EP4684054A1 - Device accommodatable in the drum of a washing machine for optimally washing one or more pairs of footwear - Google Patents

Device accommodatable in the drum of a washing machine for optimally washing one or more pairs of footwear

Info

Publication number
EP4684054A1
EP4684054A1 EP23735880.9A EP23735880A EP4684054A1 EP 4684054 A1 EP4684054 A1 EP 4684054A1 EP 23735880 A EP23735880 A EP 23735880A EP 4684054 A1 EP4684054 A1 EP 4684054A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
arm
footwear
piece
arms
drum
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP23735880.9A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Dino MAIELLO
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP4684054A1 publication Critical patent/EP4684054A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/02—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums
    • D06F37/04—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis
    • D06F37/08—Partitions

Definitions

  • Device accommodatable in the drum of a washing machine for optimally washing one or more pairs of footwear
  • the present invention applies to the field of accessories for household appliances commonly called “washing machines” or “laundry machines”. More specifically, the present invention relates to an accessory insertable in the drum of a washing machine to allow optimally washing one or more pairs of footwear.
  • the object of the present invention is a device accommodatable in a drum of a washing machine, said drum comprising a substantially cylindrical side wall, in which, according to the invention, said device comprises:
  • each arm of said plurality being reversibly extensible (and therefore extensible and which can be shortened) so that said second end of said arm, with respect to said first end thereof, is movable between at least:
  • each arm of said plurality is extensible so that said second end of said arm comes: into contact with said side wall of said drum and is pressed against said side wall of said drum by said arm and by at least one other arm of said plurality, so that said device is reversibly connected to said drum.
  • the connection of the device to the drum is reversible (so that the device is disconnectable from the drum and connectable to the latter an indefinite number of times) is the consequence of the fact that the arms of the device are reversibly extensible;
  • connection means suitable for reversibly connecting at least one piece of footwear to said arm so that said piece of footwear, when it is connected to said arm:
  • - is arranged with the sole thereof at least partially facing said first end of said arm at a first face of said sole facing the outside of said piece of footwear (i.e., intended to come into contact with the ground when said piece of footwear is worn by a person stepping on the ground with said piece of footwear) and consequently, is arranged with the sole thereof at least partially facing said second end of said arm at a second face of said sole, opposite to said first face thereof and facing the inside of said piece of footwear (i.e., facing towards the seat of said piece of footwear where a person accommodates his/her foot when said person is wearing said piece of footwear at said foot) and
  • a piece of footwear may be inserted into the drum of a washing machine by substantially immobilizing the piece of footwear with respect to the drum and with the opening at which a foot is insertable into the piece of footwear at least partially facing the side wall of the drum (from which the soapy water and the rinse water enter the drum through a plurality of through holes) at a given distance from said side wall (the piece of footwear being in an intermediate position between the first and the second ends of the arm to which it is connected). Therefore, there is no risk of the piece of footwear repeatedly knocking against the drum, the porthole or the impellers of the washing machine when the piece of footwear is washed.
  • the orientation of the piece of footwear with respect to the drum also advantageously ensures that the soapy water and the rinse water enter the seat of the piece of footwear (at which a foot is accommodatable) during the washing itself, and that the soapy water and the rinse water are easily ejected from the aforesaid seat during the centrifuge step.
  • all the arms of said plurality have the same extension (intended, for each of said arms, as the mutual distance between said first and second ends of said arm), at least when said second ends of said arms are in said second position, the arms of said plurality being mutually connected (directly or by means of other elements) at said respective first ends so that, schematizing said first and second ends of each arm of said plurality with the ends of a segment (which length therefore corresponds to the extension of said arm), said second ends of all the arms of said plurality lie on a substantially cylindrical surface at least when said second ends of all the arms of said plurality are in said second position.
  • said device comprises actuation means suitable for reversibly extending each arm of said plurality by moving said second end of said arm, with respect to said first end thereof, between at least said first and second positions, said actuation means being such that all the arms of said plurality are simultaneously extended or shortened by the same extent by said actuation means so that all the arms of said plurality always have the same extension and said second ends of all the arms of said plurality always lie on a substantially cylindrical surface.
  • the device after accommodating the device in the drum of a washing machine, the device is (reversibly) connectable to the drum (extending the arms so as to bring the second ends thereof to abut against the side wall of the drum so that said second ends are pressed against said side wall) more easily and quickly with respect to the case in which each arm is adjustable in extension independently of the other arms.
  • the device is accommodatable in the drum of a washing machine and connectable to the latter so that the rotation axis of the drum coincides with the longitudinal axis of the aforesaid substantially cylindrical surface on which the second ends of the arms of the device lie.
  • the arms of said plurality are mutually connected (directly or by means of other elements) at said respective first ends so that, schematizing said first and second ends of each arm of said plurality with the ends of a segment, said second ends of all the arms of said plurality always lie on a circumference.
  • the device is accommodatable in the drum of a washing machine and connectable to the latter so that the middle of the aforesaid circumference where the second ends of the arms of the device lie, lies on the rotation axis of the drum, and so that said circumference is orthogonal to the rotation axis of the drum.
  • the aforesaid circumference on which the second ends of the arms of the device lie lies on the aforementioned substantially cylindrical surface on which said second ends lie.
  • the middle of said circumference thus lies on the longitudinal axis of said substantially cylindrical surface.
  • the arms of said plurality are mutually connected (directly or by means of other elements) at said respective first ends so that, schematizing said first and second ends of each arm of said plurality with the ends of a segment, all the arcs of said circumference having as ends two of said second ends immediately consecutive to each other on said circumference, are congruent with one another.
  • the device advantageously is more balanced (at a rotation thereof inside the drum of a washing machine when connected to said drum, as specified above) with respect to the case in which the arms are not mutually angularly equally spaced apart.
  • the device comprises three arms. Since the drums of washing machines usually comprise three impellers, the fact that, according to this aspect of the invention, the device comprises three arms is an advantage since the device may be easily accommodated in the drum of a washing machine (and connected thereto) with each of the three second ends interposed between two immediately consecutive impellers on said drum.
  • said device for each arm of said plurality, comprises a standing foot connected to said arm at said second end thereof and so as to allow a rotation of said foot with respect to said arm to which it is connected around an axis arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of said substantially cylindrical surface on which said second ends lie, when said device is accommodated in a drum of a washing machine with said second ends of all the arms of said plurality in said first position, each arm of said plurality being extensible so that said second end of said arm comes:
  • connection means are suitable for reversibly connecting a piece of footwear to said arm at said foot connected to said arm, said connection means therefore being suitable for reversibly connecting a piece of footwear to said arm by means of said foot connected to said arm.
  • connection means for at least one or each of the arms of said plurality and for each piece of footwear that said connection means are suitable for connecting to said arm, comprise:
  • a supporting element including a first end and a second end, opposite to said first end thereof, said supporting element extending in length from the first end thereof to the second end thereof, said supporting element, at the first end thereof, being connected to said foot, connected to said arm, at a second face of said foot, connected to said arm, opposite to said first face of said foot connected to said arm;
  • a resting element at least partially accommodatable in said piece of footwear at the seat of the latter where a person accommodates his/her foot when said person is wearing said piece of footwear at said foot
  • said supporting element at the second end thereof, being connected to said resting element at a portion of the latter
  • said resting element being at least partially accommodatable in said piece of footwear at said seat of the latter so that said resting element, at a face thereof opposite to said portion thereof, is in contact with said piece of footwear at said second face of the sole of said piece of footwear (i.e. , of the face of the piece of footwear facing the inside of said piece of footwear);
  • suitable fastening means when said resting element is at least partially accommodated in said piece of footwear at said seat of the latter so that said resting element, at a face thereof opposite to said portion thereof, is in contact with said piece of footwear at said second face of the sole of said piece of footwear, to reversibly connect said piece of footwear to said resting element with said piece of footwear pressed against said face of said resting element at said second face of the sole of said piece of footwear.
