lint becoming entangled and more easily retained.

[0038] During washing and drying cycles, hair and lint become loose and freely move within the laundry machine. As the hair lint come into contact with the bristles 12 of the trapper 10, friction causes the hair and lint to become entangled with the bristles 12 and remain engaged with the bristles 12 of the hair and lint trapper 10, 110, 120. Some of the hair and lint will contact more than one bristle 12.

[0039] The hair and lint trappers 10, 110, 120 can be used multiple times within laundry machines without being cleaned or removing the hair or lint. For example, the hair and lint trappers 10, 110, 120 can be used more than three times, more than five times, more than seven times, more than ten times in between removal of the trapped hair or lint from the hair and lint trapper 10, 110, 120.

[0040] It is noted that more than one hair and lint trapper 10, 110, 120 can be used simultaneously within the laundry machine and / or dryer. Additionally, multiple different size hair and lint trappers 10, 110, 120 can also be used simultaneously in the same load being washed or dried within the laundry machine and / or dryer.

[0041] It is also noted that the hair and lint trapper 10, 110, 120 can be used with machines that both wash and dry as well individual machines that only wash or only dry.

[0042] Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0019]Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, a hair and lint trapper 10 has a body 7 with a first exterior surface 8 and a second exterior surface 9, opposite the first exterior surface 8. Extending axially from at least the first exterior surface 8 or the second exterior surface 9 of the body 7 are a plurality of bristles 12.

[0020]The body 7 can be comprised of a first planar piece 13 with a first exterior surface 8 of a plurality of bristles 12 and a first interior surface 14 and a second planar piece 15 with a second exterior surface 9 and a second interior surface 16 as shown in FIGS. 3-5. The first planar piece 13 is joined to the second planar piece 15 by directly adhering the first interior surface 14 of the first planar piece 13 to the second interior surface 16 of the second planar piece 15. The joining of the two planar pieces 13, 15 can be achieved through heat or adhesive or a combination of both.

[0021]For example, if the first and second planar pieces 13, 15 are silicone, th...

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates to hair and lint trappers, and more specifically to hair and lint trappers used in washers and / or dryers.

[0002] Laundry machines, such as washers and dryers, are widespread household appliances used to clean and dry articles of clothing and fabrics in general. During normal everyday use, articles of clothing and fabrics tend to accumulate hair of either human or animal origin on their surfaces and fibers.

[0003] During washing of the articles of clothing or fabric, any accumulated hair does not break down in water and either remains on the clothing or fabric or can accumulate in the household appliances. Hair remaining on clothing (especially pet hair) after laundering is undesirable and time consuming to remove. Accumulated hair and lint can cause mechanical issues. For example, clumps of hair may enter the drain holes of a washer drum and possibly clog the drain pumps of the washer. As another example, during drying in a dryer, hair can accumulate on the dryer's filter and thus impede airflow, reducing performance and requiring frequent cleaning of the filter to maintain energy efficiency and prevent fire hazards.

[0004] Ideally, to prevent any issues from being caused by the accumulated hair in the household appliances during washing and drying, all hair should be removed from fabrics prior to washing them. However, removing all hair is a time-intensive task that is rarely performed before washing fabrics, meaning that some amount of hair is introduced in laundry machines during usual washing and drying cycles.

[0005] Furthermore, most if not all types of fabrics release lint when cleaned, and especially when dried, and accumulated lint can cause problems similar to those caused by accumulated hair.SUMMARY

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a device capable of effectively trapping hair and lint within laundry machines during washing and drying cycles which can be easily cleaned afterwards is disclosed. The device thereby preventing or at least substantially reducing the risk of accumulated hair and lint causing laundry machine issues.

[0007] A reusable hair and lint trapper for use in laundry machines and / or dryers is disclosed. The reusable hair and lint trapper comprises: a body with a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface opposite the first exterior surface; and a plurality of bristles extending axially from the first exterior surface and / or the second exterior surface. The plurality of bristles extend axially from the first exterior surface and / or the second exterior surface in a pattern to define at least one space for capturing hair and lint.

