US3298578A - Clothes care apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 17, 1967 R. v. SHIELDS CLOTHES CARE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 21, 1964 Rhea V Sh/b/ds INVEN'J'OK m BY M Jan. 17, 1967 R. v. SHIELDS CLOTHES CARE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001:. 21, 1964 Rhea V. Shields INVENTOK Q Ma a/5 WWW m United Stat Patenf 3,298,578 CLOTHES CARE'APPARATUS Rhea V.Shields, East'Lansing,'Mich.

(1009 W. Adams, Macomb, Ill. 61455) Filed Oct. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 405,560 3- Claims. (Cl. 223-.-67)

The present application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Serial No. 324,831. I I

This application is generally concerned with the drying and finishing of clothes, and moreparticularly relates to a device wherein a garment is subjected to a fiow of conditioned air while being subjected to a constant pressure. I I v I It is a'prirnary object of the instant invention to provide a garment finishing device which can be easily accommodated to different size garments] I \I Another significant object of the instant invention is to provide a device which iseasily adaptable for use in the home,. or on a commercial scale in, for example, selfiservice laundries. I I I I .Further, an important object of the instant invention is the provisionof a clothes drying and finishing device which can be utilized in conjunction with any conventional source of forced air. II V Likewise, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a clothes drying and finishing device: which incorporates therein means for treating, such as mothproofing, the garment or clothing as it is being finished.

. In addition, it is a significant object of the instant .invention to providea device which can be collapsed for convenient storage.

Furthermore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a device wherein a professional finish on a garment can be obtained both simply and economically.

Also, it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide a drying device which can be easily adapted for also drying various flatwork, or for that matter various objects such as carpets, mattresses, upholstered furniture, etc'. I

Further, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a device which is inexpensive and capable of being economically manufactured, thereby enabling eve-nthe homeowner to maintain a supply of several of the basic bag units corresponding to the various types of garments to be dried and. finished. I

Basically, in order to achieve the above objects, the device of the instant invention consists of an enlarged infiatable perforated bag corresponding generally in shape to a predetermined type of garment, such as for example a dress. The bag is to be preferably madeof a laminate consisting of a layer of aluminum foil, for its heat conducting properties, and either one or two coating layers of a suitable plastic film for strength. The shaped bag is' to include an adapter sealedwithin an enlarged opening in the bag and projecting therefrom for engagement with, generally by a friction fit, the discharge end of a duct leading from any conventional source of heated air. Further, in order to subject the garment being finished, which incidentally is applied over the bag,"to a treating agent, the adapter includes therein a foraminous container within which the agent, such as for example mothproofing crystals, can be placed. The treating agent will of course be dispersed throughout the interior of the infiatablebag', and from there through the perforations and through the garment mounted thereon. Finally,the device includes a hanger, of any suitable non-rusting .material 'rer'novably sealed within the upper end of the bag and projecting therefrom for suspension of the bag from any suitable overhead support. I

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claime d, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

'FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the device of the instant invention;

7 FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 2-2 in FIG- URE H I v FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 33 in FIG- URE l and illustrating a detail of the bag construction; .FIGUREA is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantiallyon a plane passing along line 44 in FIG- URE 2 and illustratingthe adapter including the foraminous or screen container for the treating agent;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged.cross-sectional view through the upper end .offthe bagillustrating the hanger and the mannerinwhich'it is'mounteld;

FIGURE6 illustrates a modified form of bag adapted to accommodate a different type'of garment or garments;

and

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modifiedform of adapter, this adapter also including the screen basket container for the treating agent.

Referring,- now more specifically to the drawings, thereference numeral 10 is generally used to designate the drying andfinishing device of the instant invention. This device, as noted supra, consists basically ofaninfiatable bag 12, a .hanger 14, a'ndan adapter'or duct-like connector 16.

Thebag 12 itself is to be flexible and inflatable and when inflated, assume the general configuration of a conventional' garment, for example a dress as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 or a pair of full length coveralls as illustrated in FIGURE 6. Incidentally, with regard to the two basic shapes illustrated, it will be appreciated that thedress form ofFIGURES 1 and 2 can also be utilized as a blouse or sweater form, as well as a skirt form, while the coverall form of FIGURE 6 can be equally adaptedv for use as a form for shirts, sweaters, jackets and trousers. Further, when only a portion of aparticular bag 12 is being utilized, the remainder of thebag 10 is collapsed and secured in its collapsed position by any suitable clip means so as to enable an increase in the-flow of air through the actual part of thebag 12 being used, the significanceof this being more fully appreciated in light of the following description of the operation of thedevice 10.

,Thebag 12 is to be specifically constructed of a lamination of aluminum foil and plastic film, the aluminum being desirable for its ability to quickly transfer heat, while the plastic film provides the necessary strength. Several types of pliable and flexible plastics which might be used are polyethylene film, vinylite film, polyglycol terephthalate film, etc.

