Front loading washer/dryer shelf

Abstract

A shelf apparatus for a front loading washer and/or a front loading dryer is provided. The shelf apparatus includes a rigid platform including a substantially planar top surface, a first end, and a second end opposite to the first end in a longitudinal direction; a support having a top end and a bottom end for detachably connecting the first end and the second end of the shelf to front surfaces between doors of a washer and a dryer, wherein the support is configured such that when the shelf is detachably connected to the front surfaces of the washer and the dryer, the top surface of the shelf is parallel to top surfaces of the washer and the dryer so that wet laundry can be pulled onto the top surface of the shelf from the washer and then pushed along the top surface of the shelf into the dryer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shelf apparatus for a front loading washer and/or a front loading dryer, comprising:
 a shelf formed as a rigid platform comprising a substantially planar top surface, a first end, and a second end opposite to the first end in a longitudinal direction;   a first support having a first end connected at or adjacent to the first end of the rigid platform and a second end having a first connector configured to detachably attach to the front loading washer to support the first end of the rigid platform by transferring a downward force exerted by the rigid platform to the front loading washer;   a second support having a first end connected at or adjacent to the second end of the rigid platform and a second end having a second connector configured to detachably attach to the front loading dryer to support the second end of the rigid platform by transferring a downward force exerted by the rigid platform to the front loading dryer;   wherein the first and second supports are configured such that when first and second connectors are respectively detachably attached to the front loading washer and the front loading dryer, the top surface of the rigid platform substantially lies in a horizontal plane and abuts front surfaces of the front loading washer and front loading dryer at or below loading openings of the front loading washer and front loading dryer so that wet laundry can be pulled onto the top surface of the rigid platform from loading opening of the front loading washer and then pushed along the top surface of the shelf into the front loading dryer via the loading opening of the front loading dryer.   
     
     
         2 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector comprises a first hook and the second connector comprises a second hook,
 wherein the first support comprises one of a first rod and a first cord connected to the first hook at its first end and connected to the first end of the rigid platform at its second end and having a length sufficient to allow the first hook to attach and hook over a hinge attached to a door of the front loading washer,   
       wherein the second support comprises one of a second rod and a second cord connected to the second hook at its first end and connected to the second end of the rigid platform at its second end and having a length sufficient to allow the second hook to attach and hook over a hinge attached to a door of the front loading dryer. 
     
     
         3 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first hook and the second hook comprise an outer surface formed of plastic, rubber, or foam. 
     
     
         4 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first fastener connecting the first end of the rigid platform to the first support and a second fastener connecting the second end of the rigid platform to the second support. 
     
     
         5 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first end and the second end of the shelf includes a first edge fastener, a second edge fastener, and a third edge fastener for connecting the bottom end of the support to the top surface of the shelf, and wherein the first edge fastener, the second edge fastener, and the third edge fastener is positioned in a manner such that when the shelf is detachably connected to the doors of the front loading washer and the front loading dryer, one of the first edge fastener and the second edge fastener is located adjacent to a front surface of the front loading washer or the front loading dryer in a first direction and the other one of the first edge fastener and the second edge fastener is located further away from the front surface of the front loading washer or the front loading dryer in the first direction. 
     
     
         6 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second supports are provided with a hook at top end that rests on or fits into an attachment point provided on the front surface of the front loading washer or the front loading dryer to detachably connect the shelf to the front surfaces of the front loading washer and the front loading dryer. 
     
     
         7 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment point is selected from the group consisting of: an eye bolt attachment point, a cup attachment point, and a ball end cable attachment point. 
     
     
         8 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 7 , the attachment point is connected to the front surface of the front loading washer or the front loading dryer with at least one of a fastener, adhesive, or magnet. 
     
     
         9 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 7 , the attachment point is connected to the front surface of the front loading washer or the front loading dryer with at least one of a permanent magnet and an electromagnet. 
     
     
         10 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment point is provided at a window of a door of the front loading washer or the front loading dryer. 
     
     
         11 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinging part to accommodate different sizes front loading washer and front loading dryer and different spacing between the washer and the dryer,
 wherein the hinging part is configured such that it allows the shelf to be folded in half and into a planar position but not rotate beyond 180 degrees.   
     
     
         12 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein top surface of shelf includes raised edges that surround the entire shelf except for a connection portion of the shelf that is facing an opening located in the front surface of the front loading washer or the front loading dryer when the door of the front loading washer or the front loading dryer is in open position to prevent laundry from falling from the shelf and to keep any excess water from dripping off the shelf. 
     
     
         13 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf is extendable and is configured to telescope, unfold, or unroll to be deployed. 
     
     
         14 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the shelf includes a plurality of sections and corresponding stops to adjust a length of telescoping shelf to accommodate different sizes of washer and dryer and different spacing between the washer and the dryer. 
     
     
         15 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a front loading washer and a front loading dryer.   
     
     
         16 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf comprises at least two planks and a hinge attached to and bottom surfaces of the two planks and connecting the two planks configured to allow the shelf to be folded upon itself in one direction to facilitate storing the shelf in a drawer of the front loading washer or the front loading drying when the shelf is not in use. 
     