  • the contact between a piece of footwear and the resting element on which the piece of footwear is fitted takes place at the inner face of the sole of said piece of footwear.
  • said fastening means of said connection means for at least one or each of the arms of said plurality and for each piece of footwear that said connection means are suitable for connecting to said arm, comprise at least one cable, or similar element, which is reversibly (i.e. which may be closed and opened an indefinite number of times) closeable onto itself (so that the cable, or at least a length thereof, describes a closed path) so as to tighten said supporting element connected to said arm and said resting element connected to said supporting element connected to said arm, between:
  • said piece of footwear when said resting element is at least partially accommodated in said piece of footwear at said seat of the latter so that said resting element, at a face thereof opposite to said portion thereof, is in contact with said piece of footwear at said second face of the sole of said shoe (i.e., of the face of the piece of footwear facing the inside of said piece of footwear) and
  • the cables could be closable onto themselves simply by tying together the two ends thereof or providing each cable, at an end thereof, with a buckle with a tip or a stop into which the other end of the cable is insertable.
  • connection means are suitable for reversibly connecting a pair of footwear to said arm, preferably so that said pieces of footwear of said pair lie on opposite sides with respect to said arm (i.e., so that said arm is interposed between said pieces of footwear of said pair).
  • each arm of the device is connectable to two pieces of footwear is an advantage.
  • FIG. 1 and 2 show a perspective view of a device according to the present invention
  • FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the device in Figures 1 and 2, without fastening cables and with the arms thereof completely extended;
  • FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the device in Figure 3 after the arms thereof have been completely contracted;
  • Figures 5 and 6 show a perspective view of the device in Figures 1 and 2, with three pairs of footwear connected thereto.
  • Figures 1 to 4 show a device 1 of the invention, accommodatable in the drum of a washing machine to wash at least one pair of footwear 15 (shown in Figures 5 and 6) when they are reversibly connected to device 1.
  • asserting that one pair of footwear 15 is reversibly connected to device 1 means that the pieces of footwear 15 are disconnectable from device 1 and connectable to the latter an indefinite number of times.
  • Device 1 comprises a plurality of arms 2, preferably three, each of which reversibly extensible preferably in telescopic manner.
  • Each arm 2 preferably is substantially rectilinear, includes a first end 3 and a second end 4, opposite to end 3, and preferably is reversibly extensible substantially in the same direction in which arm 2 extends in length. More specifically, each arm 2 is extensible and may be shortened so that end 4 of said arm 2, with respect to end 3 thereof, is movable between at least a first position (shown in Figure 4), at which the extension of said arm 2 is minimum (i.e. the mutual distance between the ends 3 and 4 of said arm 2 is minimum), and a second position (shown in Figure 3), at which the extension of said arm 2 is maximum (i.e. the mutual distance between the ends 3 and 4 of said arm 2 is maximum). All the arms 2 are mutually connected, directly or by means of other elements, at the respective first ends 3 so that the arms 2 are arranged radially around the ends 3.
  • all the arms 2 have the same extension at least when the ends 4 thereof are in the aforesaid second position (of maximum extension).
  • the arms 2 are mutually connected, directly or by means of other elements, at the respective ends 3 preferably so that, schematizing the ends 3 and 4 of each arm 2 with the ends of a segment, the ends 4 of all the arms 2 lie on a substantially cylindrical surface at least when the ends 4 of all the arms 2 are in the aforesaid second position (of maximum extension).
  • the extension and shortening of the arms 2 takes place by means of a movement system, preferably including gears and worm screws, such that the arms 2 are extended and shortened simultaneously and by the same extent.
  • a movement system preferably including gears and worm screws
  • schematizing the ends 3 and 4 of each arm 2 with the ends of a segment in addition to all the arms 2 preferably always having the same extension, they have the ends 4 preferably always lying on a circumference.
  • schematizing each arm 2 with a segment the three segments schematizing the three arms 2, respectively, preferably are coplanar.
  • Each of said three segments (schematizing the three arms 2, respectively) preferably is also tilted substantially by 120° with respect to the other two segments.
  • the arms 2 therefore preferably are substantially coplanar and preferably substantially angularly mutually and equally spaced apart (so that, schematizing the ends 3 and 4 of each arm 2 with the ends of a segment, all the arcs of the circumference on which lie the ends 4 having (said arcs), as ends, two of the ends 4 which are immediately consecutive to each other on said circumference, are congruent with one another).
  • the aforesaid system for moving the arms 2 preferably comprises a gear wheel in a middle position which is rotatable, preferably by means of a knob 5, it also preferably in a middle position in device 1 , around an axis preferably arranged orthogonally to the plane on which the three segments schematizing the three arms 2 lie, respectively, and passing through the (common) end 3 of said three segments.
  • the gear wheel in middle position preferably meshes, for each arm 2, a gear wheel which is rotatable around an axis corresponding to the direction in which said arm 2 extends in rectilinear manner.
  • each arm 2 the aforesaid gear wheel meshed by the gear wheel in middle position preferably is connected to at least one worm screw which rotation in one direction or the other causes, by means of known means, an extension or shortening of said arm 2.
  • the movement system herein described in a preferred embodiment is included in the aforesaid "actuation means" and is within reach of an expert skilled in the art. Therefore, no further details will be provided.
  • the rotation axis of knob 5 which is coincident with the rotation axis of the aforesaid gear wheel in middle position, preferably coincides with the longitudinal axis of the aforesaid substantially cylindrical surface on which the ends 4 of the arms 2 preferably lie, and preferably passes through the middle of the aforesaid circumference (orthogonally to the latter) on which the ends 4 of the arms 2 more preferably lie.
  • the latter are also preferably arranged orthogonally to the rotation axis of knob 5 and therefore, to the longitudinal axis of the aforesaid substantially cylindrical surface on which the ends 4 of the arms 2 preferably lie.
  • each arm 2 is extensible, by rotating knob 5 around the axis thereof, so that end 4 of said arm 2 comes into contact with the substantially cylindrical side wall of the drum of the washing machine and is pressed against said side wall by said arm 2 and by at least another one of the arms 2 so that device 1 is reversibly connected to the drum.
  • the rotation axis of the drum of the washing machine preferably coincides with the rotation axis of knob 5, and therefore preferably coincides with the rotation axis of the aforesaid gear wheel in middle position and with the longitudinal axis of the aforesaid substantially cylindrical surface on which the ends 4 of the arms 2 preferably lie, and preferably passes through the center of the aforesaid circumference (orthogonally to the latter) on which the ends 4 of the arms 2 more preferably lie.
  • each of the three ends 4 preferably is interposed between two impellers which are immediately consecutive to each other on said drum.
  • device 1 for each arm 2, preferably comprises a standing foot 6 connected to said arm 2 at end 4 thereof.
  • Each foot 6 preferably is substantially shaped as a plate, a rectangular plate by way of example, having a mutually opposite first face 7 and second face 8.
  • Each arm 2, at end 4 thereof, is connected to the corresponding foot 6, preferably at face 8 of the latter and preferably so that said foot 6 may rotate, preferably by no more than 40°, with respect to arm 2 to which it is connected, around an axis preferably arranged parallel to the rotation axis of knob 5 (and consequently, preferably arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aforesaid substantially cylindrical surface on which the ends 4 of the arms 2 preferably lie).
  • each arm 2, at end 4 thereof, is connected to the corresponding foot 6 at face 8 of the latter, preferably so that said foot 6 may be arranged with face 8 orthogonal to said arm 2 and may rotate, with respect to said position, preferably by no more than 20° in one direction and no more than 20° in the other direction.