As one example :of the manner in which thebag 12 may be formed, :the plastic film, for example polyethylene .film, generally referred to byreference numeral 18 in the drawings, is extruded in molten form on aluminum foil, referred to byreference numeral 20, and subsequently cooled off. This produces a one side heat laminate, however, it will of course be appreciated that thefoil 20 can be coated on both sides, if so desired, by the same desired pattern or patterns and the seams for-med by heat sealing aud,if desired for added reinforcement, sewing.

turned inside out so asto conceal the seams and prevent the forming of undesirable lines in the garments while the garments are being air dried and subjected to pressure by the inflated bag asshall be explained presently. Incide'ritally, in addition to scaling the seams, various types of plastic glues,for example ethylene dichloride, or sol- Vents can be used to weld the joints.

'The'bag is to be provided with a plurality of ,aifholes 22 over the entire or substantiallythe entire area thereof, the holes being formed in any suitable manner such asby being 'cold punched or heat punched. Theholes 22 are of course to' be relatively small and orientated so as to provide for an even flow of air therethrough and into engagement with a garment to. be draped. over thebag 12.

Thebag 12 is, when in use, suspended from a suitable .overhead support bythehanger 14,, this hanger,14 being formed of plastic or other suitable non-rusting material andproviding a firm formed support forthe upper portion I of" the -bag 12. The'hanger. 141iricludes'a narrow neck portion which projects upwardly'through an enlarged Opening$24-in theupper end. of. the-bag 12, the edges of thebag 12 defining this opening 24 being-tightly gathered about the neck of the hanger'14 and positively sealed thereto by an elastic"compression ring 26, thehanging hook 28 of thehanger 14. of course :projecting above thebag 12.

The connector or ada'pter '16issuitably sealed within an enlarged aperture or opening 30 provided in the lower end of thebag 12 and incl.uding,.if necessary, an additional integr'alflange 0f the bag material which can be tightly gathered about theconnector 16 and sealed there- -'to by, for example, anelastic compression ring 32. The

adapter 16 consistsitbasically of an elongatedtubular member 34 havingan outwardly flaredinner end 36 forming a flange against which the surrounding portions of the 'b'ag12 are clamped by'theexternal clampv 32 .soas to lock the tubular adapter: 16 within the garmentopenlar portion 34 is formed soas to receive thedischarge end 38 of aduct 40 leading from any conventional source wire screen basket. Thiscontainer 42 is orientated so as to project inwardly of thebag 12 from the inner end of thetubular portion 34 of theconnector 16 with the open end 44 of the container being outwardly flared for engagement behind an internal annular shoulder-formingprojection 46 within the inner end of the tubular portion ingorintake port 30. The-outer end of the hollow tubu- '34. Thiscontainer 42 is to be provided with suitable garment-treating material, such as mothproofing crystals or-cakes 48 whereby the vapors therefrom will be carried, by the forced air, into thebag 12, and from thebag 12 through the apertures orholes 22 into the garment.

Referring now specifically to FIGURE 7, it will be noted that a modified form ofadapter 50 has been illustrated therein, thisadapter 50 including an elongated hollow tubular portionh52 having an annular radially outwardly projecting flange on the inner end thereof, thisflange 54 alsogprojecting radially inward of the side wall of the tubular portion 52'so as to provide anannular shoulderforming portion 56. The outer surface of the outwardprojecting portion of theannular flange 54 is stepped .as, atf58, with the materialof thebag 12 following the stepped configuration circumfercntially thereabout and being clamped and sealed thereto by an annular clamping ring having a mating stepped inner face and being I looked in position by a plurality ofelongated bolts 62 extending therethrough andthreaded into theannular flange 54. This modified form-ofadapter 0 also includes a wise treating the various garments. Thiscontainer 64 also includes a laterally directed open end which engages behind the shoulder-formingannular portion 56 with this open end including a pivotally mountedcover 66 and aclip 68 for retaining it closed while at the same time allowing it to be readily opened for obtaining access to the interior of thecontainer 64 for placing or replacing the, for example, moth crystals. The outer end of thetubular portion 52 of theadapter 50 is also adapted for engagement Within anydischarge end 70 of a conventional source of forced heated air, theparticular discharge end 70 shown in FIGURE 7 including an expansibleresilient split ring 72.

that the device is equally adaptable for the finishing and removing of Wrinkles from garments which have not been laundered. This is accomplished by merely introducing a predetermined amount of moisture along with the heated air, this heated moisturized air, together with the pressure exerted by theinflated bag 12, effectively removing any wrinkles which might be present. This introduction of moisture into the flow of heated air can be accomplished in any conventional manner, such as for example, utilizing the heated air being exhausted from a conventional home laundry dryer during the normal operation thereof in the drying of. various other articles which would normally not need finishing. By the same token, the device can also be used to treat a garment, such as for example, mothproofi ng, both alone or in conjunction with a drying or finish- =-ing operation. Likewise, inasmuch as the garment-shapedbag 12 is inflatable, it will be appreciated that it can be readily collapsed and folded for compact storage, and

further, can. accommodate a Wide range of different size garments with the-inflation thereof continuing until the garment itselflimits further expansion, it being contemplated that the garment, at this stage, have a constant overall pressureexertcd thereon suflicicnt so as to remove,

; in conjunction with the heated air, any wrinkles which might, be present.

