MANUAL WASHING MACHINE

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a manual washing machine. In particular, the manual washing machine is designed for use in environments without electricity or a mains water supply. It is also designed to be flat packed such that it can be assembled on location in remote areas.

BACKGROUND

Existing washing machines are specific to infrastructure that exists in “developed countries”. Little exists for those that live in areas where access to water and electricity is limited. The present disclosure targets users that are hand washing clothes because they don't have access to an electrical washing machine. The major drawbacks that the present disclosure aims to solve include large capacity, low water and detergent consumption.

The present disclosure seeks to solve the problem of limited clothes washing solutions in areas where access to water and electricity is limited-most existing washing machines are specific to the infrastructure that exists in “developed countries”. Aims of the invention include reducing time spent washing clothes, the amount of water required to clean the clothes properly, and minimising any injuries caused by sustained or prolonged periods of washing. Further advantages include improved reliability and ease of repair. The benefits of this manual washing machine have also been found to be applicable to “developed” countries.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, there is provided a manual washing machine. The manual washing machine comprises a tub comprising a tub door. The manual washing machine further comprises a drum comprising a plurality of holes and positioned within the tub, wherein the drum is configured to rotate freely within the tub, the drum further comprising a drum door. The manual washing machine further comprises a rotational handle attached to the drum and positioned external to the tub.

Advantageously, the manual washing machine is not connected to mains electricity or water so can be used in remote locations without access to these amenities. Instead, the tub can be completely sealed when used for washing with water being entered through the doors. To use the manual washing machine, a user fills the drum with water, detergent and clothing before closing both doors. To operate the manual washing machine the user turns the rotational handle which, by being connected to the drum but not to the tub, spins the drum to mix and thereby clean the clothing in the drum.

Optionally, the manual washing machine may further comprise a stand for supporting the manual washing machine, wherein the stand comprises one or more legs. The stand may provide a way of adjusting the height of the washing machine to make it more comfortable to use.

Optionally, the one or more legs can be adjustable in height. Adjusting the height of the washing machine further allows for people of different heights to be able to use the washing machine with maximum comfort. This may prevent injury where users use the washing machine for prolonged and/or regular periods of time.

Optionally, at least one leg of the stand may comprise a wheel and at least one other leg of the stand may comprise a stopper. This allows the washing machine to be both easy to move to different locations whilst maintaining a fixed position when in use.

Optionally, the stand may have a cross-sectional area in a plane parallel to the ground that is greater than a cross-sectional area of the tub in the plane parallel to the ground. The stand having a larger cross-sectional area helps to make the washing machine more stable which improves safety to a user.

Optionally, the tub may further comprise a tap. The tap lets out water from inside the washing machine such that it can be drained. Water could be dispensed into a bucket or a hose. In some examples, the drum may comprise an insert that aligns with a lowermost portion of the tap. This helps to ensure that as much water can be drained from the tub as possible. The insert may be flat.

Optionally, the manual washing machine may further comprise a water filtration system. This can help to re-use water that has been used in the washing process and/or prevent water containing detergents or other chemicals from coming into contact with users skin.

Optionally, the rotational handle may have an adjustable length. This can improve use of the washing machine for different users, making it useful to users with different arm lengths, for example.

Optionally, the tub may comprise a flat edge portion along a lowermost side of the manual washing machine. The lowermost side is a region that is closest to the ground when the washing machine is in an upright position ready to be used. The flat portion allows the machine to be placed on an object such as a table or a stand so that it can be raised up making it easier to use.

Optionally, the drum may comprise lifters on an internal face. The lifters help to raise and mix the washing within the drum when in use. This aids thorough cleaning.

Optionally, the drum door may prevent the drum from rotating when the drum door is open by extending through a gap in the tub when the tub door is open. The drum door opens outwards into a gap created by the tub door when the tub door is open. The drum door should have a length greater than the gap between the drum and the tub such that it sticks out of the tub when the drum door is open. Preventing the drum from rotating when the door is open can help the user loading the washing into the drum because it prevents the drum from rotating away from the door location. It also improves safety to the user, for example by avoiding trapping of fingers if the drum were to start spinning when the door was open. An additional interlocking mechanism that prevents the tub door from being opened in use may also be provided in some examples.

Optionally, the tub door may comprise an interlocking mechanism with the drum that prevents the tub door from opening when the drum is rotating in use. Hands or other objects may get injured or trapped if the tub door is opened whilst the drum rotates. Preventing this therefore improves safety.

Optionally, the drum door may further comprise a locking mechanism that prevents the drum door from opening when the drum rotates in use. This prevents clothing or other objects from escaping from the drum and/or getting caught between the drum and tub surfaces in use.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a kit of parts for constructing a manual washing machine. The kit of parts comprises a tub. The tub comprises a front tub panel, a back tub panel, a rounded tub portion and a tub door. The kit of parts further comprises a drum. The drum comprises a front drum panel, a back drum panel, a rounded drum portion comprising a plurality of holes and a drum door. The kit of parts further comprises a rotational handle. Optionally, the kit of parts may further comprise a stand. The kit of parts may be provided as a collection of flat sheets of material to be assembled. This includes the rounded tub and drum portions, which may be provided flat and subsequently rounded in an assembly process. Rounding may be achieved by rolling. To assemble the pieces together, a plurality of fixings may be used such as screws, nuts and bolts.

Optionally, the front tub panel and the rear tub panel may comprise a channel for receiving the rounded tub portion. The channel may be fitted with a seal to prevent leakages when assembled. The channel may be made from two additional flat, curved pieces which when attached to the front and rear drum panels form a channel therebetween, or the channel may be a groove in the front and rear drum panels.

Optionally, the tub, drum and handle may be made of stainless steel. Stainless steel provides a lightweight yet robust material from which to make the component parts of the manual washing machine. It is also a cost-effective material. The parts may be laser cut into shape. Stainless steel having thickness of around 0.5 mm may be advantageous because at this thickness it is lightweight, and the rounded portions of the manual washing machine can be rolled into place during assembly without the need to employ skilled persons or specialist tooling.

Optionally, the rounded drum portion may comprise a plurality of tabs for attaching the rounded drum portion to the front drum panel and the rear drum panel. The tabs may be folded into place in assembly of the manual washing machine.

The above-mentioned content of the present invention can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the subject matter may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the figures.

FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C illustrate a schematic view of a manual washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure from two different viewing angles;

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of a drum of the manual washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a schematic view of a channel containing a seal according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view inside the manual washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the embodiments of the subject matter or the application and uses of such embodiments. As used herein, the words “exemplary” and “example” mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as exemplary or an example is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, or the following detailed description.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a manual washing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The manual washing machine is designed primarily to be easy to use, easy to build, and easy to manoeuvre. The assembly comprises three main structures, a tub, a drum and an optional stand.

To achieve an aim of easy manoeuvrability, a large percentage of the parts of the washing machine can be distributed as a “flat pack”, which significantly reduces the size for transportation. In some examples, the individual sizes of the parts may be further minimised such that the flat pack is transportable on vehicles such as motorbikes or tuk tuks which may be the only available mode of transportation.

The tub assembly 110 comprises a flat portion including a front panel 115-1 and a rear-panel, as well as a rounded tub portion 120 which is attached between the front and rear panels 115-1, 115-2. The tub assembly remains still in use whilst the drum portion positioned inside the tub 110 rotates. Water and cleaning materials including detergents and clothing are sealed within the tub 110 when it is in use. The tub 110 holds the water/liquids in and prevents leaking.

The rounded portion 120 comprises a tub door 122 for accessing a drum portion fitted within the tub assembly 110. The tub door 122 is located at an uppermost side of the rounded tub portion 120 of the washing machine 100 when it is in an upright position ready to be used. In alternative arrangements the door may be positioned elsewhere on the washing machine 100. The tub door 122 is hinged so that it can be opened and closed easily.

