GB2072230A

GB2072230A - Cabinet for de-creasing clothes

Info

Publication number: GB2072230A
Application number: GB8036348A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: FORECOURT AUTOMATION
Current assignee: FORECOURT AUTOMATION
Priority date: 1979-11-12
Filing date: 1980-11-12
Publication date: 1981-09-30

Abstract

A clothes de-creasing cabinet (10) has a door (11), an internal rail (16) for hanging up garments, an internal enclosure (17) and vent holes (20). Within the enclosure (17), which has vents (18) to the interior of the cabinet (10), is an apparatus which, on upon energization, first directs water- saturated air into the cabinet for a set period, and then directs hot air into the cabinet. The water saturated air is produced in a device (27) ÄFig. 2Ü comprising a blower having its output directed over the surface of water in a trough, and the hot air is produced by a device (30) which blows air over an electric heater element, the devices (27, 30) being controlled via a timer (25). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clothes de-creasing cabinet This invention relates to a cabinet by which there is provided a facility for reducing the creasing of garments which have, for example, been worn during air travel or other lengthy journeys.

The invention provides a cabinet closable by a door and having means therein permitting the suspension of garments spaced from the walls of the cabinet and further including sequentially operable means for causing water-saturated air to enter the cabinet for a first predetermined period and for thereafter causing air having a low water content to enter the cabinet for a second predetermined period.

An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, comprising Figures 1 and 2, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective, partly cut-away view of a clothes de-creasing cabinet embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the apparatus included in the cabinet of Figure 1.

The cabinet 10 shown in Figure 1 is closable by a door 11. This door may be held closed firstly by a readily releasable means, for example by a magnetic latch comprising a magnet 12 secured to the closing jamb of the cabinet and cooperating with an armature 13 secured to door 11.

Preferably further means are provided to prevent opening of the cabinet during at least one stage of operation of the apparatus contained therein. This further means may comprise a staple 14 secured to the door 11 in which, when the apparatus of cabinet is initiated, is engaged by a magneticallyactuated latch member as hereinafter described.

Cabinet 10 is provided with a rail 1 6 or other convenient means permitting garments to be suspended therein free from the walls of the cabinet and with a protected compartment 17 containing apparatus for firstly passing watersaturated air into the space within the cabinet and for thereafter passing into the cabinet air having a low water content. As illustrated, compartment 17 is positioned at the base of the cabinet and is provided with a slotted top or cover member 18.

The compartment may be placed elsewhere within or externally of the cabinet if desired, though it must necessarily always be in ready air-accessible communication with the interior of the cabinet.

The space within compartment 17 is in communication with the exterior of the cabinet, conveniently by way of a louvred portion 1 9 of the cabinet wall. Air exit or vent apertures 20 are shown as provided in the upper portion of the rear wall of the cabinet. These apertures may be positioned otherwise if desired, but preferably dishare into a space, such as a ventilation exhaust duct, other than the space within which the cabinet is installed.

Initiation of the garment de-creasing apparatus is effected by pressure upon an actuating button 21. Actuation of this button initiates the two periods of operation of the apparatus in compartment 17, viz: a steaming period and a drying period. The means for producing the two conditions will now be described with reference to Figure 2.

To initiate the operation of the apparatus, actuating button 21 is urged inwardly of the cabinet, i.e., to the right as seen in Figure 2.

Button 21 is extended by a rod 22 from which protrudes a catch member 23 that engages in staple 14 on the door of the cabinet. This movement of rod 22 closes a switch 24, thus initiating the operation of a timer or cycle control device 25 which is arranged to define two successive operating periods. The first period is initiated immediately upon actuation of the apparatus, by power supplied from control device 25 by way of a lead 26 to a first air-supply means 27. Lead 26 also supplies power to a magnetically actuated latch 28, causing a catch member thereof to engage a projection 29 extending from switch-actuating rod 22. This arrangement ensures that rod 22 is retained in a position in which catch member 23 engages staple 14 to prevent opening of the cabinet.

Apparatus 27 includes an air blower arranged to discharge a flow of water-saturated air into the cabinet; the means for this purpose are illustrated only schematically as a blower discharging air over the surface of water contained in a trough.

The means used in practice may be substantially more complex, but apparatus for producing appropriately wetted and heated air are well known.

After saturated air has been introduced into cabinet 10 for a predetermined period, apparatus 27 is de-energized and an apparatus is actuated tc supply air of low water content to the cabinet. The constituents of apparatus 30 are indicated schematicaily as being an air blower and an electrical resistance heater device; again the actual apparatus used may be more complex but is well known.

If desired, magnetically operable latch 28 may be arranged to prevent opening of the cabinet during either period of the operating cycle; in this case means, denoted only by broken line 31, are provided to ensure that latch 28 remains actuated when apparatus 30 is operating.

