Drip tray for laundry treatment system

Abstract

A drip tray having a main body and a plurality of surface irregularities projecting from the main body. The drip tray can be used to pre-treat a stain in a fabric.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drip tray comprising:
 a main body having a first side and an opposing second side, said first side comprising a land area substantially surrounding a recessed portion, said recessed portion capable of retaining a liquid; and   a plurality of surface irregularities projecting from said main body.   
     
     
         2 . The drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein said recessed portion is centrally located in said main body. 
     
     
         3 . The drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of surface irregularities project from said second side. 
     
     
         4 . The drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of surface irregularities project from said first side. 
     
     
         5 . A drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein said main body extends between a first end and a second end opposing said first end and extends between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge opposing said first lateral edge, wherein said plurality of surface irregularities project from said main body at a location selected from the group consisting of proximal said first end, proximal said second end, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The drip tray according to  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of surface irregularities project from said first side. 
     
     
         7 . The drip tray according to  claim 5 , wherein said first lateral edge and said second later edge have a plurality of finger indents, wherein said finger indents are sized and dimensioned to conform with an adult finger. 
     
     
         8 . The drip tray according to  claim 5 , wherein said main body portion comprises a first region comprising said surface irregularities and a second region comprising said surface irregularities and said recessed portion is between said first region and said second region. 
     
     
         9 . The drip tray according to  claim 8 , wherein said surface irregularities in said first region differ in structure from said surface irregularities in said second region. 
     
     
         10 . The drip tray according to  claim 5 , wherein said main body has a generally planar shape selected from the group consisting of substantially circular, substantially rectangular, and substantially square. 
     
     
         11 . The drip tray according to  claim 5 , wherein said surface irregularities are structures selected from the group consisting of ribs, nubs, bristles, fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein said drip tray conformably fits to a press tap dispenser pedestal. 
     
     
         13 . The drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein said surface irregularities are structures selected from the group consisting of ribs, nubs, bristles, fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein said main body and said surface irregularities are integrally formed with one another. 
     
     
         15 . The drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein said main body comprises a first material and said surface irregularities comprise a second material, wherein said first material and said second material differ from one another. 
     
     
         16 . The drip tray according to  claim 1  further comprising a dosing cup having a base, wherein said base is sized and dimensioned to fit within said recessed portion. 
     
     
         17 . The drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein said main body extends between a first end and a second end opposing said first end and extends between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge opposing said first lateral edge, wherein said plurality of surface irregularities project from said main body at a location selected from the group consisting of proximal said first end, proximal said second end, and combinations thereof, wherein one or both of said first lateral edge and said second lateral edge are concavely shaped with an overall concavity that is sized and dimensioned to conform with a portion of a palm of an adult human hand. 
     
     
         18 . The drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein said main body extends between a first end and a second end opposing said first end and extends between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge opposing said first lateral edge, wherein said plurality of surface irregularities project from said first side of said main body at a location selected from the group consisting of proximal said first end, proximal said second end, and combinations thereof, wherein said second side of said drip tray has a plurality of finger indents at a location selected from the group consisting of said first end, said second end, and combinations thereof, wherein said finger indents are sized and dimensioned to conform with an adult finger. 
     
     
         19 . A method for pre-treating a stain in a fabric using a drip tray comprising the steps of applying a liquid laundry detergent to a stain in an article of clothing and rubbing said stain with a portion of said drip tray, wherein said drip tray has a main body having a first side and an opposing second side and a plurality of surface irregularities projecting from said main body. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the step of dispensing said liquid laundry detergent into a dosing cup and applying said liquid laundry detergent to said stain with said dosing cup.