[0008] The reusable hair and lint trapper rubs against the clothing or fabrics within the laundry machine and / or dryers to trap the hair and lint that is present on clothing and fabrics that may not be released during washing or drying.

[0009] In one embodiment, the body is made of silicone material and the bristles are cylindrical in shape.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 shows a schematic of a laundry hair and lint trapper of a first embodiment.

[0011] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the laundry hair and lint trapper of the first embodiment.

[0012] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the laundry hair and lint trapper of a second embodiment.

[0013] FIG. 4 shows a top view of a laundry hair and lint trapper of a second embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 5 shows a side view of FIG. 4 including a detailed view.

[0015] FIG. 6 shows a top view of a brush pattern on the laundry hair and lint trapper.

[0016] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the brush pattern on the laundry hair and lint trapper.

[0017] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a double-sided, one piece laundry hair and lint trapper of a third embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a single-sided, laundry hair and lint trapper of a fourth embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, a hair and lint trapper 10 has a body 7 with a first exterior surface 8 and a second exterior surface 9, opposite the first exterior surface 8. Extending axially from at least the first exterior surface 8 or the second exterior surface 9 of the body 7 are a plurality of bristles 12.

[0020] The body 7 can be comprised of a first planar piece 13 with a first exterior surface 8 of a plurality of bristles 12 and a first interior surface 14 and a second planar piece 15 with a second exterior surface 9 and a second interior surface 16 as shown in FIGS. 3-5. The first planar piece 13 is joined to the second planar piece 15 by directly adhering the first interior surface 14 of the first planar piece 13 to the second interior surface 16 of the second planar piece 15. The joining of the two planar pieces 13, 15 can be achieved through heat or adhesive or a combination of both.

[0021] For example, if the first and second planar pieces 13, 15 are silicone, the first planar piece 13 is joined to the second planar piece 15 by adhering the first interior surface 14 of the first planar piece 13 to the second interior surface 16 of the second planar piece 15 and heating the first and second planar pieces 13, 15 to allow adhesion or fusion of the first and second interior surfaces 14, 16 to each other. Pressure can be applied for an appropriate amount of time to successfully fuse the first and second planar pieces 13, 15 together.

[0022] Alternatively, an adhesive can be directly applied to the first interior surface 14 and / or the second interior surface 16 of the first planar piece 13 and / or the second planar piece 15, respectively, and adjoined through applied pressure.

[0023] In another embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-2, an interposing layer 18 of material with adhesive properties is placed between the first interior surface 14 of the first planar piece 13 and the second interior surface 16 of the second planar piece 15. The interposing layer 18 can be a cotton fabric, woven fabric, non-woven fabric or any other material with a surface compatible for fusing to another material. Additionally, the interposing layer 18 can be any material that provides stability and / or stiffness such that the material prevents tearing or folding of the hair and lint trapper 10. The adhesive properties of the interposing layer 18 are activated through an application of heat.

[0024] Extending axially from at least the first exterior surface 8 or the second exterior surface 9 of the body 7 are a plurality of bristles 12. The bristles 12 can be made of silicone or other material with similar properties that allow them to withstand heat, water, and cleaning chemicals exposure without undue degradation while maintaining a firm but flexible structure and adequate friction that can effectively trap hair and lint. The bristles 12 can be clear, opaque or a color. The bristles 12 have a bristle body 12a with a length 1 and a width or diameter w, but can otherwise be of any shape. The shape of the bristles 12 provide multiple surfaces for strands of hair and lint to engage and wrap around and consequently become retained on the bristles 12 of the trapper 10. Longer strands of hair may come into contact with multiple bristles 12.

[0025] FIG. 8 shows an alternate hair and lint trapper 110 that has a body 117 with a first exterior surface 8 and a second exterior surface 9, opposite the first exterior surface 8. Extending axially from both the first exterior surface 8 and the second exterior surface 9 of the body 117 are a plurality of bristles 12. In this embodiment, the body 117 is comprised of a single planar piece 113 with a first exterior surface 8 of a plurality of bristles 12 and a second exterior surface 9 with a plurality of bristles 12. The hair and lint trapper 110 has a single piece body that does not require the adherence of two separate pieces.

