Wash aid for long bandages and wrapping materials

Abstract

A wash aid for washing and drying long bandages and wrapping materials, such as those used to wrap the legs of horses, made out of a mesh material having openings sized to allow water or warm air to flow through the wash aid and retain the bandages and wraps therein. The wash aid is configured into multiple compartments by one or more dividers disposed between the sides of the wash aid. An opening on the front of the wash aid allows access into the cavity within the compartments. Alternatively, each compartment has its own opening. One or more closure mechanisms close the opening or openings to retain the bandages inside the wash aid during the washing and drying so as to reduce the likelihood of the bandages tangling or being damaged by contact with each other or the washing/drying machines.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A wash aid for use in washing one or more bandages in a washing machine and drying said bandages in a drying machine, said wash aid comprising: 
 a bag having a top, a bottom, a first side and an opposing second side and a front and an opposing back, said bag closed at said top, said bottom, said first side and said second side, said bag made from an open mesh material having a plurality of openings therein, said openings sized and configured to prevent said bandages from passing therethrough;    one or more dividers on said bag, said one or more dividers disposed between said first side and said second side so as to form two or more compartments, each of said compartments having a cavity for receiving one of said bandages therein;    an opening on said front of said bag, said opening in communication with at least one of said cavities in said compartments, said opening sized for inserting said bandages into said cavities and removing said bandages from said cavities; and    closure means at said opening for closing said opening so as to retain said bandages in said cavities during the washing and drying of said bandages.    
     
     
         2 . The wash aid according to  claim 1 , wherein said opening is located near said top of said bag.  
     
     
         3 . The wash aid according to  claim 1 , wherein said closure means is a zipper.  
     
     
         4 . The wash aid according to  claim 1 , wherein said closure means is a tie.  
     
     
         5 . The wash aid according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more dividers are in generally equally spaced relation between said first side and said second side so said compartments are of substantially equal size.  
     
     
         6 . The wash aid according to  claim 1 , wherein said wash aid has at least four compartments.  
     
     
         7 . The wash aid according to  claim 1 , wherein said closure means operates across two or more compartments.  
     
     
         8 . A wash aid for use in washing one or more bandages in a washing machine and drying said bandages in a drying machine, said wash aid comprising: 
 a bag having a top, a bottom, a first side and an opposing second side and a front and an opposing back, said bag closed at said top, said bottom, said first side and said second side, said bag made from an open mesh material having a plurality of openings therein, said openings sized and configured to prevent said bandages from passing therethrough;    one or more dividers on said bag, said one or more dividers disposed between said first side and said second side so as to form two or more compartments, each of said compartments having a cavity for receiving one of said bandages therein and an opening in communication with said cavity, said opening located on said front of said bag and sized for inserting one of said bandages into said cavity and removing said bandage from said cavity; and    closure means at each of said openings for closing said openings so as to retain said bandage in said cavity during the washing and drying of said bandage.    
     
     
         9 . The wash aid according to  claim 8 , wherein said opening is located near said top of said bag.  
     
     
         10 . The wash aid according to  claim 8 , wherein said closure means is a zipper.  
     
     
         11 . The wash aid according to  claim 8 , wherein said closure means is a tie.  
     
     
         12 . The wash aid according to  claim 8 , wherein said one or more dividers are in generally equally spaced relation between said first side and said second side so said compartments are of substantially equal size.