CLAIMS:

1. A clothes de-creasing apparatus comprising a cabinet having means therein permitting the suspension of garments spaced from the walls of the cabinet, and further including sequentially operable means for causing air having a high water content to enter the cabinet for a first predetermined period, and for thereafter causing air having a low water content to enter the cabinet for a second predetermined period.

2. A clothes de-creasing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sequentially operable means comprises first means for producing a stream of water saturated air and directing such stream into the interior of the cabinet, second

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Clothes de-creasing cabinet This invention relates to a cabinet by which there is provided a facility for reducing the creasing of garments which have, for example, been worn during air travel or other lengthy journeys. The invention provides a cabinet closable by a door and having means therein permitting the suspension of garments spaced from the walls of the cabinet and further including sequentially operable means for causing water-saturated air to enter the cabinet for a first predetermined period and for thereafter causing air having a low water content to enter the cabinet for a second predetermined period. An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, comprising Figures 1 and 2, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective, partly cut-away view of a clothes de-creasing cabinet embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the apparatus included in the cabinet of Figure 1. The cabinet 10 shown in Figure 1 is closable by a door 11. This door may be held closed firstly by a readily releasable means, for example by a magnetic latch comprising a magnet 12 secured to the closing jamb of the cabinet and cooperating with an armature 13 secured to door 11. Preferably further means are provided to prevent opening of the cabinet during at least one stage of operation of the apparatus contained therein. This further means may comprise a staple 14 secured to the door 11 in which, when the apparatus of cabinet is initiated, is engaged by a magneticallyactuated latch member as hereinafter described. Cabinet 10 is provided with a rail 1 6 or other convenient means permitting garments to be suspended therein free from the walls of the cabinet and with a protected compartment 17 containing apparatus for firstly passing watersaturated air into the space within the cabinet and for thereafter passing into the cabinet air having a low water content. As illustrated, compartment 17 is positioned at the base of the cabinet and is provided with a slotted top or cover member 18. The compartment may be placed elsewhere within or externally of the cabinet if desired, though it must necessarily always be in ready air-accessible communication with the interior of the cabinet. The space within compartment 17 is in communication with the exterior of the cabinet, conveniently by way of a louvred portion 1 9 of the cabinet wall. Air exit or vent apertures 20 are shown as provided in the upper portion of the rear wall of the cabinet. These apertures may be positioned otherwise if desired, but preferably dishare into a space, such as a ventilation exhaust duct, other than the space within which the cabinet is installed. Initiation of the garment de-creasing apparatus is effected by pressure upon an actuating button 21. Actuation of this button initiates the two periods of operation of the apparatus in compartment 17, viz: a steaming period and a drying period. The means for producing the two conditions will now be described with reference to Figure 2. To initiate the operation of the apparatus, actuating button 21 is urged inwardly of the cabinet, i.e., to the right as seen in Figure 2. Button 21 is extended by a rod 22 from which protrudes a catch member 23 that engages in staple 14 on the door of the cabinet. This movement of rod 22 closes a switch 24, thus initiating the operation of a timer or cycle control device 25 which is arranged to define two successive operating periods. The first period is initiated immediately upon actuation of the apparatus, by power supplied from control device 25 by way of a lead 26 to a first air-supply means 27. Lead 26 also supplies power to a magnetically actuated latch 28, causing a catch member thereof to engage a projection 29 extending from switch-actuating rod 22. This arrangement ensures that rod 22 is retained in a position in which catch member 23 engages staple 14 to prevent opening of the cabinet. Apparatus 27 includes an air blower arranged to discharge a flow of water-saturated air into the cabinet; the means for this purpose are illustrated only schematically as a blower discharging air over the surface of water contained in a trough. The means used in practice may be substantially more complex, but apparatus for producing appropriately wetted and heated air are well known. After saturated air has been introduced into cabinet 10 for a predetermined period, apparatus 27 is de-energized and an apparatus is actuated tc supply air of low water content to the cabinet. The constituents of apparatus 30 are indicated schematicaily as being an air blower and an electrical resistance heater device; again the actual apparatus used may be more complex but is well known. If desired, magnetically operable latch 28 may be arranged to prevent opening of the cabinet during either period of the operating cycle; in this case means, denoted only by broken line 31, are provided to ensure that latch 28 remains actuated when apparatus 30 is operating. CLAIMS:

2. A clothes de-creasing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sequentially operable means comprises first means for producing a stream of water saturated air and directing such stream into the interior of the cabinet, second means for producing a stream of heated air and directing such#stream into the interior of the cabinet, and control means for energizing first the first means and then the second means.

3. A clothes de-creasing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 comprising a closable door, an internal compartment housing said sequentially operable means and permitting access of the high and low water content air to the interior of the remainder of the cabinet, and air vent apertures discharging to the outside of the cabinet.

4. A clothes de-creasing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including means operable in response to operation of said sequentially operable means for locking the door of the cabinet against opening until the cycle of operation of the sequentially operable means has terminated.

5. A clothes de-creasing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.