The flat portions of the tub 110 comprise a front tub panel 115-1 and a rear tub panel 115-2 connected by a rounded tub portion 120. The front and rear tub panels 115-1, 115-2 have a general circular shape with a flat edge portion along a lowermost side of the panel when the assembly is upright and ready to be used. In use, the flat edge portion of the tub panels 115 may be located at the lowermost region of the tub assembly 110, where the flat edge portion extends parallel to the ground. The flat edge portion allows the tub assembly 110 to be placed with a degree of stability onto a flat surface, for example a table top or onto the ground.

The front tub panel 115-1 is fitted with a tap 125 comprising a valve for letting water drain out of tub and the drum. The tap should be positioned at a low position close to the edge of the tub 110, for example close to the flat edge portion on the front tub panel 115-1 so that water can drain out of the tub 110 and drum 200 due to gravity. To further improve the amount of water that can be drained from the manual washing machine 100, a flat insert level with the base of the tap inside the tub may additionally be provided. The insert may in some examples be angled or shaped such that water drains towards the tap.

A water filtration system may be added to filter grey water. Grey water is water that has detergent and dirt mixed with it as a result of the cleaning process. The filtration of water containing washing chemicals may help to avoid polluting of local water sources where the manual washing machine 100 is used in remote locations without plumbing or running water systems. It may also help users to avoid contact with contaminated water. The filtration system may be added external to the washing machine 100, for example attached to the tap 125. In other examples, a filtration system may be added inside the tap 125 or within the tub 110.

Handles 130 are fitted at the top of the front and rear tub panels 115-1, 115-2 and allow the washing machine 100 to be transported or moved easily by being picked up or tilted.

The rounded tub portion 120, also called a tub skin, extends between the two circular flat front and rear tub panels 115-1, 115-2 to form a cylindrical shape of the tub 110. Preferably, the rounded tub portion 120 is comprised from a single sheet of material to minimise leakage. One region of the cylindrical surface comprises a door 122. The door may be a flat portion of the cylinder or could maintain the cylindrical shape. Having the door 122 at an uppermost region of the washing machine 100 allows access to the drum, for example to place and retrieve clothing. The door is hinged at one side, though it could also be completely detachable.

The flat tub portions 115-1, 115-2 and the rounded tub portion 120 can be fitted together from flat pack pieces, for example using tie rods, nuts and rivets. At the intersection where the rounded tub portion 120 meets front tub panel 115-1 and at the intersection where the rounded tub portion 120 meets the rear tub panel 115-2, a seal is located to ensure a leak-proof fitting. At a rear side of the front and rear tub panels 115-1, 115-2 where they contact the rounded tub portion 120 a channel is located for receiving the rounded tub portion 120 and the seal. The design of the assembly is simple and interlocking where appropriate such that it can be flat packed and built on location without specialist tools or knowledge.

A rotational handle 135 attaches to the drum located within the tub assembly 110. In order to be able to rotate the drum and not the tub 110, in use, the front panel 115-1 of the tub assembly 110 through which the rotational handle 135 is attached comprises a hole. The rotational handle 135 can be bent into a shape that extends away from the planar surface of the front panel 115-1 such that it can be rotated with ease, and avoid contact with the tap 125. The rotational handle 135 is attached to a drum shaft inside the tub assembly 110 using a bolt, for example. A low friction bearing arrangement that attaches the rotational handle 135 to the drum can provide a way of turning the drum which does not require excessive force to spin the drum in such a way that enables clothes inside the washing machine 100 to be properly and thoroughly cleaned. Using the low friction bearing arrangement may be beneficial over a gear system because it is lighter in comparison and easier to transport. However, in some examples a gear system could be used to achieve a similar effect of reducing the force required to manually spin the drum.

