Systems and methods for preventing laundry tangles

Abstract

Systems and methods for attaching large articles of bedding such as bed sheets, blankets, duvet covers, comforters, and quilts, as well as other machine-washable large items such as sleeping bags, tablecloths, shower curtains, and shower curtain liners, in order to prevent or greatly reduce said articles from twisting, tangling, balling and/or wadding either independently or with each other in either or both the automatic washing machine or automatic clothes dryer. Exemplary fabric securing devices include a rigid base having keyholes and slit-holes, and flexible straps or tongues having a hollow post to engage a base keyhole and a crescent-shaped beveled edge to engage a base slit-hole.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of attaching an article of fabric with a fabric securing device, the method comprising:
 providing a fabric securing device comprising:
 a base having a first female attachment element with a first female aperture, a second female attachment element with a second female aperture, third female attachment element with a third female aperture, and fourth female attachment element with a fourth female aperture; 
 a first male attachment mechanism having a first engagement mechanism; 
 a second male attachment mechanism having a second engagement mechanism; 
 a third male attachment mechanism having a third engagement mechanism; and 
 a fourth male attachment mechanism having a fourth engagement mechanism, 
 wherein the fabric securing system is configured to attach with an article of fabric when at least a portion of the first engagement mechanism of the first male attachment mechanism is located in the first aperture of the first female attachment element and a first section of the article of fabric is positioned between the first male attachment mechanism and the base, at least a portion of the second engagement mechanism of the second male attachment mechanism is located in the second aperture of the second female attachment element and a second section of the article of fabric is positioned between the second male attachment mechanism and the base, at least a portion of the third engagement mechanism of the third male attachment mechanism is located in the third aperture of the third female attachment element and a third section of the article of fabric is positioned between the third male attachment mechanism and the base, 
 and at least a portion of the fourth engagement mechanism of the fourth male attachment mechanism is located in the fourth aperture of the fourth female attachment element and a fourth section of the article of fabric is positioned between the fourth male attachment mechanism and the base; and 
   attaching the article of fabric with the fabric securing device by positioning the first section of the article of fabric between the first male attachment mechanism and the base, positioning the second section of the article of fabric between the second male attachment mechanism and the base, positioning the third section of the article of fabric between the third male attachment mechanism and the base, and positioning the fourth section of the article of fabric between the fourth male attachment mechanism and the base.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising compressing the first section of the article of fabric against the base, compressing the second section of the article of fabric against the base, compressing the third section of the article of fabric against the base, and compressing the fourth section of the article of fabric against the base. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the first engagement mechanism comprises a first male post, the second engagement mechanism comprises a second male post, the third engagement mechanism comprises a third male post, and the fourth engagement mechanism comprises a fourth male post. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the first male post is hollow, the second male post is hollow, the third male post is hollow, and the fourth male post is hollow. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein the first engagement mechanism comprises a first cap, the second engagement mechanism comprises a second cap, the third engagement mechanism comprises a third cap, and the fourth engagement mechanism comprises a fourth cap. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the first cap of the first engagement mechanism comprises a first indented top, the second cap of the second engagement mechanism comprises a second indented top, the third cap of the third engagement mechanism comprises a third indented top, and the fourth cap of the fourth engagement mechanism comprises a fourth indented top. 
     
     
         8 . A method of attaching an article of fabric with a fabric securing device, the method comprising:
 providing a fabric securing device comprising:
 a first male/female element combination comprising a first male attachment mechanism and a first female attachment element, the first male attachment mechanism having a first engagement mechanism and the first female attachment element having a first female aperture; and 
 a second male/female element combination comprising a second male attachment mechanism and a second female attachment element, the second male attachment mechanism having a second engagement mechanism and the second female attachment element having a second female aperture, 
 wherein the first female attachment element and the second female attachment element are disposed on a base, wherein the first female aperture of the first female attachment element is configured to receive the first engagement mechanism of the first male attachment mechanism, wherein the second female aperture of the second female attachment element is configured to receive the second engagement mechanism of the second male attachment mechanism, and wherein the fabric securing system is configured to attach with an article of fabric when the first engagement mechanism of the first male attachment mechanism is located in the first aperture of the first female attachment element and a first section of the article of fabric is positioned between the first male attachment mechanism and the base, and the second engagement mechanism of the second male attachment mechanism is located in the second aperture of the second female attachment element and a second section of the article of fabric is positioned between the second male attachment mechanism and the base; and 
   attaching the article of fabric with the fabric securing device by positioning the first section of the article of fabric between the first male attachment mechanism and the base, and positioning the second section of the article of fabric between the second male attachment mechanism and the base.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the first engagement mechanism is compressible to a first reduced width that allows the first engagement mechanism to slide into the first female aperture of the first female attachment element, and wherein at least a portion of the second engagement mechanism is compressible to a second reduced width that allows the second engagement mechanism to slide into the second female aperture of the second female attachment element. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the first engagement mechanism comprises a first male post and the second engagement mechanism comprises a second male post. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the first male post is hollow and the second male post is hollow. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the first engagement mechanism comprises a first cap, and the second engagement mechanism comprises a second cap. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the first cap of the first engagement mechanism comprises a first indented top, and the second cap of the second engagement mechanism comprises a second indented top. 
     
     
         14 . A method of attaching an article of fabric with a fabric securing device, the method comprising:
 providing a fabric securing device comprising:
 a first male/female element combination comprising a first male attachment mechanism and a first female attachment element, the first male attachment mechanism having a first compressible engagement mechanism and the first female attachment element having a first female aperture; and 
 a second male/female element combination comprising a second male attachment mechanism and a second female attachment element, the second male attachment mechanism having a second compressible engagement mechanism and the second female attachment element having a second female aperture, 
 wherein the first female aperture and the second female aperture are disposed on a base, 
 wherein the first female aperture of the first female attachment element is configured to receive the first compressible engagement mechanism of the first male attachment mechanism, 
 wherein the second female aperture of the second female attachment element is configured to receive the second compressible engagement mechanism of the second male attachment mechanism, and 
 wherein the fabric securing system is configured to attach with an article of fabric when the first compressible engagement mechanism of the first male attachment mechanism is located in the first aperture of the first female attachment element and a first section of the article of fabric is positioned between the first male attachment mechanism and the base, and the second compressible engagement mechanism of the second male attachment mechanism is located in the second aperture of the second female attachment element and a second section of the article of fabric is positioned between the second male attachment mechanism and the base; and 
   attaching the article of fabric with the fabric securing device by positioning the first section of the article of fabric between the first male attachment mechanism and the base, and positioning the second section of the article of fabric between the second male attachment mechanism and the base.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first engagement mechanism is compressible to a first reduced width that allows the first engagement mechanism to slide into the first female aperture of the first female attachment element, and wherein the second engagement mechanism is compressible to a second reduced width that allows the second engagement mechanism to slide into the second female aperture of the second female attachment element. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first engagement mechanism comprises a first male post and the second engagement mechanism comprises a second male post. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first male post is hollow and the second male post is hollow. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first engagement mechanism comprises a first cap and the second engagement mechanism comprises a second cap. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the first cap of the first engagement mechanism comprises a first indented top, and the second cap of the second engagement mechanism comprises a second indented top.