Apparatus for catching clothes and method related thereto
In a first aspect, the subject invention provides an apparatus for catching clothes which includes: a base support affixable to a front loading washing machine or dryer; a first arm mounted to the base support and affixable to the front loading washing machine or dryer; a second arm pivotably mounted to the base support to be pivotable thereabout, the second arm being affixable to a hinged door of the front loading washing machine or dryer; a net secured to the first and second arms so as to extend therebetween below the access opening with the second arm being in different angular positions about the base support. The second arm is movable with the hinged door to be spaced from the first arm in extending the net below the access opening thereby providing a collapsible catch area spanning the distance between the machine's open door and the access opening.
1 . An apparatus for catching clothes which inadvertently fall during removal from a front loading washing machine or dryer, the front loading washing machine or dryer having an access opening on a front face thereof with a hinged door being pivotable about a hinge axis to selectively cover and expose the access opening, the apparatus comprising:
a base support affixable to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer;
a first arm having first and second ends, the first end of the first arm being mounted to the base support, the first arm being affixable to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer;
a second arm having first and second ends, the first end of the second arm being pivotably mounted to the base support so that the second arm is pivotable about an axis of rotation, the second end of the second arm being affixable to the hinged door at a location spaced from, and not coincident with, the hinge axis such that the second end of the second arm is movable with the hinged door, wherein the first end of the first arm is mounted to the base support such that the first end of the first arm impinges upon the axis of rotation;
a net secured to the first and second arms so as to extend between the first and second arms with the second arm being in different angular positions about the base support,
wherein, when the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door at a location spaced from the hinge axis and when the hinged door covers the access opening, the second end of the second arm is in proximity to the second end of the first arm, and,
wherein, when the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door at a location spaced from the hinge axis and when the hinged door is positioned to expose the access opening, the second end of the second arm is spaced from the second end of the first arm with the net extending between the first and second arms below the access opening.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, when the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door at a location spaced from the hinge axis and when the hinged door is positioned to expose the access opening, the second end of the second arm is spaced from the second end of the first arm such that 90 or more degrees are subtended between the first and second arms.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first arm is curved between the first and second ends thereof.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second arm is curved between the first and second ends thereof.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a third arm having first and second ends, the first end of the third arm being pivotably mounted to the base support so that the third arm is pivotable about the base support, the third arm being affixed to a portion of the net so that, when the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door at a location spaced from the hinge axis and when the hinged door is positioned to expose the access opening, the second end of the third arm is located between, and spaced from, both the second end of the first arm and the second end of the second arm.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, when in use, the first arm is affixed to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer by one or more of: affixing a portion of the first arm directly to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer; and affixing a portion of the net to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, when in use, the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door by one or more of: affixing a portion of the second arm directly to the hinged door; and affixing a portion of the net to the hinged door.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first arm is mounted to the base support at a location which is below a location of where the first end of the second arm is pivotably mounted to the base support.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base support is configured to be affixed to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer by one or more suction cups.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base support includes a secondary body with one or more protruding tongues arranged for placement under the front loading washing machine or dryer, wherein, when in use, weight of the front loading washing machine or dryer, applied to the one or more protruding tongues, provides a holding force for affixing the base support to the front face of the front loading machine or dryer.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first arm is pivotably mounted to the base support so that the first arm is pivotable about the axis of rotation.
12 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first end of the third arm is pivotably mounted to the base support so that the third arm is pivotable about the axis of rotation.
13 . An apparatus for catching clothes which inadvertently fall during removal from a front loading washing machine or dryer, the front loading washing machine or dryer having an access opening on a front face thereof with a hinged door being pivotable about a hinge axis to selectively cover and expose the access opening, the apparatus comprising:
a base support affixable to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer;
a first arm having first and second ends, the first end of the first arm being mounted to the base support, the first arm being affixable to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer;
a second arm having first and second ends, the first end of the second arm being pivotably mounted to the base support so that the second arm is pivotable about the base support, the second end of the second arm being affixable to the hinged door at a location spaced from, and not coincident with, the hinge axis such that the second end of the second arm is movable with the hinged door;
a third arm having first and second ends, the first end of the third arm being pivotably mounted to the base support so that the third arm is pivotable about the base support;
a net secured to the first and second arms so as to extend between the first and second arms with the second arm being in different angular positions about the base support,
wherein, when the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door at a location spaced from the hinge axis and when the hinged door covers the access opening, the second end of the second arm is in proximity to the second end of the first arm,
wherein, when the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door at a location spaced from the hinge axis and when the hinged door is positioned to expose the access opening, the second end of the second arm is spaced from the second end of the first arm with the net extending between the first and second arms below the access opening, and
wherein, the third arm is affixed to a portion of the net so that, when the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door at a location spaced from the hinge axis and when the hinged door is positioned to expose the access opening, the second end of the third arm is located between, and spaced from, both the second end of the first arm and the second end of the second arm.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein, the first end of the second arm is pivotably mounted to the base support to be pivotable about an axis of rotation, and, wherein the first end of the third arm is pivotably mounted to be base support to be pivotable about the axis of rotation.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein, the first end of the first arm is pivotably mounted to the base support to be pivotable about the axis of rotation.
16 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein, the base support is configured to be affixed to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer by one or more suction cups.
17 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein, the base support includes a secondary body with one or more protruding tongues arranged for placement under the front loading washing machine or dryer, wherein, when in use, weight of the front loading washing machine or dryer, applied to the one or more protruding tongues, provides a holding force for affixing the base support to the front face of the front loading machine or dryer.
18 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein, when in use, the first arm is affixed to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer by one or more of: affixing a portion of the first arm directly to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer; and affixing a portion of the net to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer.
19 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein, when in use, the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door by one or more of: affixing a portion of the second arm directly to the hinged door; and affixing a portion of the net to the hinged door.
20 . An apparatus for catching clothes which inadvertently fall during removal from a front loading washing machine or dryer, the front loading washing machine or dryer having an access opening on a front face thereof with a hinged door being pivotable about a hinge axis to selectively cover and expose the access opening, the apparatus comprising:
a base support affixable to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer, wherein the base support includes a secondary body with one or more protruding tongues arranged for placement under the front loading washing machine or dryer, wherein, when in use, weight of the front loading washing machine or dryer, applied to the one or more protruding tongues, provides a holding force for affixing the base support to the front face of the front loading machine or dryer;
a first arm having first and second ends, the first end of the first arm being mounted to the base support, the first arm being affixable to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer;
a second arm having first and second ends, the first end of the second arm being pivotably mounted to the base support so that the second arm is pivotable about the base support, the second end of the second arm being affixable to the hinged door at a location spaced from, and not coincident with, the hinge axis such that the second end of the second arm is movable with the hinged door;
a net secured to the first and second arms so as to extend between the first and second arms with the second arm being in different angular positions about the base support,
wherein, when the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door at a location spaced from the hinge axis and when the hinged door covers the access opening, the second end of the second arm is in proximity to the second end of the first arm, and,
wherein, when the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door at a location spaced from the hinge axis and when the hinged door is positioned to expose the access opening, the second end of the second arm is spaced from the second end of the first arm with the net extending between the first and second arms below the access opening.