Optionally, the washing machine assembly 100 is provided with a stand 140 to place the washing machine 100 at a comfortable height for using. The stand provides a frame in which the tub assembly 110 sits. The stand 140 comprises legs and a cross-bar suitably shaped to accommodate the tub-assembly 110. In some examples, the legs may be extendable and/or retractable so that a user can adjust the washing machine 100 to be at the right height for themselves. In one example, the stand 140 has four legs and a u-shaped cross-bar. Two of the legs can be fitted with stoppers 150, such as rubber stoppers, and the other two are fitted with wheels 145. This configuration ensures that the washing machine maintains its position when being used and allows it to be easily manoeuvred when not in use. The rubber stoppers 150 provide friction with the ground to help the washing machine 100 from moving when being used.

The stand 140 may have a cross-sectional area in a plane parallel to the ground that is greater than a cross-sectional area of the tub in the plane parallel to the ground. This allows for the washing machine to be more stable without impacting the weight of the overall parts to maintain minimal weight for transportation.

The stand 140 may be made of aluminium or painted/powder coated/galvanised/corrosion resistant steel, for example, but can be made from any suitable material.

The washing machine 100 also includes a drum 200. FIG. 2 illustrates a drum 200 that sits within the tub assembly 110. The drum 200 comprises a flat drum portion 215 and a rounded drum portion 220 which roughly correlate with the flat tub portion 115 and the rounded tub portion 120 when assembled. The rounded drum portion 220 comprises a series of holes in the surface designed to let water pass through and interact with any detergent or cleaning chemicals also present in the drum 200 to encourage cleaning. A pattern of said holes can be designed so as to provide an optimum liquid drainage/retention in the drum for ensuring a thorough wash. The pattern may comprise a series of holes which have different sizes and/or shapes, for example. In some examples, the pattern may be repeated across one or more sections of the rounded drum portion 220 or may be different. Spacings between the holes may be equal across the surface of the rounded drum portion 122 or may be unequal, for example clumped together in certain areas.

The rounded drum portion 220 also comprises a drum door 222 that aligns with the door of the tub 112 for opening. The drum door 222 allows clothing to be placed into the drum to be washed and then retrieved once a washing process has been completed. If the drum door 222 has a length that is longer than the gap between the top of the drum and the top of the tub 110, when the drum door 222 is open the drum 200 is prevented from rotating because the door itself prevents the rotation, where the length is measured by a distance between the two flat portions. This is illustrated, for example, in FIG. 1C, where the drum door 222 extends outwards beyond the top of the tub 110.

A further interlocking mechanism can be added to prevent the tub door 122 from being open when the manual washing machine 100 is in use.

The drum 200 contains a number of lifters (which may also be called “baffles”), which are designed to lift and drop the clothes when the drum is rotated. The lifters comprise fins on an internal face of the rounded drum portion 220. For ease of design the lifters may be rectangular in shape, but they could alternatively have a triangular profile. Other shapes are also possible. In some examples, the baffles and the rounded drum portion 220 are a singular piece, whilst in other examples the baffles and rounded drum portion 220 can be provided separately to be assembled on location. Providing the baffles and the drum portion 220 separately may be preferable where providing the elements as a flat pack of parts to be assembled on location.

The drum 200 has a shaft 230 on each of the front and rear drum panels 215-1, 215-2 which interface with bearings in the tub 100 to allow the drum 200 to spin freely whilst the tub 110 remains still. In some examples, a gear mechanism is provided which allows the drum 200 to be spun at different speeds for washing and for drying. FIG. 3A illustrates how the tub 110 of the manual washing machine 100 can be assembled and made watertight. An inner ring 305 and an outer ring 310 are attached to the front and rear panels 115 of the tub 110 on an inside facing surface. A space between them creates a channel in which a seal 315 can be fitted. The rounded tub portion 120 then sits within the seal 315.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the drum door 222 may further comprise a locking mechanism 400 that locks the drum door 222 to prevent it from opening whilst the drum 200 is spinning. A locking mechanism comprises a spring mechanism biased to close and lock the drum door 222 when the drum door 222 is in a closed position. This helps to a) prevent the drum door 220 from opening during use and causing an obstruction which hinders the rotation of the drum 200; and b) prevents clothes from escaping from the drum 200 and causing blockages which may also make it harder for the drum 200 to be rotated.