[0026] FIG. 9 shows another alternate hair and lint trapper 120 that has a body 117 with a first exterior surface 8 and a second exterior surface 9, opposite the first exterior surface 8. Extending axially from at least the first exterior surface 8 or the second exterior surface 9 of the body 117 are a plurality of bristles 12. In this embodiment, the body 117 is comprised of a single planar piece 113 with a second exterior surface 9 of a plurality of bristles 12 and a first exterior surface 8. While not shown, an additional layer or material can be adhered to the exterior surface of the trapper 120 that does not contain bristles 12, for example first exterior surface 8. The additional layer 118 can be a cotton fabric, woven fabric, non-woven fabric or any other material with a surface compatible for fusing to another material. Additionally, the layer 118 can be any material that provides stability and / or stiffness such that the material prevents tearing or folding of the lint and hair trapper. The layer 118 can be adhered to the exterior surface of the hair and lint trapper without bristles through adhesive or fusing.

[0027] The body 7, 117 of the trappers 10, 110, 120 can be of any shape, such as but not limited to a parallelogram (FIGS. 1-2), a circle (FIG. 4), oval, an open shape, or a closed shape. The body 7, 117 is sized to fit within common household laundry and dryer machines. As such, the maximum dimension of the body 7, 117 is preferably less than 0.3 m (1 ft) in length. Smaller maximum dimensions, such as approximately 20 cm, can improve ease of handling of the trapper 10, 110, 120 for household use and reduce manufacturing and shipping costs. The body 7, 117 preferably has a thickness of at least 0.2 mm. The body 7, 117 can be made of a silicone material. The material used to form the body 7, 117 is preferably planar.

[0028] In regards to the hair and lint trappers 10, 110, 120, in one embodiment, the bristles 12 are preferably cylindrical in shape with a length in a range of 2.5-3.5 mm and a diameter (width) of 0.50-0.65 mm. Through testing, bristles 12 having a circular cross-section were more effective than bristles 12 having a cross-section with edges, such as a square or triangular cross-section, because strands of hair and lint are more likely to contact a curved surface rather than a linear surface, thus increasing the amount of friction between the bristle 12 and hair and lint and improving retention of hair and lint on the hair and lint trapper 10, 110, 120. Longer length bristles 12 may increase the total space within the hair and lint trapper 10, 110, 120 that is available for hair and lint to remain trapped between adjacent bristles 12, thereby allowing the hair and lint trapper 10, 110, 120 to be reused more frequently without requiring cleaning or replacement. Shorter length bristles 12 may be more robust, thereby increasing the amount of friction between the surface of the bristles 12 and strands of hair and lint and thus improving hair and lint retention.

[0029] Bristles shapes and / or additional elements attached to the bristle other than what is shown in the drawings may be used within the scope of the invention. For example, one or more bristles may have a cylindrical shape with radially extending quills or spines to aid in retention of the hair and lint onto the bristles of the trapper. It is noted that the additional elements and the shape of the bristles need to be designed so as to prevent the bristles from snagging or getting caught on the surface of fabrics in the laundry machine and the dryer. For example, providing a hook at an end of the bristle would likely catch and snag fabrics.

[0030] The bristles 12 can be arranged along one or both of the first and second exterior surfaces 8, 9 of the body 7, 117 in any pattern, which may be regular or irregular, with consistent or inconsistent spacing between each of the bristles 12, respectively. It is noted that patterns with too much space between each of the bristles 12 will not secure and keep the hair and lint trapped and too little spacing between each of the bristles 12 will not adequately remove enough of the hair and lint from the clothing due to limited space.

[0031] FIGS. 6-7 show an exemplary regular square grid pattern of the bristles 12 along one or both of the first and second exterior surfaces 8, 9 of the body 7. It is noted that the grid lines shown in FIG. 6 are for explanation purposes only. Within the regular square grid pattern are a series of horizontal rows 100a-100n and vertical columns 101a-101n. In this pattern, bristles 12 are present in every other column across an x-axis and in every other row across a y-axis. For example bristles 12a are present in columns 101a, 101c, 101e, 101g of row 100a, 100c, 100n. Bristles 12b are also present in columns 101b, 101d, 101f, 101n of rows 100b, 100n. The pattern of a bristle 12a in every other column along a first row is repeated and staggered with a bristle 12b in an adjacent, second row, with the first and second rows repeated along the exterior surface(s) 8, 9 of the body 7.

