Laundry appliance for washing small quantities of clothing

Abstract

A portable hoseless washing appliance for washing small quantities of clothing. A container open at the top has a first compartment for receiving an item of clothing for washing. The container includes a perforated basket which is motor or manually driven to effect a washing operation as well as pre-soaked and rinse operations. The water enters through the top of the portable washing appliance and an electronic controller controls operation of the perforated basket in each of the washing, rinse and spin dry operations. Water is discharged from a first compartment in the container into at least one second compartment, located either below or adjacent thereto, which contains a removable waste receptacle. The waste receptacle collects wash water, rinse water and water extracted during a spin dry operation which may be discarded through a kitchen or bathroom sink drain.

1 . A portable washing apparatus for washing small quantities of clothing, comprising: 
 a wash container, having a top open end; the first container being configured to receive water therein;    a perforated basket residing the wash container; the perforated basket being configured to receive clothing therein;    means for rotating the perforated basket with clothing therein;    at least one waste container disposed adjacent to the first container and being in controlled fluid communication with the second container; the at least one waste container being removable to allow the discharged water to be collected and removed from the second compartment; and    whereby water is introduced into the wash container for washing clothing residing therein through a wash cycle.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one waste container is disposed below the first container.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one waste container is disposed adjacent to the first container.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a detergent dispenser located proximal to the open top end of the wash container.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an agitator removably attached to the perforated basket.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a lid hingedly connected to the top open end of the wash container.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a locking latch secured to the lid to maintain the lid in a closed condition.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wash cycle includes a wash, rinse and spin cycle.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 pump means for moving water from the wash container to the at least one waste container.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an electronic controller connected to the motor and the wash container to control flow of water and rotation of the basket produce a wash cycle to clean clothing in the device.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a rinse reservoir in fluid communication with the wash container.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 an electrically operated valve disposed between the rinse reservoir and the wash container for controlled fluid flow therebetween.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an electrically operated valve disposed between the wash container and the at least one waste container for controlled fluid flow therebetween.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the means for rotating is a motor.  
   
   
       15 . A portable washing apparatus for washing small quantities of clothing, comprising: 
 a wash container, having a top open end; the first container being configured to receive water therein;    a rinse reservoir in fluid communication with the wash container;    an electrically operated valve disposed between the rinse reservoir and the wash container for controlled fluid flow therebetween;    a perforated basket residing the wash container; the perforated basket being configured to receive clothing therein;    motor means for rotating the perforated basket with clothing therebetween;    at least one waste container disposed adjacent to the first container and being in controlled fluid communication with the second container; the at least one waste container being removable to allow the discharged water to be collected and removed from the second compartment; an electrically operated valve disposed between the wash container and the at least one waste container for controlled fluid flow therebetween;    an electronic controller connected to the motor and the wash container to control flow of water and rotation of the basket produce a wash cycle to clean clothing in the device; and    whereby water is introduced into the wash container for washing clothing residing therein through a wash cycle.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one waste container is disposed below the first container.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one waste container is disposed adjacent to the first container.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a detergent dispenser located proximal to the open top end of the wash container.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 an agitator removably attached to the perforated basket.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a lid hingedly connected to the top open end of the wash container.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a locking latch secured to the lid to maintain the lid in a closed condition.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the wash cycle includes a wash, rinse and spin cycle.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 pump means for moving water from the wash container to the at least one waste container.