Laundry chute
OwnerStephen Lockettinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chute is disclosed for passing articles such as laundry between floors or walls in a building. The chute has a tubular frame to be securely inserted in an opening in a planar partition, and a flexible tube attached to and hanging from the frame. The tubular frame has a peripheral wall defining an inlet in communication with one side of the planar partition and an outlet extending beyond the other side of the planar partition. A peripheral flange is outwardly directed from the peripheral wall adjacent to the inlet and is adapted to rest against one side of the planar partition. A gripping projection extends transversely from the peripheral wall and is spaced from the other side of the planar partition. The flexible tube is releasably attached to the gripping projection. A lid is movably connected to the frame to open and close the inlet.
Claims14
A chute for use in an opening in a planar partition, comprising:
- a tubular frame, adapted to be securely inserted into said opening, having a peripheral wall defining an inlet in communication with one side of the partition, and an outlet extending from the other side of the partition;
- a peripheral flange outwardly directed from said peripheral wall adjacent to said inlet, said flange contacting said partition to prevent said frame from passing through the partition;
- a gripping projection extending transversely around said peripheral wall and spaced from said partition other side;
- a flexible tube having an open end portion adapted to be slid onto said frame over said gripping projection;
- attaching means located on said flexible tube end portion for bringing said flexible tube end portion into engagement with said gripping projection to releasably attach the tube to the frame, said attaching means being a sleeve formed in the open end portion of said tube and a flexible attaching member threaded therethrough;
- and
- planar closure means, movably connected to said frame proximate said inlet, for selectively covering and exposing said inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.