  • the rotation axis between said arm 2 and foot 6 to which said arm 2 is connected preferably is arranged orthogonally to said arm 2 and preferably passes through end 4 of the latter.
  • Each foot 6 is connected to the corresponding arm 2 preferably so that the long edges of the rectangular plate, as said foot 6 preferably substantially is shaped, are arranged parallel to the aforesaid rotation axis of said foot 6 with respect to arm 2 to which said foot 6 is connected (and therefore, preferably parallel to the rotation axis of knob 5 and the longitudinal axis of the aforesaid substantially cylindrical surface on which the ends 4 of the arms 2 preferably lie).
  • face 7 of a foot 6 may be in contact with the side wall of the drum of a washing machine also only at the edge thereof (or of one or more lengths of the latter).
  • device 1 for each arm 2, comprises at least one supporting element 9 including a first end 10 and a second end 11 , opposite to end 10. Each element 9 is extended in length from end 10 to end 11 and is connected, at end 10, to the face 8 of foot 6 connected to said arm 2.
  • device 1 comprises two elements 9 for each arm 2, which are connected to foot 6 connected to said arm 2 preferably so as to lie on opposite sides with respect to said arm 2.
  • Each arm 2 therefore preferably is interposed between the two elements 9 connected to foot 6 connected to said arm 2.
  • Each element 9 extends away from foot 6 to which it preferably is connected orthogonally to face 8.
  • each element 9 connected to said foot 6 therefore preferably is directed towards the rotation axis of knob 5.
  • Each element 9, at end 11 thereof, is connected to a resting element 12, it also preferably extending in length.
  • Each element 12 preferably is slightly arched and is connected to the corresponding element 9 on the side of the convexity thereof. Schematizing each element 12 with a flat arc, each element 12 is connected to the corresponding element 9 so that the plane on which the arc lies with which said element 12 may be schematized preferably is arranged orthogonally to the face 8 of foot 6 to which element 9 is connected to which said element 12 is connected, and more preferably orthogonally to the rotation axis of knob 5 (and therefore, to the axis around which foot 6 to which element 9 is connected to which said element 12 is connected, is rotatable with respect to arm 2 to which said foot 6 is connected).
  • Each element 12 is connected to the corresponding element 9 (and more precisely, to end 11 of the latter) preferably close to or at an end 13 thereof (of said element 12).
  • asserting that an element 12 is connected to end 11 of an element 9 close to end 13 thereof means that end 11 is closer to end 13 than to a second end 14 of said element 12 opposite to end 13.
  • the feet 6 preferably are equal to one another. Also the elements 9 preferably are equal to one another. The feet 6 are also connected to the two corresponding elements 9, preferably so that the assemblies (preferably three), each of which consisting of one foot 6 and the two elements 9 connected thereto, are equal to one another.
  • the elements 12 preferably are equal to one another.
  • the elements 12 are also connected to the corresponding element 9, preferably so that the assemblies (preferably six), each of which consisting of one element 9 and element 12 connected thereto, are equal to one another. More preferably, the assemblies (preferably three), each of which consisting of one foot 6, the two elements 9 connected thereto and the two elements 12 connected to said elements 9, are equal to one another.
  • each element 12 is at least partially, and preferably completely, accommodatable in a piece of footwear 15 at the seat of the latter where a person accommodates his/her foot when said person is wearing said piece of footwear 15 at said foot. More specifically, each element 12 is accommodatable in a piece of footwear 15 at the aforesaid seat so that said element 12, at a face 16 thereof which preferably is concave and opposite to the portion of said element 12 at which the corresponding element 9 is connected to said element 12, is in contact with said piece of footwear 15 at a face of the sole of said piece of footwear 15 (previously identified as "second face" of the sole) facing the inside of the piece of footwear 15 (i.e.
  • said element 12 When an element 12 is accommodated in a piece of footwear 15 at the aforesaid seat of the latter, said element 12 preferably is connected to said piece of footwear 15 by means of a cable 18, or a similar element, which is reversibly closed onto itself (so as to be opened and closed onto itself an indefinite number of times) so as to tighten said element 12 and element 9 connected thereto between said piece of footwear 15 and foot 6 to which element 9 is connected to which said element 12 is connected, so that said piece of footwear 15 is pressed against face 16 of said element 12 at the face of the sole of the piece of footwear 15 facing the aforesaid seat of the latter.
  • a cable 18, or a similar element which is reversibly closed onto itself (so as to be opened and closed onto itself an indefinite number of times) so as to tighten said element 12 and element 9 connected thereto between said piece of footwear 15 and foot 6 to which element 9 is connected to which said element 12 is connected, so that said piece of footwear 15 is pressed against face 16 of said element 12
  • cable 18 (shown by way of example as a belt or ribbon) is closed on itself preferably so that a length of cable 18 opposes face 19 of the sole of the piece of footwear 15 (previously identified as "first face” of the sole) facing the outside of said piece of footwear 15 and another length of cable 18 opposes the face 7 of foot 6 to which element 9 is connected to which element 12 accommodated in said piece of footwear 15 is connected.
  • device 1 could comprise a single cable 18 for each arm 2 suitable for connecting a pair of footwear 15 to the elements 12 connected to the elements 9 connected to foot 6 connected to said arm 2, respectively.
  • device 1 comprises at least one cable 18 for each piece of footwear 15 connectible thereto, with the two cables 18 for connecting a pair of footwear 15 to the elements 12 connected to the elements 9 connected to foot 6 connected to each arm 2, respectively, coincident.
  • the cables 18 are comprises in the aforesaid "fastening means".
  • At least one piece of footwear 15, and preferably a pair of footwear 15, is reversibly connectible to each arm 2 so that said piece of footwear 15, when connected to said arm 2, is arranged with the sole thereof at least partially facing said end 3 of said arm 2 at face 19 of said sole facing the outside of said piece of footwear 15 and consequently, is arranged with the sole thereof at least partially facing end 4 of said arm 2 at the face of said sole, opposite to face 19 thereof, facing the inside of said piece of footwear 15, and is in an intermediate position between the ends 3 and 4 of said arm 2 so that when device 1 is accommodated in the drum of a washing machine and each arm 2 extends so that end 4 of said arm 2 (by means of the corresponding foot 6) is in contact with the side wall of the drum and is pressed against said side wall by said arm 2 and by at least one other arm 2 (so that device 1 is reversibly connected to the drum), said piece of footwear 15 is arranged with the sole thereof at least partially facing the side wall of the
  • the arms 2 simply have to be shortened by a sufficient measure so as to allow an accommodation of device 1 in the drum of the washing machine, device 1 has to be accommodated in the drum, the arms 2 extended so that the feet 6 are (in contact with and) pressed against the side wall of the drum so that device 1 is reversibly connected to the drum, the six pieces of footwear 15 have to be fitted on the six resting elements 12, respectively, and the cables 18 have to be closed onto themselves so as to press the pieces of footwear 15 against the elements 12, respectively, on which they are fitted.
  • device 1 advantageously is accommodatable in (and reversibly connectable to) the drum of a dryer.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Holders For Apparel And Elements Relating To Apparel (AREA)
  • Accessory Of Washing/Drying Machine, Commercial Washing/Drying Machine, Other Washing/Drying Machine (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a three-arm device accommodatable in the drum of a washing machine, or equivalently of a dryer, for facilitating the washing, or equivalently the drying, of three pairs of footwear. Each arm of the device ends in a plate connected to two supporting elements lying on opposite sides with respect to said arm. Each supporting element is connected to a resting element on which a shoe may be fitted so that the latter faces the side wall of the drum at the face of the sole thereof inside the piece of footwear.

