GB2419608A - Laundering bag - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of laundering, includes ```placing an article, such as a dirty horse blanket, to be laundered inside a bag (1) having a cushioning, that is to say, impact absorbing, wall (2); ```placing the bag (1) and its contents within a liquid cleansing device, such as a washing machine; ```causing the cleansing device to carry out a cleaning cycle; and ```removing the bag (1) and the cleansed article therein from the device after the cleansing cycle has been completed, for subsequent removal of the article from the bag (1). Also provided is a laundering bag (1) which has a cushioning, impact absorbing wall (2) preferably made of a laminated fabric which is quilted (3).

Description

LA UN DE RING

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to laundering of articles in, say, a washing machine arid is especially, but riot exclusively, related to the laundering of equine, and indeed other animal, accessories, such as horse blankets and the like.

Horse blankets are usually provided with metal or strong plastics clips, buckles or other fastening means which, during laundering of the blankets in washing machines, tend to damage the interior drums of IS those machines, as well as becoming damaged or broken themselves.

Also, dirty horse blankets usually incorporate horse hair, grit, fibre particles and other undesirable material which, if removed during laundering, tend to block up or cause other damage to the interior workings of the washing machine in which they are laundered.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of laundering articles, in particular, equine accessories, such as horse blankets, which overcomes, or at least substantially reduces, the disadvantages with normal laundering techniques for such articles.

* S **S *SS 5 *SS * S S * S S S SSS S S S S S * S * S S S S S 5. * * S S S S 55 S ** S S * * S. S _,, - Accordingly, one aspect of the invention resides in a method of laundering, comprising placing an article, such as a dirty horse blanket, to he laundered inside a bag having a cushioning, that is to say, impact absorbing, wall, placinq the bag and its contents within a liquid cleansing device, such as a washing machine, causing the cleansing device to carry out a cleansing cycle, and removing the bag and the cleansed article therein from the device after the cleansing cycle has been completed, for subsequent removal of the article from the bag.

Subsequently, the interior of the bag may be cleaned to remove unwanted matter therefrom, in which case, the bag can be turned inside out, so that its interior can be brushed clean or vacuum cleaned.

In Lhis manner, any metallic or hard plastics components associated with the article being cleansed, are prevented from damaging Lhe interior of the cleansing device by means of the cushioning wall(s) of the bag. Similarly, damage to such components by the interior of the cleansing device during the cleansing cycle is also prevented, or at least substantially reduced, by the cushioning wall(s) of the bag.

The laundering method is preferably a water-based washing method but may also be, as an alternative, a dry cleaning method involving an organic solvent as the cleansing liquid.

* * S.. *S* S *lS * S S * * S a SS* S S S S S S I * S S S a S 55 5 S S S S S 55 5 55 S S S S 55 5 The invention also provides a laundering bag which has a cushioning, namely, an impact absorbing, wall.

S Such a bag is preferably made of a material, such as fabric material, which allows cleansing water or other liquid to pass Lhrough its wall into the interior of the bag for the purpose of cleansing, such as washing, the article contained therein during a cleansing cycle.

The cushioning wall(s) of the bag is preferably made of a quilted fabric material which is preferably anti-static, so that the subsequent removal of unwanted matter, such as horse hairs and dirt particles from the interior of the bag is facilitated.

The bag preferably has an open end which can be Lemporarily closed, to prevent the contents of the bag from being removed therefrom during the cleansing cycle. Such closure may be effected by the hook and eye arrangement sold under the Registered Trade Mark "VELCRO".

The bag may be provided with a handle which may be made of the same cushioning material as that of the hag.

A logo or other indicia may be provided on an outer surface of the bag.

* S 585 *S* S *S* * S S S 8 * * SSS * S S * * S * * S S S 8 S *8 * * S S S S 55 5 SI 8 5 5 5 5. 5 In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred form of laundering bag and associated laundering method will now be described by way of example and with reference to Lhe accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a bag for laundering a horse blanket; and Figure 2 is an end view of the bag shown in Figure 1, with one end open.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, a laundering hag, indicated generally at 1, has a continuous, impact-absorbing wall 2 made of a laminated fabric which is quilted at 3. One end 4 of the hag 1 is closed, whilst its other end 5 is open but can be closed temporarily.

