US4981232A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laundry basket
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-02-16
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Granted: 1991-01-01
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Expires: 2010-02-16
Abstract
Abstract An improved laundry basket having a detachable divider wall that divides the laundry basket into a clothes compartment and a clothes washing products compartment. A top wall panel extends laterally from the top edge of the divider wall toward the closest side wall so that it spans the clothes washing products compartment. A lip on the outer edge of the top wall panel mates with the lip of the respective side wall. An aperture is formed in the top wall panel and it detachably receives a cup having an outwardly extending annular flange at its top edge. Raised indicia structure on the outer surface of the cup provides markings for measuring contents in the cup. With the divider panel removed, a plurality of laundry baskets may be stacked in a nested fashion.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul M. Wynn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:53
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D25/00; B65D25/02; B65D25/04; D; D06; D06F; D06F95/00; D06F95/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A laundry basket comprising: an elongated bottom wall having a predetermined length L1, said bottom wall having a front edge, a rear edge and laterally spaced side edges; a front wall, a rear wall and laterally spaced side walls that are upright oriented and they each have top edges and bottom edges, said bottom edges connected to the respective front, rear and side edges of said bottom wall to form an open top laundry basket; the top edges of said front wall, rear wall and laterally spaced side walls have an outwardly and downwardly extending lip that forms a complete loop around the top of said clothes basket; a divider wall having a front edge, a bottom edge and laterally spaced side edges; quick-release means for fastening said divider wall to the interior of said laundry basket to divide it into a clothes compartment and a clothes washing products compartment; and a top wall panel extending laterally from the top edge of said divider panel toward the closest side wall and it has an outwardly and downwardly extending lip that mates with the lip on the top edge of said side wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
A laundry basket comprising: an elongated bottom wall having a predetermined length L1, said bottom wall having a front edge, a rear edge and laterally spaced side edges; a front wall, a rear wall and laterally spaced side walls that are upright oriented and they each have top edges and bottom edges, said bottom edges connected to the respective front, rear and side edges of said bottom wall to form an open top laundry basket; the top edges of said front wall, rear wall and laterally spaced side walls have an outwardly and downwardly extending lip that forms a complete loop around the top of said clothes basket; a divider wall having a front edge, a bottom edge and laterally spaced side edges; quick-release means for fastening said divider wall to the interior of said laundry basket to divide it into a clothes compartment and a clothes washing products compartment; and a top wall panel extending laterally from the top edge of said divider panel toward the closest side wall and it has an outwardly and downwardly extending lip that mates with the lip on the top edge of said side wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A laundry basket as recited in claim 1 wherein said top wall panel has an aperture in it for receiving and supporting a cup.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laundry basket as recited in claim 2 further comprising a cup having a top edge with an outwardly extending annular flange and said cup is detachably received in the aperture in said top wall panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A laundry basket as recited in claim 3 wherein the outer surface of said cup has a plurality of raised indicia structure on it that functions as measuring marks for said cup.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laundry basket as recited in claim 1 further comprising a handle formed on each of the side walls that extend outwardly from said lip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A laundry basket as recited in claim 1 wherein one of the side walls and the portion of the front and rear walls between said side wall and divider panel have a lattice-like structure formed by intersecting vertical and horizontal strips.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laundry basket as recited in claim 1 wherein said divider panel is made of a planar sheet of material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laundry basket as recited in claim 1 wherein said laundry basket is integrally formed of plastic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A laundry basket as recited in claim 1 wherein said laundry basket has a rectangular shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A laundry basket as recited in claim 1 wherein said front wall, rear wall and side walls extend upwardly at an acute angle so that a plurality of said laundry baskets can be stacked for storage or display.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-31 | 1994-07-02 | 1995-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-31 | 1998-07-02 | 1999-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-31 | 2002-07-02 | 2003-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |