Devices and Methods for Adhesive-Based Removal of Pet Hair, Lint or Other Debris Using a Tumble Dryer

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for removal of pet hair or other debris from an article placed in a rotatable drum of a tumble dryer. The apparatus features a plurality of adhesive sheets compiled atop one another in a stack, which is attachable to the rotatable drum within an interior thereof. The apparatus is secured to an interior surface of the rotatable drum with an innermost adhesive sheet in the stack situated nearest to a center of said rotatable drum. Rotation of the drum during operation of the dryer brings in the article into repeated contact with the innermost sheet, to which the pet hair or other debris from the article becomes adhered. After use, the innermost adhesive sheet of the stack is removed to reveal an underlying adhesive sheet for collection of additional pet hair or other debris on said underlying adhesive sheet during subsequent use of the apparatus.

1 . An apparatus for removal of pet hair or other debris from an article placed in a rotatable drum, the apparatus comprising a plurality of adhesive sheets compiled atop one another in a stack, the stack of sheets being attachable to the rotatable drum within an interior thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive sheets in the stack have respective adhesive faces that face in a same common direction, and except for a lowermost adhesive sheet in the stack, each adhesive sheet is connected to an underlying adhesive sheet in the stack only by the adhesive face of said underlying adhesive sheet. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a base arranged for attachment to the rotatable drum within the interior thereof, the plurality of adhesive sheets being stacked atop the base member with an adhesive face of each of said adhesive sheets facing away from said base member. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the base is planar. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the adhesive sheets are stacked flat atop the base. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the base is a flexible member having a greater strength than the adhesive sheets. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein a lowermost adhesive sheet in the stack is adhesively attached to the base, and each other sheet in the stack is secured to an underlying adhesive sheet in the stack by the adhesive face of said underlying adhesive sheet. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a release liner overlying the adhesive face of an uppermost adhesive sheet in the stack to maintain a clean state thereof until installation and use of the apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a fastener for securing the stack of adhesive sheets to the rotatable drum. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the fastener comprises a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a base atop which the adhesive sheets are stacked, wherein the hook and loop fastener comprises two matable components, one of which is attached to the base on a side thereof opposite the adhesive sheets, and the other of which is attachable to the rotatable drum. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of any one of  claim 1  further comprising at least one magnet for securing the stack of adhesive sheets to the rotatable drum. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising a base atop which the adhesive sheets are stacked, wherein the at least one magnet is attached to the base for magnetic retention of the base on the rotatable drum. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  in combination with a re-fill pack of stacked adhesive sheets for replenishing said apparatus by mounting the stacked adhesive sheet of said re-fill pack atop the base after depletion of the original plurality of adhesive sheets. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each adhesive sheet in the stack comprises a peripheral tab projecting outward from a perimeter edge of said adhesive sheet for to define a manual grip for peeling of said sheet from the stack after use of said sheet to collect hair or other debris at a top end of the stack. 
     
     
         16 . A method of preparing a rotatable drum for use in removal of pet hair or other debris from an article, the method comprising securing the apparatus of  claim 1  to an interior surface of the rotatable drum with an innermost adhesive sheet in the stack situated nearest to a center of said rotatable drum is in an exposed position. 
     
     
         17 . A method of preparing the apparatus of  claim 1  for a subsequent use after a prior use thereof, the method comprising removing an innermost adhesive sheet of the stack that is closest to a center of the rotatable drum and to which pet or other debris adhered during said prior use, and thereby revealing an underlying adhesive sheet of said stack from beneath the innermost adhesive sheet for collection of additional pet hair or other debris on said underlying adhesive sheet during the subsequent use of the apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . A method of removing pet hair or other debris from an article, the method comprising, with the article in a dry state, placing the article in a rotatable drum of a laundry dryer that features one or more adhesively coated surfaces on an interior of the drum, and operating the laundry dryer to drive rotation of the drum, during which movement of the article within the rotating drum brings in the article into repeated contact with the one or more adhesively coated surfaces, to which the pet hair or other debris from the article becomes adhered. 
     
     
         19 . A drum for rotational use in a pet hair removal or other debris removal process, the drum comprising a stack of adhesive sheets positioned with an innermost adhesive sheet in the stack situated nearest to a center of said drum in an exposed position within an interior of said drum, and each adhesive sheet having an adhesively coated surface facing toward said center of said drum. 
     
     
         20 . A method of replenishing the apparatus of  claim 1  after depletion of the plurality of adhesive sheets from the stack, the method comprising mounting a re-fill pack of stacked adhesive sheets atop the base after depletion in place of the original plurality of adhesive sheets.