FIG. 4 also illustrates a threaded bar 410 or bar with threaded ends which may be used to effectively pull the front tub panel 115-1 and the rear tub panel 115-2 together. This threaded bar and the seal 315 illustrated in FIG. 3 can both act to help make the tub watertight.

Materials used to make the manual washing machine should meet the requirements of being stable yet reasonably lightweight so that they can be portable yet structurally sound. Water contacting surfaces must also be resistant to water and chemical exposure. The individual parts of the manual washing machine 100 are made from sheets of material, preferably a thin, strong material such as stainless steel, that can be assembled on location. Stainless steel, particularly thin stainless steel, can be used to manufacture each of the flatpack parts of the assembly, for example using laser cutting to achieve the different shapes. In some examples, stainless steel having a thickness of less than 1 mm, for example around 0.5 mm may be used. The thickness of around 0.5 mm may be particularly advantageous because it allows the flat pack parts to be rolled into shape whilst maintaining strength and minimising weight. Rolling can be achieved by curving the flat sheets into position during assembly. In other alternatives, the parts of the manual washing machine 100 may be made from other suitable materials, such as plastics.

Flatpack parts to be distributed may include: front tub panel 115-1, rear tub panel 115-2, rounded tub portion 120, tub door 122, front drum panel 215-1, rear drum panel 215-2, rounded drum portion 220, drum door 222, and rotational handle 135. Other parts may include flat, curved rings 305, 310 for creating a channel on the front and rear drum panels 215-1, 215-2. The stand 140 may also come flat packed. Other pieces including lifters (baffles), a tap 125, an insert, a seal 315, and handles 130 are also provided.

The rounded tub portion 120 and rounded drum portion 220 can be rolled and fixed in the assembly process.

Features such as channels for seals can be made by assembling different flat parts. In one example, a channel can be created between two flat rings attached to the inside surface of the front and rear tub panels 115-1, 115-2 and separated by a small distance. In another example, a groove for a seal can be present on the inside tub surface.

Standard fixings such as screws, nuts and bolts can be used to fit the parts together in assembling the manual washing machine 100. The parts and fittings are manufactured with minimal to no custom tooling to improve ease of assembly and ensure parts can be replaced easily if required. Spare parts may be produced and fixed locally using standard tools that are widely available.

The front and rear tub panels 115-1, 115-2 may be coated on one side with a plastic material comprising the channels and seal such that the assembly can be put together and be water tight. This is particularly useful when the main structure is made from stainless steel, which has little flexibility.

A plurality of thin tabs are provided on the flat sheet of the rounded drum portion 220. These provide an attachment mechanism such that the drum portion 222 can be provided as a flat sheet then rolled and attached to the front and rear drum panels 215-1, 215-2. The tabs are pushed over and manipulated by hand during assembly of the drum 200. The metal tabs are sufficient to hold the assembly together with minimal fixings, though it may be advantageous to use in combination with other fastenings such as screws for stability.

Whilst it has been described as particularly preferable for the manual washing machine 100 to be provided in a parts, e.g. as a flat pack to be built, it will be appreciated any or all of the manual washing machine may alternatively be provided in a fully assembled condition. In some examples, the tub and drum (and other suitable pieces) may be singular pieces formed, for example, by injection moulding.

Once it has been fully assembled, the manual washing machine 100 can be used. To use the manual washing machine 100, a user first opens the tub door 122 and the drum door 222 and puts in water, detergent and clothing to be washed. Then, the doors 122, 222 are closed to seal the contents inside the drum 200. The user proceeds to turn the rotational handle 135 which turns the drum 200. Once finished, the user can drain water (e.g. grey water comprising detergent and dirt from the clothing) out of the washing machine 100 through the tap 125.

The present invention has been described with a preferred embodiment thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications to the described embodiment can be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.