Description

Device accommodatable in the drum of a washing machine for optimally washing one or more pairs of footwear
Field of application of the invention
The present invention applies to the field of accessories for household appliances commonly called "washing machines" or "laundry machines". More specifically, the present invention relates to an accessory insertable in the drum of a washing machine to allow optimally washing one or more pairs of footwear. Overview of the prior art
To date, when there is the need to wash a pair of footwear in a washing machine (and therefore, not "hand wash" them), the pair of footwear is simply accommodated in the drum of the washing machine, possibly together with other items of clothing. However, pieces of footwear generally have a greater density than that of other clothing usually washed in a washing machine. Overall size being equal, a pair of footwear therefore generally is heavier with respect to the items of clothing which may be washed in a washing machine. As a result of this, during washing in a washing machine, the pieces of footwear repeatedly hit the walls of the drum, against the porthole (if the washing machine is front loading) and against the "impellers" (i.e., the protrusions projecting radially into the drum). The foregoing often results in unsatisfactory washing of a pair of footwear in a washing machine. Additionally, if the pieces of footwear are very heavy and/or have metal inserts (such as, for example, so-called "safety" footwear), the pieces of footwear, repeatedly knocking against one or more of the above-listed components of a washing machine, could damage said components.
Objects of the invention
It is the object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks by indicating a device accommodatable in the drum of a washing machine so as to hinder the aforesaid repeated impact of a pair of footwear against the drum, porthole and/or impellers of a washing machine when said pair of footwear is washed in the latter.
Summary and advantages of the invention
The object of the present invention is a device accommodatable in a drum of a washing machine, said drum comprising a substantially cylindrical side wall, in which, according to the invention, said device comprises:
• a plurality of arms, each of which reversibly extensible (i.e. , which can be extended and shorted an indefinite number of times) and including a first end and a second end, opposite to said first end, each arm of said plurality being reversibly extensible (and therefore extensible and which can be shortened) so that said second end of said arm, with respect to said first end thereof, is movable between at least:
- a first position at which the extension of said arm is minimum, i.e., the mutual distance between said first and second ends of said arm is minimum and
- a second position at which the extension of said arm is maximum, i.e., the mutual distance between said first and second ends of said arm is maximum, all the arms of said plurality being mutually connected (directly or by means of other elements) at said respective first ends in order:
- to be radially arranged around said first ends and
- whereby, when said device is accommodated in a drum of a washing machine with said second ends of all the arms of said plurality in said first position, each arm of said plurality is extensible so that said second end of said arm comes: into contact with said side wall of said drum and is pressed against said side wall of said drum by said arm and by at least one other arm of said plurality, so that said device is reversibly connected to said drum. Incidentally, the fact that the connection of the device to the drum is reversible (so that the device is disconnectable from the drum and connectable to the latter an indefinite number of times) is the consequence of the fact that the arms of the device are reversibly extensible;
• for each arm of said plurality, connection means suitable for reversibly connecting at least one piece of footwear to said arm so that said piece of footwear, when it is connected to said arm:
- is arranged with the sole thereof at least partially facing said first end of said arm at a first face of said sole facing the outside of said piece of footwear (i.e., intended to come into contact with the ground when said piece of footwear is worn by a person stepping on the ground with said piece of footwear) and consequently, is arranged with the sole thereof at least partially facing said second end of said arm at a second face of said sole, opposite to said first face thereof and facing the inside of said piece of footwear (i.e., facing towards the seat of said piece of footwear where a person accommodates his/her foot when said person is wearing said piece of footwear at said foot) and
- it is in an intermediate position between said first and second ends of said arm, so that, when said device is accommodated in a drum of a washing machine and each arm of said plurality extends so that said second end of said arm is in contact with said side wall of said drum and is pressed against said side wall of said drum by said arm and by at least one other arm of said plurality (so that said device is reversibly connected to said drum), said piece of footwear is arranged with the sole therefore at least partially facing said side wall of said drum at said second face of said sole.
Advantageously, by employing the device of the invention, a piece of footwear may be inserted into the drum of a washing machine by substantially immobilizing the piece of footwear with respect to the drum and with the opening at which a foot is insertable into the piece of footwear at least partially facing the side wall of the drum (from which the soapy water and the rinse water enter the drum through a plurality of through holes) at a given distance from said side wall (the piece of footwear being in an intermediate position between the first and the second ends of the arm to which it is connected). Therefore, there is no risk of the piece of footwear repeatedly knocking against the drum, the porthole or the impellers of the washing machine when the piece of footwear is washed. The orientation of the piece of footwear with respect to the drum also advantageously ensures that the soapy water and the rinse water enter the seat of the piece of footwear (at which a foot is accommodatable) during the washing itself, and that the soapy water and the rinse water are easily ejected from the aforesaid seat during the centrifuge step.
Other innovative features of the present invention are disclosed in the following description and mentioned in the dependent claims.
According to an aspect of the invention, all the arms of said plurality have the same extension (intended, for each of said arms, as the mutual distance between said first and second ends of said arm), at least when said second ends of said arms are in said second position, the arms of said plurality being mutually connected (directly or by means of other elements) at said respective first ends so that, schematizing said first and second ends of each arm of said plurality with the ends of a segment (which length therefore corresponds to the extension of said arm), said second ends of all the arms of said plurality lie on a substantially cylindrical surface at least when said second ends of all the arms of said plurality are in said second position.
Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, there is substantially no risk for one or more arms to be undesirably brought into contact with the side wall of the drum when the device is accommodated in the drum of a washing machine with the second ends of all the arms in the first position and the device has to be connected to the drum.
According to another aspect of the invention, said device comprises actuation means suitable for reversibly extending each arm of said plurality by moving said second end of said arm, with respect to said first end thereof, between at least said first and second positions, said actuation means being such that all the arms of said plurality are simultaneously extended or shortened by the same extent by said actuation means so that all the arms of said plurality always have the same extension and said second ends of all the arms of said plurality always lie on a substantially cylindrical surface.
Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, after accommodating the device in the drum of a washing machine, the device is (reversibly) connectable to the drum (extending the arms so as to bring the second ends thereof to abut against the side wall of the drum so that said second ends are pressed against said side wall) more easily and quickly with respect to the case in which each arm is adjustable in extension independently of the other arms. Incidentally, according to this aspect of the invention, the device is accommodatable in the drum of a washing machine and connectable to the latter so that the rotation axis of the drum coincides with the longitudinal axis of the aforesaid substantially cylindrical surface on which the second ends of the arms of the device lie.
According to another aspect of the invention, the arms of said plurality are mutually connected (directly or by means of other elements) at said respective first ends so that, schematizing said first and second ends of each arm of said plurality with the ends of a segment, said second ends of all the arms of said plurality always lie on a circumference.
According to this aspect of the invention, the device is accommodatable in the drum of a washing machine and connectable to the latter so that the middle of the aforesaid circumference where the second ends of the arms of the device lie, lies on the rotation axis of the drum, and so that said circumference is orthogonal to the rotation axis of the drum.
Incidentally, the aforesaid circumference on which the second ends of the arms of the device lie, lies on the aforementioned substantially cylindrical surface on which said second ends lie. The middle of said circumference thus lies on the longitudinal axis of said substantially cylindrical surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, the arms of said plurality are mutually connected (directly or by means of other elements) at said respective first ends so that, schematizing said first and second ends of each arm of said plurality with the ends of a segment, all the arcs of said circumference having as ends two of said second ends immediately consecutive to each other on said circumference, are congruent with one another.
According to this aspect of the invention, the device advantageously is more balanced (at a rotation thereof inside the drum of a washing machine when connected to said drum, as specified above) with respect to the case in which the arms are not mutually angularly equally spaced apart.
According to another aspect of the invention, the device comprises three arms. Since the drums of washing machines usually comprise three impellers, the fact that, according to this aspect of the invention, the device comprises three arms is an advantage since the device may be easily accommodated in the drum of a washing machine (and connected thereto) with each of the three second ends interposed between two immediately consecutive impellers on said drum.
