Laundry bags and systems

Abstract

A laundry bag for a spacecraft laundry system, can include a bag body defining an inner volume, a resealable opening defined by or disposed on or in the bag body, the resealable opening configured to allow insertion of one or more articles of laundry into the inner volume of the bag body, and a quick disconnect (QD) flow adapter disposed through the bag body and sealed to the bag body. The QD flow adapter is in fluid communication with the inner volume at a first end and is configured to connect to a mating connector at a second end. The laundry bag can be configured to sealably contain one or more articles of laundry and washing fluid within the inner volume when the resealable opening is sealed and the QD flow adapter is disconnected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry system, comprising:
 an agitator; and   a laundry bag comprising:
 a bag body defining an inner volume; 
 a resealable opening defined by or disposed on or in the bag body, the resealable opening configured to allow insertion of one or more articles of laundry into the inner volume of the bag body; and 
 a quick disconnect (QD) flow adapter disposed through the bag body and sealed to the bag body, wherein the QD flow adapter is in fluid communication with the inner volume at a first end and is configured to connect to a mating connector at a second end, wherein the laundry bag is configured to sealably contain one or more articles of laundry and washing fluid within the inner volume when the resealable opening is sealed and the QD flow adapter is disconnected. 
   
     
     
         2 . The laundry system of  claim 1 , wherein the bag body has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry system of  claim 2 , wherein the QD flow adapter is disposed at a corner of the bag body. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry system of  claim 3 , wherein the QD flow adapter is disposed at an opposite end of the bag body relative to the resealable opening. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry system of  claim 4 , wherein the resealable opening includes a zip fastener or a pinch fastener. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump system configured to connect to the QD flow adapter and configured to pump washing fluid into and/or out of the inner volume. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry system of  claim 6 , wherein the pump system includes a hand siphon pump. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry system of  claim 7 , wherein the hand siphon pump is connected to a first line that connects to the QD flow adapter, and a second line that connects to washing fluid source or sink to allow washing fluid to be forced into and/or out of the inner volume by actuation of the hand siphon pump. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump system configured to connect to the laundry bag while the laundry bag is within the agitator to allow input and/or outlet out of the washing fluid to/from the laundry bag while the laundry bag is within the agitator. 
     
     
         10 . A laundry bag for a spacecraft laundry system, comprising:
 a bag body defining an inner volume;   a resealable opening defined by or disposed on or in the bag body, the resealable opening configured to allow insertion of one or more articles of laundry into the inner volume of the bag body; and   a quick disconnect (QD) flow adapter disposed through the bag body and sealed to the bag body, wherein the QD flow adapter is in fluid communication with the inner volume at a first end and is configured to connect to a mating connector at a second end, wherein the laundry bag is configured to sealably contain one or more articles of laundry and washing fluid within the inner volume when the resealable opening is sealed and the QD flow adapter is disconnected.   
     
     
         11 . The laundry bag of  claim 10 , wherein the bag body has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry bag of  claim 11 , wherein the QD flow adapter is disposed at a corner of the bag body. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry bag of  claim 12 , wherein the QD flow adapter is disposed at an opposite end of the bag body relative to the resealable opening. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry bag of  claim 13 , wherein the resealable opening includes a zip fastener or a pinch fastener. 
     
     
         15 . The laundry bag of  claim 10 , wherein the QD flow adapter is configured to connect to a pump system configured to pump washing fluid into and/or out of the inner volume. 
     
     
         16 . The laundry bag of  claim 10 , wherein the bag body includes one or more bump features on an interior surface thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 inserting laundry into an inner volume of a laundry bag via a resealable opening;   sealing the resealable opening to fluidly seal the inner volume;   connecting a pump system to a flow adapter of the laundry bag which is in fluid communication with the inner volume;   pumping washing fluid into the inner volume of the bag; and   agitating the laundry bag with the laundry and washing fluid therein.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising disconnecting the pump system from the flow adapter before agitating, and reconnecting the pump system to the flow adapter after agitating. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising pumping out the washing fluid from the inner volume after agitating. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising separating water from the washing fluid after pumping out the washing fluid from the inner volume.