[0032] In one embodiment, the spacing 103 between bristles 12a in every other column is equal to the spacing 104 between bristles 12a in every other row. The spacing 103, 104 is between 2.0-2.5 mm, preferably 2.5 mm. The spacing 105 between bristles 12a, 12b in adjacent rows is equal to the spacing 106 between the bristles 12a, 12b in adjacent columns. The spacing 103, 104 is between 1.0-1.25 mm, preferably 1.25 mm. The diameter or width w of the bristles 12 in this embodiment is 0.55 mm, although a smaller or larger diameter may be used.

[0033] It is noted that in FIGS. 6-7 all spacing 103-106 is measured between the axial centers of each of the bristles 12, but spacing can also be measured between outer surface of the bristles 12.

[0034] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the regular grid pattern of bristles 12. The length 1 of the bristles is between 2.5-3 mm. The spacing 107 between adjacent bristles 12a, 12b in adjacent columns and measured between the outer surface of the bristles 12a, 12b is between 0.5-0.75 mm, preferably 0.7 mm.

[0035] All of the spacing 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 between the bristles allows for lint and hair to be deposited and retained and can be applied to any of the hair and lint trappers 10, 110, 120 discussed herein.

[0036] An advantage of employing the regular square grid is the simple and less expensive manufacturing process and easy cleaning using comb-shaped tools which fit within the spacing 103-107 to capture and remove the deposited hair and lint. For example, a trapper 10 having bristles 12 of a diameter of 0.6 mm and arranged in a square grid pattern having a spacing 102, 104 of 2 mm between every other column and every other row, and spacing 105, 106 between adjacent columns and rows of 1.2 mm can be easily cleaned through the use of a comb having teeth that are 1 mm wide and spaced 1 mm apart from each other, as the teeth of the comb easily fit in the spacing 105, 106 between the bristles 12 with 0.1 mm of tolerance on each side, and thus all of the spacing 105, 106 between each of the bristles 12 in one direction can be simultaneously cleaned simply by running the comb through the spacing 105, 106 along the direction perpendicular to the spacing 105, 106, with the same procedure being repeated with the trapper 10 being rotated 90 degrees in order to clean all existing spacing 105, 106 of the trapper 10. The pattern can be designed to allow easy cleaning using widely available combs, or a special-use comb can be designed specifically to clean the desired pattern.

[0037] The first planar piece and / or the second planar piece 13, 15 supporting the bristles 12 can have a thickness t in the range of 0.2 mm to 0.7 mm. Some flexibility of the planar pieces 13, 15 is desirable as any curvature of the planar pieces 13, 15 will result in the bristles 12 changing direction relative to each other as they remain perpendicular to the exterior surfaces 8, 9 of the planar pieces 13, 15, thus potentially introducing tension in strands of hair and lint which increases friction and the likelihood of strands of hair and lint becoming entangled and more easily retained.

[0038] During washing and drying cycles, hair and lint become loose and freely move within the laundry machine. As the hair lint come into contact with the bristles 12 of the trapper 10, friction causes the hair and lint to become entangled with the bristles 12 and remain engaged with the bristles 12 of the hair and lint trapper 10, 110, 120. Some of the hair and lint will contact more than one bristle 12.

[0039] The hair and lint trappers 10, 110, 120 can be used multiple times within laundry machines without being cleaned or removing the hair or lint. For example, the hair and lint trappers 10, 110, 120 can be used more than three times, more than five times, more than seven times, more than ten times in between removal of the trapped hair or lint from the hair and lint trapper 10, 110, 120.

[0040] It is noted that more than one hair and lint trapper 10, 110, 120 can be used simultaneously within the laundry machine and / or dryer. Additionally, multiple different size hair and lint trappers 10, 110, 120 can also be used simultaneously in the same load being washed or dried within the laundry machine and / or dryer.