According to another aspect of the invention, said device, for each arm of said plurality, comprises a standing foot connected to said arm at said second end thereof and so as to allow a rotation of said foot with respect to said arm to which it is connected around an axis arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of said substantially cylindrical surface on which said second ends lie, when said device is accommodated in a drum of a washing machine with said second ends of all the arms of said plurality in said first position, each arm of said plurality being extensible so that said second end of said arm comes:
• into contact with said side wall of said drum and • is pressed against said side wall of said drum by said arm and by at least another of said arms by means of said foot connected to said arm and at a first face of said foot connected to said arm.
Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, when the device is accommodated in the drum of a washing machine and is connected to the latter, the resting of each of said second ends on the side wall of the drum is more stable.
According to another aspect of the invention, for each arm of said plurality, said connection means are suitable for reversibly connecting a piece of footwear to said arm at said foot connected to said arm, said connection means therefore being suitable for reversibly connecting a piece of footwear to said arm by means of said foot connected to said arm.
According to another aspect of the invention, said connection means, for at least one or each of the arms of said plurality and for each piece of footwear that said connection means are suitable for connecting to said arm, comprise:
• a supporting element including a first end and a second end, opposite to said first end thereof, said supporting element extending in length from the first end thereof to the second end thereof, said supporting element, at the first end thereof, being connected to said foot, connected to said arm, at a second face of said foot, connected to said arm, opposite to said first face of said foot connected to said arm;
• a resting element, at least partially accommodatable in said piece of footwear at the seat of the latter where a person accommodates his/her foot when said person is wearing said piece of footwear at said foot, said supporting element, at the second end thereof, being connected to said resting element at a portion of the latter, said resting element being at least partially accommodatable in said piece of footwear at said seat of the latter so that said resting element, at a face thereof opposite to said portion thereof, is in contact with said piece of footwear at said second face of the sole of said piece of footwear (i.e. , of the face of the piece of footwear facing the inside of said piece of footwear);
• suitable fastening means, when said resting element is at least partially accommodated in said piece of footwear at said seat of the latter so that said resting element, at a face thereof opposite to said portion thereof, is in contact with said piece of footwear at said second face of the sole of said piece of footwear, to reversibly connect said piece of footwear to said resting element with said piece of footwear pressed against said face of said resting element at said second face of the sole of said piece of footwear.
According to this aspect of the invention, the contact between a piece of footwear and the resting element on which the piece of footwear is fitted takes place at the inner face of the sole of said piece of footwear. Thereby, advantageously there is no risk for the aforesaid resting element to ruin the vamp of the piece of footwear.
According to another aspect of the invention, said fastening means of said connection means, for at least one or each of the arms of said plurality and for each piece of footwear that said connection means are suitable for connecting to said arm, comprise at least one cable, or similar element, which is reversibly (i.e. which may be closed and opened an indefinite number of times) closeable onto itself (so that the cable, or at least a length thereof, describes a closed path) so as to tighten said supporting element connected to said arm and said resting element connected to said supporting element connected to said arm, between:
• said piece of footwear, when said resting element is at least partially accommodated in said piece of footwear at said seat of the latter so that said resting element, at a face thereof opposite to said portion thereof, is in contact with said piece of footwear at said second face of the sole of said shoe (i.e., of the face of the piece of footwear facing the inside of said piece of footwear) and
• said foot connected to said arm, a tightening by one of said cables of said supporting element connected to said arm and of said resting element connected to said supporting element connect- ed to said arm between said piece of footwear and said foot connected to said arm causing a connection of said piece of footwear to said arm, when said device is accommodated in a drum of a washing machine with said second ends of all the arms of said plurality in said first position, each arm of said plurality being extensible so that said second end of said arm comes:
• into contact with said side wall of said drum and
• is pressed against said side wall of said drum by said arm and by at least another of said arms by means of said foot connected to said arm possibly with the interposition of a length of one of said cables.
Incidentally, by way of example and as is known, the cables could be closable onto themselves simply by tying together the two ends thereof or providing each cable, at an end thereof, with a buckle with a tip or a stop into which the other end of the cable is insertable.
According to another aspect of the invention, for each arm of said plurality, said connection means are suitable for reversibly connecting a pair of footwear to said arm, preferably so that said pieces of footwear of said pair lie on opposite sides with respect to said arm (i.e., so that said arm is interposed between said pieces of footwear of said pair).
Since the pieces of footwear are normally worn and then washed in a pair (i.e., two pieces of footwear of the same pair), the fact that, according to this aspect of the invention, each arm of the device is connectable to two pieces of footwear is an advantage.
Brief description of the drawings
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof and from the accompanying drawings, merely given by way of non-limiting example, in which:
- Figures 1 and 2 show a perspective view of a device according to the present invention;
- Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the device in Figures 1 and 2, without fastening cables and with the arms thereof completely extended; - Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the device in Figure 3 after the arms thereof have been completely contracted;
- Figures 5 and 6 show a perspective view of the device in Figures 1 and 2, with three pairs of footwear connected thereto.
Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention
Hereinafter in the present description, a figure may also be shown with reference to elements not expressly indicated in that figure but indicated in other figures instead. The scale and proportions of the various depicted elements do not necessarily correspond to the real ones.
Figures 1 to 4 show a device 1 of the invention, accommodatable in the drum of a washing machine to wash at least one pair of footwear 15 (shown in Figures 5 and 6) when they are reversibly connected to device 1. Incidentally, asserting that one pair of footwear 15 is reversibly connected to device 1 means that the pieces of footwear 15 are disconnectable from device 1 and connectable to the latter an indefinite number of times.
Device 1 comprises a plurality of arms 2, preferably three, each of which reversibly extensible preferably in telescopic manner. Each arm 2 preferably is substantially rectilinear, includes a first end 3 and a second end 4, opposite to end 3, and preferably is reversibly extensible substantially in the same direction in which arm 2 extends in length. More specifically, each arm 2 is extensible and may be shortened so that end 4 of said arm 2, with respect to end 3 thereof, is movable between at least a first position (shown in Figure 4), at which the extension of said arm 2 is minimum (i.e. the mutual distance between the ends 3 and 4 of said arm 2 is minimum), and a second position (shown in Figure 3), at which the extension of said arm 2 is maximum (i.e. the mutual distance between the ends 3 and 4 of said arm 2 is maximum). All the arms 2 are mutually connected, directly or by means of other elements, at the respective first ends 3 so that the arms 2 are arranged radially around the ends 3.
Preferably, all the arms 2 have the same extension at least when the ends 4 thereof are in the aforesaid second position (of maximum extension). Additionally, the arms 2 are mutually connected, directly or by means of other elements, at the respective ends 3 preferably so that, schematizing the ends 3 and 4 of each arm 2 with the ends of a segment, the ends 4 of all the arms 2 lie on a substantially cylindrical surface at least when the ends 4 of all the arms 2 are in the aforesaid second position (of maximum extension).
More preferably, the extension and shortening of the arms 2 takes place by means of a movement system, preferably including gears and worm screws, such that the arms 2 are extended and shortened simultaneously and by the same extent. By virtue of this, schematizing the ends 3 and 4 of each arm 2 with the ends of a segment and the ends 4 of all the arms 2 preferably lying on a substantially cylindrical surface when the ends 4 of all the arms 2 are in the aforesaid second position (of maximum extension), all the arms 2 preferably always have the same extension and the ends 4 of all the arms 2 preferably always lie on a substantially cylindrical surface.
