Building Structure Having Improved Household Laundry Functions

• US 20080086980A1
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dreamy Laundry LLC
• Original Assignee: Bonnie Martin
• Inventors: Martin, Bonnie
• Granted Patent: US 9,109,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/750
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/02 Dwelling houses; Buildings for temporary habitation, e.g. summer housessmall erections for limited occupation E04H1/12 ; collapsible, erectable or rotatable buildings E04B1/343

Abstract

Structural elements and features are provided to significantly reduce the time and effort required in the household laundry process of collecting dirty laundry, washing, drying, hanging, and storing laundry. These same structural elements improve the quality of the laundry output. A reduction in time and effort is accomplished by locating a laundry facility central to a plurality of rooms within the building structure and placing closets within the walls separating the laundry facility from the adjacent rooms. These closets are accessible from the laundry facility on one side and the respective room on the other. In another aspect of the invention, rooms that are not directly adjacent to the laundry facility may be located on a hallway common to the laundry facility and the non-adjacent rooms. The walls dividing the non-adjacent rooms from the common hallway may likewise include closets that are accessible from the common hallway on one side and the respective room on the other. In a variation of the present invention the laundry facility is combined with the hallway. Most of the rooms where the laundry will be used are adjacent to the laundry facility/hallway combinations. The walls dividing the rooms from the hallway may likewise include closets that are accessible from the hallway on one side and the respective room on the other.

Claims

1. A building structure providing for improved laundry functions comprising:

a. a laundry facility;

b. at least one dual access closet adjacent to said laundry facility;

c. at least one room adjacent to said at least one dual access closet such that said dual access closet interposes said at least one room and said laundry facility; and

d. wherein the laundry items may be added and removed from either side of said at least one dual access closet.

2. The building structure of claim 1 further comprising:

a. a plurality of floors connected by at least one stairwell; and

b. wherein said laundry facility is located on one of said floors and a first room of said at least one room is located on another of said floors.

3. The building structure of claim 2, wherein said laundry facility is located in close proximity to said at least one stairwell.

4. The building structure of claim 3, wherein said first room is located in close proximity to said at least one stairwell.

5. The building structure of claim 1, wherein said laundry facility includes a plurality of laundry equipment.

6. The building structure of claim 5, wherein said laundry facility includes a storage area.

7. The building structure of claim 6, wherein said plurality of laundry equipment includes a removable laundry cart such that said cart is capable of being stored in said storage area.

8. The building structure of claim 1 further comprising:

a. a second room selected from the group consisting of a kitchen and a workroom; and

b. wherein said second room is in close proximity to said laundry facility.

9. The building structure of claim 8 further comprising:

a. a plurality of floors connected by at least one stairwell; and

b. wherein said second room is located on one of said floors and in close proximity to said at least one stairwell, and said laundry facility is located on another of said floors and in close proximity to said at least one stairwell.

10. The building structure of claim 1, wherein said at least one dual access closet includes at least one shelf from which the laundry items may be added and removed from either side of said closet.

11. The building structure of claim 1, wherein said laundry facility includes at least one overhead rod for immediate hanging of some of the laundry items.

12. The building structure of claim 1, wherein said at least one dual access closet includes a hanger system for rotating some of the laundry items located in said closet.

13. The building structure of claim 1, wherein said at least one dual access closet includes at least one fan for facilitating drying of the laundry items.

14. The building structure of claim 1, wherein said at least one dual access closet is selected from the group consisting of a walk-in closet and a reach-in closet.

15. A building structure providing for improved laundry functions comprising:

a. a laundry facility;

b. at least one hallway located adjacent to said laundry facility;

c. at least one dual access closet located along said at least one hallway; and

d. at least one room adjacent to said at least one dual access closet such that said dual access closet interposes said at least one room and said at least one hallway,

wherein the laundry items may be added or removed from either side of the said at least one dual access closet.

16. The building structure of claim 15, wherein said at least one dual access closet includes at least one shelf from which the laundry items may be added and removed from either side of said closet.

17. The building structure of claim 15, wherein said laundry facility includes at least one overhead rod for immediate hanging of some of the laundry items.

18. The building structure of claim 15, wherein said at least one dual access closet includes a hanger system for rotating some of the laundry items located in said closet.

19. The building structure of claim 15, wherein said at least one dual access closet includes at least one fan for facilitating drying of the laundry items.

20. The building structure of claim 15, wherein said at least one dual access closet is selected from the group consisting of a walk-in closet and a reach-in closet.

21. A building structure providing for improved laundry functions comprising:

a. a laundry facility;

b. at least one dual access cabinet located in close proximity to said laundry facility;

c. at least one room adjacent to said at least one dual access cabinet such that said dual access cabinet interposes said at least one room and said laundry facility; and

d. wherein the laundry items may be added or removed from either side of the said at least one dual access cabinet.