Another advantage residing in the use ofa collapsible bag .is the fact that various unused portions of thebag 12 can be rolled up and clipped closed so as to allow for a greater flow of air through the remaining portion. of the bag. For example, when utilizing a shirtshaped garment bag to dry a short sleeved shirt,

the forearm portions of the bag can be rolled up and clipped. W hile the above-describedbags 12 have been specifically defined as assuming the shape of a garment, the instant invention also contemplates the provision of a relatively flat bag having perforations or openings in only one face thereof, such a bag being particularly useful in the drying of 'flatwork, carpets, mattresses, upholstered furniture, etc. Finally, the particular laminated construction of the bag itself provides for a highlydurable though relatively inexpensive device with it being contemplated that each user of the device possess several-bags corresponding to various garments with these bags-either including their own adapter or utilizing a single interchangeable adapter.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scopenof'th'e invention as claimed. a

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. Clothes care apparatus comprising an enlarged vertically orientatable flexible bag, said bag being free of internal support structure and selectively inflatable and collapsible, said bag, when collapsed, being completely foldab'le, said bag being inflatable through the introduction of air under pressure, said introduced air constituting the sole internal means preventing said bag from collapsing, said bag, when inflated, generally conforming to the shape of and being receivable within a garment, means on said bag for selectively connecting said bag to a source of continuously flowing air for introduction of the air into said bag so as to inflate said bag, means for enabling a passage of the air from said bag over a substantial area thereof at a rate less than the rate of flow of air into the bag so as to permit a flow of air through said bag while maintaining the inflation thereof, and means for vertically suspending said apparatus from an overhead support, the means for enabling the passage of air from said bag consisting of a large number of small air passing perforations therein, said means for connecting said bag to a source of air including an enlarged opening through said bag, and a connector fixed within said opening and projecting therefrom for engagement with the discharge end of a conventional source of moving air, said connector including an internal passage therethrough so as to allow for a guided movement of the air into the bag, said means for vertically suspending said apparatus comprising a second enlarged opening in said bag, a hanger in supporting position in said bag, a hanging portion of said hanger projecting through said second opening for engagement with an overhead support, and means selectively sealing said second opening about said hanger so as to retain the hanger therein.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a foraminous container for a treating agent, said container being mounted within the internal air guiding passage of the connector, said container projecting inwardly of said connector into the interior of said bag.

3. The apparatus ofclaim 2 including abutment means projecting laterally into said internal passage adjacent the inner end of the connector, said container including a laterally directed flange portion on the outer end thereof engaged with the abutment means, thereby mounting the container on the connector with .a substantial portion of the container projecting inwardly into the bag from the inner end of the connector.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,140,961 12/ 1938 Lendle 223 2,443,557 6/ 1948 Fitpold 223--67 2,515,848 7/ 1950 Winter 22367 2,679,956 6/ 1954 Richterkessing 22370 2,991,550 7/1961 Block.

2,993,806 7/1961 Fisher et a1.

3,048,310 8/1962 Dosal 223-70 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. CLOTHES CARE APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ENLARGED VERTICALLY ORIENTATABLE FLEXIBLE BAG, SAID BAG BEING FREE OF INTERNAL SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND SELECTIVELY INFLATABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE, SAID BAG, WHEN COLLAPSED, BEING COMPLETELY FOLDABLE, SAID BAG BEING INFLATABLE THROUGH THE INTRODUCTION OF AIR UNDER PRESSURE, SAID INTRODUCED AIR CONSTITUTING THE SOLE INTERNAL MEANS PREVENTING SAID BAG FROM COLLAPSING, SAID BAG, WHEN INFLATED, GENERALLY CONFORMING TO THE SHAPE OF AND BEING RECEIVABLE WITHIN A GARMENT, MEANS ON SAID BAG FOR SELECTIVELY CONNECTING SAID BAG TO A SOURCE OF CONTINUOUSLY FLOWING AIR FOR INTRODUCTION OF THE AIR INTO SAID BAG SO AS TO INFLATE SAID BAG, MEANS FOR ENABLING A PASSAGE OF THE AIR FROM SAID BAG OVER A SUBSTANTIAL AREA THEREOF AT A RATE LESS THAN THE RATE OF FLOW OF AIR INTO THE BAG SO AS TO PERMIT A FLOW OF AIR THROUGH SAID BAG WHILE MAINTAINING THE INFLATION THEREOF, AND MEANS FOR VERTICALLY SUSPENDING SAID APPARATUS FROM AN OVERHEAD SUPPORT, THE MEANS FOR ENABLING THE PASSAGE OF AIR FROM SAID BAG CONSISTING OF A LARGE NUMBER OF SMALL AIR PASSING PERFORATIONS THEREIN, SAID MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID BAG TO A SOURCE OF AIR INCLUDING AN ENLARGED OPENING THROUGH SAID BAG, AND A CONNECTOR FIXED WITHIN SAID OPENING AND PROJECTING THEREFROM FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DISCHARGE END OF A CON-

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