Even more preferably, schematizing the ends 3 and 4 of each arm 2 with the ends of a segment, in addition to all the arms 2 preferably always having the same extension, they have the ends 4 preferably always lying on a circumference. In other words, schematizing each arm 2 with a segment, the three segments schematizing the three arms 2, respectively, preferably are coplanar. Each of said three segments (schematizing the three arms 2, respectively) preferably is also tilted substantially by 120° with respect to the other two segments. The arms 2 therefore preferably are substantially coplanar and preferably substantially angularly mutually and equally spaced apart (so that, schematizing the ends 3 and 4 of each arm 2 with the ends of a segment, all the arcs of the circumference on which lie the ends 4 having (said arcs), as ends, two of the ends 4 which are immediately consecutive to each other on said circumference, are congruent with one another).
The aforesaid system for moving the arms 2 preferably comprises a gear wheel in a middle position which is rotatable, preferably by means of a knob 5, it also preferably in a middle position in device 1 , around an axis preferably arranged orthogonally to the plane on which the three segments schematizing the three arms 2 lie, respectively, and passing through the (common) end 3 of said three segments. The gear wheel in middle position preferably meshes, for each arm 2, a gear wheel which is rotatable around an axis corresponding to the direction in which said arm 2 extends in rectilinear manner. In each arm 2, the aforesaid gear wheel meshed by the gear wheel in middle position preferably is connected to at least one worm screw which rotation in one direction or the other causes, by means of known means, an extension or shortening of said arm 2. The movement system herein described in a preferred embodiment is included in the aforesaid "actuation means" and is within reach of an expert skilled in the art. Therefore, no further details will be provided.
Incidentally, the rotation axis of knob 5, which is coincident with the rotation axis of the aforesaid gear wheel in middle position, preferably coincides with the longitudinal axis of the aforesaid substantially cylindrical surface on which the ends 4 of the arms 2 preferably lie, and preferably passes through the middle of the aforesaid circumference (orthogonally to the latter) on which the ends 4 of the arms 2 more preferably lie. The latter are also preferably arranged orthogonally to the rotation axis of knob 5 and therefore, to the longitudinal axis of the aforesaid substantially cylindrical surface on which the ends 4 of the arms 2 preferably lie.
In light of the foregoing, when device 1 is accommodated in the drum of a washing machine with the ends 4 of all the arms 2 in the aforesaid first position (of minimum extension), each arm 2 is extensible, by rotating knob 5 around the axis thereof, so that end 4 of said arm 2 comes into contact with the substantially cylindrical side wall of the drum of the washing machine and is pressed against said side wall by said arm 2 and by at least another one of the arms 2 so that device 1 is reversibly connected to the drum. Incidentally, when device 1 is connected to the drum of a washing machine as described above, the rotation axis of the drum of the washing machine preferably coincides with the rotation axis of knob 5, and therefore preferably coincides with the rotation axis of the aforesaid gear wheel in middle position and with the longitudinal axis of the aforesaid substantially cylindrical surface on which the ends 4 of the arms 2 preferably lie, and preferably passes through the center of the aforesaid circumference (orthogonally to the latter) on which the ends 4 of the arms 2 more preferably lie. Again incidentally, when device 1 is connected to the drum of a washing machine as described above, if the drum is provided with three impellers, as usually occurs, each of the three ends 4 preferably is interposed between two impellers which are immediately consecutive to each other on said drum.
As clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, device 1 , for each arm 2, preferably comprises a standing foot 6 connected to said arm 2 at end 4 thereof. Each foot 6 preferably is substantially shaped as a plate, a rectangular plate by way of example, having a mutually opposite first face 7 and second face 8. Each arm 2, at end 4 thereof, is connected to the corresponding foot 6, preferably at face 8 of the latter and preferably so that said foot 6 may rotate, preferably by no more than 40°, with respect to arm 2 to which it is connected, around an axis preferably arranged parallel to the rotation axis of knob 5 (and consequently, preferably arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aforesaid substantially cylindrical surface on which the ends 4 of the arms 2 preferably lie). More specifically, each arm 2, at end 4 thereof, is connected to the corresponding foot 6 at face 8 of the latter, preferably so that said foot 6 may be arranged with face 8 orthogonal to said arm 2 and may rotate, with respect to said position, preferably by no more than 20° in one direction and no more than 20° in the other direction. For each arm 2, the rotation axis between said arm 2 and foot 6 to which said arm 2 is connected preferably is arranged orthogonally to said arm 2 and preferably passes through end 4 of the latter. Each foot 6 is connected to the corresponding arm 2 preferably so that the long edges of the rectangular plate, as said foot 6 preferably substantially is shaped, are arranged parallel to the aforesaid rotation axis of said foot 6 with respect to arm 2 to which said foot 6 is connected (and therefore, preferably parallel to the rotation axis of knob 5 and the longitudinal axis of the aforesaid substantially cylindrical surface on which the ends 4 of the arms 2 preferably lie).
Incidentally, when device 1 is accommodated in the drum of a washing machine with the ends 4 of all the arms 2 in the aforesaid first position (of minimum extension), and each arm 2 is extended, by rotating knob 5 around the axis thereof, so that end 4 of said arm 2 comes into contact with the substantially cylindrical side wall of the drum of the washing machine and is pressed against said side wall by said arm 2 and by at least another one of the arms 2 (so that device 1 is reversibly connected to the drum), end 4 of said arm 2 comes into contact with the side wall of the drum and is pressed against said side wall by means of foot 6 connected to said arm 2 and at face 7 of said foot 6.
Again incidentally, face 7 of a foot 6 may be in contact with the side wall of the drum of a washing machine also only at the edge thereof (or of one or more lengths of the latter).
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, it should be noted that device 1 , for each arm 2, comprises at least one supporting element 9 including a first end 10 and a second end 11 , opposite to end 10. Each element 9 is extended in length from end 10 to end 11 and is connected, at end 10, to the face 8 of foot 6 connected to said arm 2. Preferably, device 1 comprises two elements 9 for each arm 2, which are connected to foot 6 connected to said arm 2 preferably so as to lie on opposite sides with respect to said arm 2. Each arm 2 therefore preferably is interposed between the two elements 9 connected to foot 6 connected to said arm 2. Each element 9 extends away from foot 6 to which it preferably is connected orthogonally to face 8. By orienting a foot 6 so that face 8 thereof is arranged orthogonally to arm 2 to which foot 6 is connected, each element 9 connected to said foot 6 therefore preferably is directed towards the rotation axis of knob 5.
Each element 9, at end 11 thereof, is connected to a resting element 12, it also preferably extending in length. Each element 12 preferably is slightly arched and is connected to the corresponding element 9 on the side of the convexity thereof. Schematizing each element 12 with a flat arc, each element 12 is connected to the corresponding element 9 so that the plane on which the arc lies with which said element 12 may be schematized preferably is arranged orthogonally to the face 8 of foot 6 to which element 9 is connected to which said element 12 is connected, and more preferably orthogonally to the rotation axis of knob 5 (and therefore, to the axis around which foot 6 to which element 9 is connected to which said element 12 is connected, is rotatable with respect to arm 2 to which said foot 6 is connected).
Each element 12 is connected to the corresponding element 9 (and more precisely, to end 11 of the latter) preferably close to or at an end 13 thereof (of said element 12). Incidentally, asserting that an element 12 is connected to end 11 of an element 9 close to end 13 thereof means that end 11 is closer to end 13 than to a second end 14 of said element 12 opposite to end 13.
The feet 6 preferably are equal to one another. Also the elements 9 preferably are equal to one another. The feet 6 are also connected to the two corresponding elements 9, preferably so that the assemblies (preferably three), each of which consisting of one foot 6 and the two elements 9 connected thereto, are equal to one another.
