Building structure having improved household laundry functions

• US 9,109,375 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dreamy Laundry LLC
• Original Assignee: Bonnie C. Martin, James Martin
• Inventors: Martin, Bonnie C., Martin, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Herring, Brent W
• Application Number:
  US11/690,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20080086980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,070 Days
• Field of Search: 522/34, 521/691, 521/692, 521/693, 521/694
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 laundry facility having a washing machine for washing clothes;

a plurality of dual access closets, each of which having first and second accessible sides, wherein said first accessible side of each of said plurality of dual access closets opens directly to said laundry facility; and

a plurality of rooms, wherein said second accessible side of each of said plurality of dual access closets opens directly to a respective one of said plurality of rooms;

wherein laundry items may be added and removed from either accessible side of each dual access closet.

2. The building structure of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of floors;

another dual access closet having a plurality of accessible sides, wherein laundry may be added and removed from either accessible side of the another dual access closet,

wherein said laundry facility is located on one of said floors and said another dual access closet 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 another 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:

another room selected from the group consisting of a kitchen, an office, and a workroom; and

wherein said another room is in close proximity to said laundry facility.

9. The building structure of claim 8 further comprising:

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

wherein said second another 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 at least one of said plurality of dual access closets includes at least one shelf from which laundry items may be added and removed from either side of said at least one 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 at least one of said plurality of dual access closets includes a hanger system for rotating laundry items located in said closet.

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

14. The building structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of dual access closets 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 laundry facility having a washing machine for washing clothes;

a first dual access closest having first closet first and second accessible sides, wherein said first closet first accessible side opens directly to the laundry facility;

a first room, wherein said first closet second accessible side opens directly to said first room;

at least one hallway, wherein an individual may walk directly from said laundry facility to said at least one hallway without passing through another room;

a second dual access closet having second closet first and second accessible sides, wherein said second closet first accessible side opens directly to said at least one hallway; and

a second room, wherein said second closet second accessible side opens directly to said second room,

wherein laundry items may be added or removed from either accessible side of said first and second dual access closets.

16. The building structure of claim 15, wherein at least one of said first and second dual access closets includes at least one shelf from which the laundry items may be added and removed from either accessible side of said at least one 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 at least one of said first and second dual access closets includes a hanger system for rotating some of the laundry items located in said at least one closet.

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

20. The building structure of claim 15, wherein said second 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 laundry facility having a washing machine for washing clothes;

at least one dual access closet having first and second accessible sides, wherein said first accessible side opens directly to said laundry facility;

a first room, wherein said second accessible side opens directly to said first room so that items may be added or removed from either accessible side of said at least one dual access closet; and

a second room, wherein an individual may walk directly from said laundry facility to said second room without passing through another room and wherein the second room is selected from the group consisting of a kitchen, an office, and a workroom.