Such temporary closure of the bag end 5 can be effected by complementary strips of hook and eye fabric sold under Lhe Registered Trade Mark "VELCRO" as indicaLed at 6. The closure strips 6 are secured, for example, sown or adhered, to the inner edge of the hag end 5.

The cushioning fabric, such as polyester fibres, from which the wall 2 is made, has anti-static properties.

In use of the laundering bag 1, a dirty horse blanket is placed in its interior via the open end 5 * S **S 515. * * I S * I I I **. I S I S I S I

S I I S S I II I

I S S S S 55 5 S S * a S* * which is then temporarily closed using the VELCRO strips 6.

The laundering bag 1 and its dirty horse blanket S contents are then inserted into the drum of a washing machine and subjected to a washing/rinsing/spir cycle.

The water absorbency of the bag 1 means that its contents are laundered therein. I 0

After removal of the bag 1 and its laundered contents, such are removed therefrom via the now-open end 5 of the bag 1.

As a result of the impact-absorbing, cushioning wall 2 of the bag 1, the interior of the washing machine drum is prevented from being damaged by any metal and/or rigid plastics components of the horse blanket, for example, clips, buckles, clasps or other fastening devices, during the wash/rinse/spin cycle of the washing machine. Similarly, such devices are prevented from being damage, because they cannot impact the drum of the washing machine during that cycle.

Also, any horse hairs, dirt particles or other deleterious material associated with the dirty horse blanket before it is laundered, is retained within the hag 1 during and after the laundering cycle.

In order to clean Lhe interior of the now-empty laundering bag 1, t is turned inside out, preferably * S 455 SI. S III * * S S S S I S.. S * S I I S S S * I * 5 5 *5 I a, I I S *S a it dried, and any horse hair, dirt particles and/or other deleterious material is removed from the inner surface of the wall 2 by brushing, vacuum cleaning or the like. The anti-static properties of the cushioning material from which the bag wall 2 s made, facilitates such removal from its surface.

The bag I may be provided with a handle which may be made of the same cushioning material as that of the hag 1.

A logo or other indicia may be provided on an outer surface of the bag 1.

IS It is to be appreciated that the laundering bag 1 can be used for other purposes where dirt particles and other deleterious material is required to be removed from articles, for example, sportswear, such as soccer and rugby kits.

Further, although the embodiment described above employed a water cleansing operation, it could have employed a dry cleaning operation involving the use of a liquid organic solvent.

* * S.. *I* * *am * * * * I S I **. * S S S S S I S S I S S S *S I * S * S S 55 5 II * * . I 55 *

Claims (13)

1. A method of laundering, comprising: placing an article, such as a dirty horse blanket, to be laundered inside a bag having a cushioning, that is to say, impact absorbing, wall; placing the bag and its contents within a liquid cleansing device, such as a washing machine; causing the cleansing device to carry out a cleansing cycle; and removing the bag and the cleansed article therein from the device after the cleansing cycle has been completed, for subsequent removal of the article from the bag.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the interior of the bag is subsequently cleaned to remove unwanted matter therefrom.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 which is a water-based washing method.

4. A method according to claim 1 or 2 which is a dry cleaning method using an organic solvent as the cleansing liquid.

5. A method of laundering, substantially as hereinbefore described.

6. A laundering bag which has a cushioning, impact absorbing wall.

7. A bag according to claim 6 made of a material which allows cleansing water or other liquid to pass through its wall into the interior of the bag for the purpose of cleansing an article contained therein during a cleansing cycle.

8. A bag according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the cushioning wall(s) is made of a quilted fabric material which is preferably anti-static.

9. A bag according to claim 6, 7 or 8 having an open end which can be temporarily closed, to prevent the contents of the bag from being removed therefrom during a cleansing cycle.

10. A bag according to claim 9, wherein said closure is effected by the hook and eye arrangement sold under the Registered Trade Mark "VELCRO".

11. A bag according to any of claims 6 to 10 provided with a handle which may be made of the same cushioning material as that of the bag.

12. A bag according to any of claims 6 to 11 provided with a logo or other indicia on an outer surface of the bag.

13. A laundry bag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.