The elements 12 preferably are equal to one another. The elements 12 are also connected to the corresponding element 9, preferably so that the assemblies (preferably six), each of which consisting of one element 9 and element 12 connected thereto, are equal to one another. More preferably, the assemblies (preferably three), each of which consisting of one foot 6, the two elements 9 connected thereto and the two elements 12 connected to said elements 9, are equal to one another.
As shown in Figures 5 and 6, each element 12 is at least partially, and preferably completely, accommodatable in a piece of footwear 15 at the seat of the latter where a person accommodates his/her foot when said person is wearing said piece of footwear 15 at said foot. More specifically, each element 12 is accommodatable in a piece of footwear 15 at the aforesaid seat so that said element 12, at a face 16 thereof which preferably is concave and opposite to the portion of said element 12 at which the corresponding element 9 is connected to said element 12, is in contact with said piece of footwear 15 at a face of the sole of said piece of footwear 15 (previously identified as "second face" of the sole) facing the inside of the piece of footwear 15 (i.e. towards the aforesaid seat of piece of footwear 15), preferably so that end 14 of said element 12 is closer to the tip of said piece of footwear 15 with respect to end 13 thereof. Incidentally and as shown in Figures 5 and 6, if the piece of footwear 15 is a shoe, when an element 12 is accommodated in the piece of footwear 15 at the aforesaid seat of the latter, element 9 connected to said element 12 crosses opening 17 of the piece of footwear 15 through which a foot may be inserted into said piece of footwear 15. When an element 12 is accommodated in the piece of footwear 15 at the aforesaid seat of the latter, said piece of footwear 15 is thus "fitted" on the assembly consisting of said element 12 and element 9 connected to the latter.
When an element 12 is accommodated in a piece of footwear 15 at the aforesaid seat of the latter, said element 12 preferably is connected to said piece of footwear 15 by means of a cable 18, or a similar element, which is reversibly closed onto itself (so as to be opened and closed onto itself an indefinite number of times) so as to tighten said element 12 and element 9 connected thereto between said piece of footwear 15 and foot 6 to which element 9 is connected to which said element 12 is connected, so that said piece of footwear 15 is pressed against face 16 of said element 12 at the face of the sole of the piece of footwear 15 facing the aforesaid seat of the latter. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, for each piece of footwear 15, cable 18 (shown by way of example as a belt or ribbon) is closed on itself preferably so that a length of cable 18 opposes face 19 of the sole of the piece of footwear 15 (previously identified as "first face" of the sole) facing the outside of said piece of footwear 15 and another length of cable 18 opposes the face 7 of foot 6 to which element 9 is connected to which element 12 accommodated in said piece of footwear 15 is connected. When device 1 is accommodated in the drum of a washing machine with the ends 4 of all the arms 2 in the aforesaid first position (of minimum extension) and each arm 2 is extended, by rotating knob 5 around the axis thereof so that end 4 of said arm 2 comes into contact with the substantially cylindrical side wall of the drum of the washing machine and is pressed against said side wall by said arm 2 and by at least another one of the arms 2 (so that device 1 is reversibly connected to the drum), end 4 of said arm 2 thus comes into contact with the side wall of the drum and is pressed against said side wall by means of foot 6 connected to said arm 2 possibly with the interposition of a length of one of the cables 18.
Incidentally and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, rather than one cable 18 for each piece of footwear 15 connectible thereto, device 1 could comprise a single cable 18 for each arm 2 suitable for connecting a pair of footwear 15 to the elements 12 connected to the elements 9 connected to foot 6 connected to said arm 2, respectively. This is equivalent to saying that device 1 comprises at least one cable 18 for each piece of footwear 15 connectible thereto, with the two cables 18 for connecting a pair of footwear 15 to the elements 12 connected to the elements 9 connected to foot 6 connected to each arm 2, respectively, coincident. The cables 18 are comprises in the aforesaid "fastening means".
In light of the foregoing and as shown in Figures 5 and 6, at least one piece of footwear 15, and preferably a pair of footwear 15, is reversibly connectible to each arm 2 so that said piece of footwear 15, when connected to said arm 2, is arranged with the sole thereof at least partially facing said end 3 of said arm 2 at face 19 of said sole facing the outside of said piece of footwear 15 and consequently, is arranged with the sole thereof at least partially facing end 4 of said arm 2 at the face of said sole, opposite to face 19 thereof, facing the inside of said piece of footwear 15, and is in an intermediate position between the ends 3 and 4 of said arm 2 so that when device 1 is accommodated in the drum of a washing machine and each arm 2 extends so that end 4 of said arm 2 (by means of the corresponding foot 6) is in contact with the side wall of the drum and is pressed against said side wall by said arm 2 and by at least one other arm 2 (so that device 1 is reversibly connected to the drum), said piece of footwear 15 is arranged with the sole thereof at least partially facing the side wall of the drum at the face of said sole facing the inside of said piece of footwear 15.
Again, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, when two pieces of footwear 15 are connected to the same arm 2, said pieces of footwear 15 lie on opposite sides with respect to said arm 2.
Starting from a configuration in which end 4 of each of the three arms 2 is in the second position and the cables 18 are open, in order to wash three pairs of footwear 15 by means of device 1 in a washing machine, the arms 2 simply have to be shortened by a sufficient measure so as to allow an accommodation of device 1 in the drum of the washing machine, device 1 has to be accommodated in the drum, the arms 2 extended so that the feet 6 are (in contact with and) pressed against the side wall of the drum so that device 1 is reversibly connected to the drum, the six pieces of footwear 15 have to be fitted on the six resting elements 12, respectively, and the cables 18 have to be closed onto themselves so as to press the pieces of footwear 15 against the elements 12, respectively, on which they are fitted. Once washing is complete, to remove de- vice 1 from the drum, the cables 18 have to be opened and the pieces of footwear 15 can be removed from the elements 12 on which they are fitted, respectively, the arms 2 have to be shortened in sufficient measure to allow detaching device 1 from the drum and then device 1 is extracted from the drum. Equivalently to the foregoing description and with reference to a washing machine, device 1 advantageously is accommodatable in (and reversibly connectable to) the drum of a dryer.
Based on the description provided for a preferred embodiment, it is apparent that some changes may be introduced by those skilled in the art without depart- ing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

C L A I M S
1. A device (1 ) accommodatable in a drum of a washing machine, said drum comprising a substantially cylindrical side wall, said device (1) being characterized in that it comprises:
• a plurality of arms (2), each of which reversibly extensible and including a first end (3) and a second end (4), opposite to said first end (3), each arm (2) of said plurality being reversibly extensible so that said second end (4) of said arm (2), with respect to said first end (3) thereof, is movable between at least:
- a first position at which the extension of said arm (2) is minimum and
- a second position at which the extension of said arm (2) is maximum, all the arms (2) of said plurality being mutually connected at said respective first ends (3) in order:
- to be radially arranged around said first ends (3) and
- whereby, when said device (1 ) is accommodated in a drum of a washing machine with said second ends (4) of all the arms (2) of said plurality in said first position, each arm (2) of said plurality is extensible so that said second end (4) of said arm (2) comes: into contact with said side wall of said drum and is pressed against said side wall of said drum by said arm (2) and by at least one other arm (2) of said plurality, so that said device (1) is reversibly connected to said drum;
• for each arm (2) of said plurality, connection means (9, 12, 18) suitable for reversibly connecting at least one piece of footwear (15) to said arm (2) so that said piece of footwear (15), when it is connected to said arm (2):
- is arranged with the sole thereof at least partially facing said first end (3) of said arm (2) at a first face (19) of said sole facing the outside of said piece of footwear (15) and consequently, is arranged with the sole thereof at least partially facing said second end (4) of said arm (2) at a second face of said sole, opposite to said first face (19) thereof and facing the inside of said piece of footwear (15) and
- is in an intermediate position between said first and second ends (3, 4) of said arm (2), so that, when said device (1 ) is accommodated in a drum of a washing machine and each arm (2) of said plurality extends so that said second end (4) of said arm (2) is in contact with said side wall of said drum and is pressed against said side wall of said drum by said arm (2) and by at least one other arm (2) of said plurality, said piece of footwear (15) is arranged with the sole therefore at least partially facing said side wall of said drum at said second face of said sole.
