# US 5,700,293 A · Laundry sorting and storage device and method

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- Number: US 5,700,293 A
- Document ID: US5700293A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/685,171
- Filed: 1996-07-23
- Granted: 1997-12-23
- Earliest claimed: 1993-05-13
- Inventors: Susan M. Rydell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700293A

## CPC

- D06F 93/00: Counting, sorting, or marking arrangements specially adapted for laundry purposes
- D06F 95/002: {Baskets or bags specially adapted for holding or transporting laundry; Supports therefor}
- D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES

## Abstract

A method and device for storing and sorting laundry is disclosed comprising one or more elevated laundry bins each with a top end opening and a normally-closed drop bottom. The bins are elevated above a laundry work area so that laundry contained within each bin is released to the laundry work area upon opening the drop bottom. One or more laundry bins can be combined adjacent to each other to form a multiple bin unit which sorts laundry by receiving laundry within the separate laundry bins. The method includes storing the laundry until the volume of a bin is filled whereupon it is released to a laundry machine having a load volume equal to the bin volume.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for preparing laundry for laundering comprising:
mounting a laundry bin to a wall adjacent to a washing machine, said laundry bin having a rear mounting surface for attachment to the wall, a top end opening and a normally-closed drop bottom positioned above said washing machine when said bin is mounted to said wall, wherein said drop bottom is remote from said rear mounting surface;
collecting laundry periodically in said bin through said top end opening until said bin is full; and
emptying laundry from said bin to said washing machine by opening said drop bottom.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said laundry bin has a laundry volume corresponding to a load of said washing machine.

### Claim 3

A method for preparing laundry for laundering comprising:
mounting a laundry bin unit to a wall adjacent to a laundry working area, said bin unit having two or more laundry bins adjacent to each other, each bin having a rear mounting surface for attachment to the wall, a top end opening and a normally-closed drop bottom positioned above said laundry working area when said bin is mounted to said wall, wherein said drop bottom is remote from said rear mounting surface;
collecting different types of laundry periodically in said bins until a bin is full by receiving said laundry through said top end openings so that said laundry types are separately contained within said bins when said drop bottoms are closed; and
emptying laundry from a full bin to said working area by opening said drop bottom.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 and further comprising the following step:
operating laundry machinery to launder said laundry, said laundry working area including said laundry machinery.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein said laundry machinery comprises a washing machine, each of said laundry bins having a laundry volume corresponding to a load of said washing machine.