[0041] It is also noted that the hair and lint trapper 10, 110, 120 can be used with machines that both wash and dry as well individual machines that only wash or only dry.

[0042] Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0019]Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, a hair and lint trapper 10 has a body 7 with a first exterior surface 8 and a second exterior surface 9, opposite the first exterior surface 8. Extending axially from at least the first exterior surface 8 or the second exterior surface 9 of the body 7 are a plurality of bristles 12.

[0020]The body 7 can be comprised of a first planar piece 13 with a first exterior surface 8 of a plurality of bristles 12 and a first interior surface 14 and a second planar piece 15 with a second exterior surface 9 and a second interior surface 16 as shown in FIGS. 3-5. The first planar piece 13 is joined to the second planar piece 15 by directly adhering the first interior surface 14 of the first planar piece 13 to the second interior surface 16 of the second planar piece 15. The joining of the two planar pieces 13, 15 can be achieved through heat or adhesive or a combination of both.

[0021]For example, if the first and second planar pieces 13, 15 are silicone, th...

Claims

1. A hair and lint trapper comprising: a body with a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface opposite the first exterior surface; and a plurality of bristles extending axially from the first exterior surface and / or the second exterior surface, wherein the plurality of bristles extend axially from the first exterior surface and / or the second exterior surface in a pattern to define at least one space for capturing hair and lint.

2. The hair and lint trapper of claim 1, wherein the body comprises: a first planar piece having the first exterior surface and a first interior surface; and a second planar piece having the second exterior surface and a second interior surface; such that the first interior surface of the first planar piece is adjacent the second interior surface of the second planar piece.

3. The hair and lint trapper of claim 2, further comprising an interposing layer between the first interior surface of the first planar piece and the second interior surface of the second planar piece.

4. The hair and lint trapper of claim 2, wherein first planar piece and the second planar piece are each silicone material.

5. The hair and lint trapper of claim 2, wherein the first interior surface of the first planar piece adjoined to the second interior surface of the second planar piece through heat or adhesive.

6. The hair and lint trapper of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bristles are made of silicone.

7. The hair and lint trapper of claim 1, wherein each bristle of the plurality of bristles is cylindrical.

8. The hair and lint trapper of claim 7, wherein each bristle of the plurality of bristles has a diameter of 0.5-0.65 mm.

9. The hair and lint trapper of claim 1, wherein the body is planar with a length of 0.3 m or less and a thickness of at least 0.2 mm.

10. The hair and lint trapper of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bristles axially extend from the first exterior surface and / or the second exterior surface a length of 2.5-3.5 mm.

11. The hair and lint trapper of claim 1, wherein the hair and lint trapper is reusable a number of times consisting of: at least 3 times, at least 5 times, at least 7 times, and at least 10 times.

12. The hair and lint trapper of claim 1, wherein the pattern is a regular grid pattern.

13. The hair and lint trapper of claim 12, wherein the regular grid pattern has a plurality of rows and columns, with at least one bristle of the plurality of bristles in every other column and every other row.

14. The hair and lint trapper of claim 13, wherein the at least one space for capture hair and lint comprises: a first space defined between bristles of the plurality of bristles in every other column, a second space defined between bristles of the plurality of bristles in every other row; a third space defined between bristles of the plurality of bristles in adjacent columns, and fourth space defined between bristles of the plurality of bristles in adjacent rows.

15. The hair and lint trapper of claim 14, wherein the first space and the second space is 2.0-2.5 mm measured between the axial centers of each of the bristles of the plurality of bristles.

16. The hair and lint trapper of claim 14, wherein the third space and the fourth space is 1.0-1.25 mm measured between the axial centers of each of the bristles of the plurality of bristles.

17. The hair and lint trapper of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a single planar piece having the first exterior surface and the second exterior surface.

18. The hair and lint trapper of claim 17, wherein the plurality of bristles extend from the first exterior surface of the body.

19. The hair and lint trapper of claim 17, wherein the plurality of bristles extend from the first exterior surface of the body and the second exterior surface of the body.

20. The hair and lint trapper of claim 18, further comprising a layer adhered to the second exterior surface of the body.

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