2. A device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that all the arms (2) of said plurality, at least when said second ends (4) of said arms (2) are in said second position, have the same extension, the arms (2) of said plurality being mutually connected at said respective first ends (3) so that, schematizing said first and second ends (3, 4) of each arm (2) of said plurality with the ends of a segment, said second ends (4) of all the arms (2) of said plurality lie on a substantially cylindrical surface at least when said second ends (4) of all the arms (2) of said plurality are in said second position.
3. A device (1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises actuation means (5) suitable for reversibly extending each arm (2) of said plurality by moving said second end (4) of said arm (2), with respect to said first end (3) thereof, between at least said first and second positions, said actuation means (5) being such that all the arms (2) of said plurality are simultaneously extended or shortened of the same extent by said actuation means (5), so that:
• all the arms (2) of said plurality always have the same extension and said second ends (4) of all the arms (2) of said plurality always lie on a sub- stantially cylindrical surface.
4. A device (1 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the arms (2) of said plurality are mutually connected at said respective first ends (3) so that, schematizing said first and second ends (3, 4) of each arm (2) of said plurality with the ends of a segment, said second ends (4) of all the arms (2) of said plurality always lie on a circumference.
5. A device (1 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that the arms (2) of said plurality are mutually connected at said respective first ends (3) so that, schematizing said first and second ends (3, 4) of each arm (2) of said plurality with the ends of a segment, all the arcs of said circumference having, as ends, two of said second ends (4) immediately consecutive to each other on said circumference, are congruent to one another.
6. A device (1 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that said plurality is formed by three of said arms (2).
7. A device (1 ) according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that it comprises, for each arm (2) of said plurality, a standing foot (6) connected to said arm (2) at said second end (4) thereof and so as to allow a rotation of said foot (6) with respect to said arm (2) to which said foot (6) is connected around an axis arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of said substantially cylindrical surface on which said second ends (4) lie, when said device (1 ) is accommodated in a drum of a washing machine with said second ends (4) of all the arms (2) of said plurality in said first position, each arm (2) of said plurality being extensible so that said second end (4) of said arm (2) comes:
• into contact with said side wall of said drum and
• is pressed against said side wall of said drum by said arm (2) and by at least another of said arms (2) by means of said foot (6) connected to said arm (2) and at a first face (7) of said foot (6) connected to said arm (2).
8. A device (1 ) according to claim 7, characterized in that for each arm connecting a piece of footwear (15) to said arm (2) at said foot (6) connected to said arm (2), said connection means (9, 12, 18) therefore being suitable for reversibly connecting a piece of footwear (15) to said arm (2) by means of said foot (6) connected to said arm (2).
9. A device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said connection means (9, 12, 18), for at least one or each of the arms (2) of said plurality and for each piece of footwear (15) that said connection means (9, 12, 18) are suitable for connecting to said arm (2), comprise:
• a supporting element (9) including a first end (10) and a second end (11 ), opposite to said first end (10) thereof, said supporting element (9) extending in length from the first end (10) thereof to the second end (11 ) thereof, said supporting element (9), at the first end (10) thereof, being connected to said foot (6), connected to said arm (2), at a second face (8) of said foot (6), connected to said arm (2), opposite to said first face (7) of said foot (6) connected to said arm (2);
• a resting element (12), at least partially accommodatable in said piece of footwear (15) at the seat of the latter where a person accommodates his/her foot when said person is wearing said piece of footwear (15) at said foot, said supporting element (9), at the second end (11 ) thereof, being connected to said resting element (12) at a portion of the latter, said resting element (12) being at least partially accommodatable in said piece of footwear (15) at said seat of the latter so that said resting element (12), at a face (16) thereof opposite to said portion thereof, is in contact with said piece of footwear (15) at said second face of the sole of said piece of footwear (15);
• suitable fastening means (18), when said resting element (12) is at least partially accommodated in said piece of footwear (15) at said seat of the latter so that said resting element (12), at a face (16) thereof opposite to said portion thereof, is in contact with said piece of footwear (15) at said second face of the sole of said piece of footwear (15); to reversibly connect said piece of footwear (15) to said resting element (12) with said piece of footwear (15) pressed against said face (16) of said resting element (12) at said second face of the sole of said piece of footwear (15).
10. A device (1 ) according to claim 9, characterized in that said fastening means (18) of said connection means (9, 12, 18), for at least one or each of the arms (2) of said plurality and for each piece of footwear (15) which said connection means (9, 12, 18) are suitable for connecting to said arm (2), comprise at least one cable (18) which is reversibly closeable onto itself so as to tighten said supporting element (9) connected to said arm (2) and said resting element (12) connected to said supporting element (9) connected to said arm (2) between:
• said piece of footwear (15), when said resting element (12) is at least partially accommodated in said piece of footwear (15) at said seat of the latter so that said resting element (12), at said face (16) opposite to said portion thereof, is in contact with said piece of footwear (15) at said second face of the sole of said piece of footwear (15) and
• said foot (6) connected to said arm (2), a tightening by one of said cables (18) of said supporting element (9) connected to said arm (2) and of said resting element (12) connected to said supporting element (9) connected to said arm (2) between said piece of footwear (15) and said foot (6) connected to said arm (2) causing a connection of said piece of footwear (15) to said arm (2), when said device (1 ) is accommodated in a drum of a washing machine with said second ends (4) of all the arms (2) of said plurality in said first position, each arm (2) of said plurality being extensible so that said second end (4) of said arm (2) comes:
• into contact with said side wall of said drum and is pressed against said side wall of said drum by said arm (2) and by at least another of said arms (2) by means of said foot (6) connected to said arm (2) possibly with the interposition of a length of one of said cables (18).
11. A device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for each arm (2) of said plurality, said connection means (9, 12, 18) are suitable for reversibly connecting a pair of footwear (15) to said arm (2).
EP23735880.9A 2023-03-23 2023-06-27 Device accommodatable in the drum of a washing machine for optimally washing one or more pairs of footwear Pending EP4684054A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102023000005553A IT202300005553A1 (en) 2023-03-23 2023-03-23 DEVICE THAT CAN BE PLACED IN THE DRUM OF A WASHING MACHINE FOR OPTIMAL WASHING OF ONE OR MORE PAIRS OF FOOTWEAR
PCT/IT2023/050154 WO2024194903A1 (en) 2023-03-23 2023-06-27 Device accommodatable in the drum of a washing machine for optimally washing one or more pairs of footwear

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4684054A1 true EP4684054A1 (en) 2026-01-28

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ID=86657541

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP23735880.9A Pending EP4684054A1 (en) 2023-03-23 2023-06-27 Device accommodatable in the drum of a washing machine for optimally washing one or more pairs of footwear

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EP (1) EP4684054A1 (en)
IT (1) IT202300005553A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2024194903A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6732447B2 (en) * 2001-11-06 2004-05-11 Whirlpool Corporation Drying apparatus
ITPI20090043A1 (en) * 2009-04-20 2010-10-21 Giampaolo Conti DEVICE TO ALLOW THE WASHING OF FOOTWEAR INSIDE WASHING MACHINES
DE102018010302A1 (en) * 2018-02-16 2019-12-24 Roberto Antonacchio Device for fixing shoes
US11486085B2 (en) * 2020-11-03 2022-11-01 Barry G. Erickson Apparatus for securing items to a drum of a washer and dryer

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IT202300005553A1 (en) 2024-09-23

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