Apparatus for catching clothes and method related thereto

An apparatus for catching clothes which inadvertently fall during removal from a front loading washing machine or dryer, the front loading washing machine or dryer having an access opening on a front face thereof with a hinged door being pivotable about a hinge axis to selectively cover and expose the access opening, the apparatus comprising:

• a base support affixable to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer;
• a first arm having first and second ends, the first end of the first arm being mounted to the base support, the first arm being affixable to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer;
• a second arm having first and second ends, the first end of the second arm being pivotably mounted to the base support so that the second arm is pivotable about the base support, the second end of the second arm being affixable to the hinged door at a location spaced from, and not coincident with, the hinge axis such that the second end of the second arm is movable with the hinged door;
• a third arm having first and second ends, the first end of the third arm being pivotably mounted to the base support so that the third arm is pivotable about the base support;
• a net secured to the first and second arms so as to extend between the first and second arms with the second arm being in different angular positions about the base support,
• wherein, when the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door at a location spaced from the hinge axis and when the hinged door covers the access opening, the second end of the second arm is in proximity to the second end of the first arm,
• wherein, when the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door at a location spaced from the hinge axis and when the hinged door is positioned to expose the access opening, the second end of the second arm is spaced from the second end of the first arm with the net extending between the first and second arms below the access opening, and
• wherein, the third arm is affixed to a portion of the net so that, when the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door at a location spaced from the hinge axis and when the hinged door is positioned to expose the access opening, the second end of the third arm is located between, and spaced from, both the second end of the first arm and the second end of the second arm.

An apparatus for catching clothes which inadvertently fall during removal from a front loading washing machine or dryer, the front loading washing machine or dryer having an access opening on a front face thereof with a hinged door being pivotable about a hinge axis to selectively cover and expose the access opening, the apparatus comprising:

• a base support affixable to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer, wherein the base support includes a secondary body with one or more protruding tongues arranged for placement under the front loading washing machine or dryer, wherein, when in use, weight of the front loading washing machine or dryer, applied to the one or more protruding tongues, provides a holding force for affixing the base support to the front face of the front loading machine or dryer;
• a first arm having first and second ends, the first end of the first arm being mounted to the base support, the first arm being affixable to the front face of the front loading washing machine or dryer;
• a second arm having first and second ends, the first end of the second arm being pivotably mounted to the base support so that the second arm is pivotable about the base support, the second end of the second arm being affixable to the hinged door at a location spaced from, and not coincident with, the hinge axis such that the second end of the second arm is movable with the hinged door;
• a net secured to the first and second arms so as to extend between the first and second arms with the second arm being in different angular positions about the base support,
• wherein, when the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door at a location spaced from the hinge axis and when the hinged door covers the access opening, the second end of the second arm is in proximity to the second end of the first arm, and,
• wherein, when the second end of the second arm is affixed to the hinged door at a location spaced from the hinge axis and when the hinged door is positioned to expose the access opening, the second end of the second arm is spaced from the second end of the first arm with the net extending between the first and second arms below the access opening.