US20030192353A1

US20030192353A1 - Clothe-washing ball

Info

Publication number: US20030192353A1
Application number: US10/119,731
Authority: US
Inventors: Chih-Chung Li
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-04-11
Filing date: 2002-04-11
Publication date: 2003-10-16

Abstract

A clothe-washing ball is constructed to include a ball body, the ball body having a plurality of mounting holes spaced from one another in the periphery thereof, and a plurality of bundles of bristles respectively fastened to the mounting holes of the ball body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a clothe-washing ball and, more particularly, to such a clothe-washing ball, which is practical for use in a washing machine to prevent tangling of clothes and, to enhance the washing effect of the washing machine.

2. Description of the Related Art

A washing machine uses a motor to drive an agitator, causing it to turn water round and round rapidly and violently, and therefore clothes are washed. During whirling of water in the washing machine, clothes tend to be tangled. Washing-supplementary spherical items are now commercially available for use in a washing machine to prevent tangling of clothes. These washing-supplementary spherical items are commonly molded from flexible material, having fins or flanges protruded from the spherical body thereof. These washing-supplementary spherical items do not provide any washing effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a clothe-washing ball, which effectively prevents clothes from tangling in a washing machine. It is another object of the present invention to provide a clothe-washing ball, which enhances the washing effect of the washing machine in which it is used to prevent clothes from tangling. According to one aspect of the present invention, the clothe-washing ball comprises a ball body, the ball body having a plurality of mounting holes spaced from one another in the periphery thereof, and a plurality of bundles of bristles respectively fastened to the mounting holes of the ball body. According to another aspect of the present invention, the ball body can be made having any of a variety of shapes, for example, spherical shape, semi-spherical shape, cylindrical shape, polyhedral shape, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an exploded view of a clothe-washing ball according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0006]
FIG. 1B is an assembly view of the clothe-washing ball shown in FIG. 1A [0007]
FIG. 2 shows an application example of the clothe-washing ball according to the present invention. [0008]
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of an alternate form of the clothe-washing ball according to the present invention. [0009]
FIG. 4 is an elevational view of another alternate form of the clothe-washing ball according to the present invention. [0010]
FIG. 5 is an elevational view of still another alternate form of the clothe-washing ball according to the present invention. [0011]
FIG. 6 is an elevational view of still another alternate form of the clothe-washing ball according to the present invention.[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a clothe-washing ball is shown comprised of spherical ball body formed of two semi-spherical base members [0013] 1, and bundles of bristles 3 respectively fastened to peripheral mounting holes 2 of the semi-spherical base members 1. The semi-spherical base members 1 can be fastened together by glue, a high-frequency heat-sealing apparatus, a tongue-and-groove joint, or any of a variety of known fastening means.
Referring to FIG. 2, when washing clothes in a washing machine, a number of clothe-washing balls are put with clothes in the washing machine, and then the washing machine is operated to wash clothes. During spinning of the agitator of the washing machine, the clothes-washing balls are moved against the clothes under washing, thereby causing the bundles of [0014] bristles 3 to brush the clothes. Because the bundles of bristles 3 have a certain length and are spaced from one another at a pitch, rotation of the clothe-washing balls in water in the washing machine causes waves of water that enhance clothe washing effect. The formation of waves of water prevents staying of clothes at the bottom side of the washing chamber of the washing machine. Furthermore, the springy power of the bundles of bristles 3 prevents tangling of clothes in water in the washing machine during washing.
FIG. 3 shows an alternate form of the clothe-washing ball. According to this alternate form, the clothe-washing ball is comprised of a ball body formed of a semi-spherical base member [0015] 1, and bundles of bristles 3 respectively fastened to the peripheral of the semi-spherical base member 1.
FIG. 4 shows another alternate form of the clothe-washing ball. According to this alternate form, the clothe-washing ball is comprised of a ball body formed of a [0016] spherical base member 10, and bundles of bristles 3 respectively fastened to the periphery of the spherical base member 10.
FIG. 5 shows still another alternate form of the clothe-washing ball. According to this alternate form, the clothe-washing ball is comprised of a ball body formed of a [0017] cylindrical base member 11, and bundles of bristles 3 respectively fastened to the outside wall of the cylindrical base member 11.
FIG. 6 shows still another alternate form of the clothe-washing ball. According to this alternate form, the clothe-washing ball is comprised of a ball body formed of a [0018] polyhedral base member 12, and bundles of bristles 3 respectively fastened to the outside wall of the polyhedral base member 12.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, bristles may be separately installed in the periphery of the ball body and spaced from one another at an equal pitch. [0019]

Claims

What the invention claimed is:

1. A clothe-washing ball comprising a ball body, said ball body having a plurality of mounting holes spaced from one another in the periphery thereof, and a plurality of bundles of bristles respectively fastened to the mounting holes of said ball body.

2. The clothe-washing ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ball body is comprised of two semi-spherical base members fastened together.

3. The clothe-washing ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ball body is comprised of a semi-spherical base member.

4. The clothe-washing ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ball body is comprised of a cylindrical base member.

5. The clothe-washing ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ball body is comprised of a polyhedral base member.

6. A clothe-washing ball comprising a ball body, said ball body having a plurality of mounting holes spaced from one another in the periphery thereof, and a plurality of bristles respectively fastened to the mounting holes of said base.