     
         17 . A shelf apparatus for a front loading washer and/or a front loading dryer, comprising:
 a shelf formed as a rigid platform comprising a substantially planar top surface, a bottom surface, a first end, and a second end opposite to the first end in a longitudinal direction;   a support attached to the bottom surface of the shelf for providing the first end and the second end of the rigid platform adjacent to front surfaces between doors of a front loading washer and a front loading dryer,   wherein the support is configured such that when the shelf is provided adjacent to the front surfaces of the front loading washer and the front loading dryer, the top surface of the shelf is parallel to top surfaces of the front loading washer and the front loading dryer so that wet laundry can be pulled onto the top surface of the rigid platform from loading opening of the front loading washer and then pushed along the top surface of the shelf into the front loading dryer via the loading opening of the front loading dryer.   
     
     
         18 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the support includes legs provided on the first end and the second end of the rigid platform. 
     
     
         19 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the support includes a clamp or cantilever assembly provided over a front opening of the front loading washer and the front loading dryer to detachably connect the rigid platform to the front surfaces of the front loading washer and the front loading dryer. 
     
     
         20 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 19 , the clamp or cantilever assembly is provided on both the first end and the second end on the bottom surface of the of the rigid platform. 
     
     
         21 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the assembly is configured to connect to a drum, an inner body, or a lint screen that is exposed in a loading opening in the front surface of the front loading washer or the front loading dryer. 
     
     
         22 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the assembly is configured to replace the lint screen or other parts that are exposed in the loading opening in the front surface of the front loading washer or the front loading dryer. 
     
     
         23 . The shelf apparatus of claim of  17 , wherein the support includes a leg system attached to one end of the bottom surface of the shelf, and
 wherein the leg system includes a pair of first leg and a pair of second leg that cross each other to expand to support the shelf and configured to be locked in place when the shelf is deployed, and collapsed when the shelf is not in use.   
     
     
         24 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the shelf includes connection portions configured to be inserted into an opening located in front surfaces of the washer and the dryer when the doors are in open position. 
     
     
         25 . The shelf apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the shelf is configured to be securely installed in a drawer of the front loading washer or the front loading drying by using parts that expand to form a compression fit within the drawer. 
     
     
         26 . A modular shelf system for a front loading washer and/or a front loading dryer, comprising:
 a shelf formed as a rigid platform comprising a substantially planar having a top surface, a first end, and a second end opposite to the first end in a longitudinal direction;   a first support for providing the first end of the rigid platform adjacent to a front loading washer door when the front loading washer door is in open position, the first support is configured to be detachably attached to a window of the front loading washer door;   a second support for providing the second end of the rigid platform adjacent to a front loading dryer door when the front loading dryer door is in open position, the second structure is configured to be detachably attached to a window of the front loading dryer door;   wherein the shelf is configured such that when the front loading washer door and the front loading dryer door are in open position and when the first end of the rigid platform and the second end of the rigid platform are provided on the first support and the second support, respectively, adjacent to front surfaces of the front loading washer and the front loading dryer, the top surface of the shelf is parallel to top surfaces of the front loading washer and the front loading dryer so that wet laundry can be pulled onto the top surface of the rigid platform from loading opening of the front loading washer and then pushed along the top surface of the shelf into the front loading dryer via the loading opening of the front loading dryer.   
     
     
         27 . The modular shelf system of  claim 26 , wherein first support includes a first strap that conformally wraps around the window of the front loading washer door to attach the first support to the front loading washer when the front loading washer door is in open position, and the second support includes a second strap that conformally wraps around the window of the front loading dryer door to attach the second support to the front loading dryer when the front loading dryer door is in open position. 
     
     
         28 . A method of laundering clothes using a front loading washer and a front loading dryer, comprising:
 providing a shelf formed as a rigid platform comprising a substantially planar top surface, a first end, and a second end opposite to the first end in a longitudinal direction;   providing a first support having a first end and a second end;   providing a second support having a first end and a second end;   connecting first end of the first support at or adjacent to the first end of the rigid platform;   detachably attaching the second end of the first support having a first connector to the front loading washer to support the first end of the rigid platform by transferring a downward force exerted by the rigid platform to the front loading washer;   connecting the first end of the second support at or adjacent to the second end of the rigid platform;   detachably attaching the second end of the second support having a second connector to the front loading dryer to support the second end of the rigid platform by transferring a downward force exerted by the rigid platform to the front loading dryer;   wherein the first and second supports are configured such that when first and second connectors are respectively detachably attached to the front loading washer and the front loading dryer, the top surface of the rigid platform substantially lies in a horizontal plane and abuts front surfaces of the front loading washer and front loading dryer at or below loading openings of the front loading washer and front loading dryer so that wet laundry can be pulled onto the top surface of the rigid platform from loading opening of the front loading washer and then pushed along the top surface of the shelf into the front loading dryer via the loading opening of the front loading dryer.