GB2255106A

GB2255106A - Apparatus for smoothing outer garments

Info

Publication number: GB2255106A
Application number: GB9206293A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reinhold Kempelmann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-04-06
Filing date: 1992-03-23
Publication date: 1992-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 2012-03-23
Also published as: ITMI920818A1; ITMI920818A0; GB9206293D0; FR2674870A1; FR2674870B1; DE4111193C1; GB2255106B; IT1263181B; JPH0596094A

Description

22551 3o 1 Title: APPARATUS FOR SMOOTHING OUTER GARMENTS The invention

relates to an apparatus for smoothing outer garments, especially sports jackets, jackets, coats, blouses or the like by means of steam and hot air, with at least one shaping body (steaming dummy) having a bust for receiving a clothes hanger and an outer garment associated therewith.

Such apparatuses are mainly employed in the clothing industry for smoothing (finishing) outer garments. The outer garment (sports Jacket, jacket, coat, blouse or the like) Is applied over the bust of the shaping body which is preferably in the form of a steaming dummy. Treatment media such as steam and air are then blown into the shaping body In order to finish the outer garment. Therafter, the outer is garments are discharged hanging on a clothes hanger. For this purpose, the clothes hanger Is hung up Inside the shaping body before the outer garment is applied over the shaping body.

An apparatus of this kind in which the shaping body is provided with a slot extending in the region of shoulder supports is known from US-PS 2 679 956. Clothes hangers are inserted Into this slot from above. The slot is very narrow so as to ensure a sufficient support of the outer garments in the region of the shoulder supports. Consequently, only very narrow wire hangers can be used in this known apparatus.

The invention is based on the object to further develop the apparatus in such a way that clothes hangers of any sort of is shape, especially those with shaped wide shoulder bars, can be used for receiving the outer garment without impeding the quality of the treatment.

In order to attain this object, the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the shaping body or the bust is designed to receive the clothes hanger from a rear side. As a result, clothes hangers of any sort of shape and size can be inserted into the bust in their proper position. There is no need for a slot in the region of the shoulder supports which is required in the known apparatuses of this kind. Thus, the surface area of the contact surfaces, especially the shoulder supports, which receive the outer garments is not reduced in a manner which would impede the quality of the treatment.

Expediently, the bust has an opening, especially a recess, which is preferably freely accessible from behind and which serves for receiving at least a part of the clothes hanger. This recess is arranged in the rear side of the shaping body which is to be covered by the back portion of the outer garment. As a result, the recess can be provided with dimensions which are sufficient to receive wide clothes hangers with a main hanger part made from sectionally shaped shoulder bars and a (central) neck part linking these bars. These clothes hangers can be received to such an extent that the back portion of the outer garment can hang down freely and unrestrictedly.

In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, a part of the recess is in the form of a clear space arranged in the shoulder support of the bust. The clear space is expediently located in a rearward lower region of the shoulder support, i.e. in that region where the back portion of the outer garment, which usually hangs down straight, begins. Accordingly, the outer garment is formed according to its proper cut without being affected by the clear space in the shoulder support. A cavity in the bust which is arranged below the shoulder support extends the portion of the recess for receiving the clothes hanger which portion adjoins the clear space in the shoulder support. As a result, the residual space of the recess located below the shoulder support is created in a particularly simple manner and with a sufficient size without any special structural measures.

Accordin recess i ferably f inishin of the garment to a preferred development of the apparatus, the at least partially coverable or closable prefrom the outside. This prevents that, during the clothes hanger projects beyond the rear side bust and thus distorts the rear portion of the outer which is to be finished.

A mainly flat flap may simply be used for covering or closing the recess in the shaping body. As a result of this flap, the back portion of the garment to be treated is supported in accordance with its cut, which increases the finishing quality. This quality can be improved even further if at least the outer side of the flap is provided with a covering or a padding. If required, the padding may be sectionally shaped so as to be better adapted to the cut of the outer garment to be treated.

is In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flap is pivotably articulated in a lower edge portion on a stationary part of the shaping body, especially a frame of the body, preferably about a horizontal axis of rotation.

Thus, an opening which is accessible from above and which is located behind the shoulder supports is formed when the flap is pivoted open. An empty clothes hanger can be inserted through this opening and into the recess and can be discharged from the recess together with the treated outer garment in a slightly tilted manner, that is to say upwards in an inclined manner. At the same time, the outer garment is pulled up off the bust. In this process, the flap which is pivoted open guides the back portion of the outer garment, which is thus slightly moved to the rear so that the clothes hanger can be easily moved out of the recess and be pulled upwards together with the outer garment hanging thereon.

According to a further development of the apparatus, a push out means is arranged in the recess of the shaping bodyor the bust. This push-out means is movable to and fro inside the recess in parallel to the upright longitudinal mid plane of the shaping body. In the retracted state, the push-out means is located in the inner end region of the recess, particularly behind the clothes hanger as viewed from the partially open rear side of the shaping body. in the extended state, the push-out means is located approxi mately at the rear side end of the recess, so that it pushes at least a part of the clothes hanger, especially the main hanger part of the hanger, out of the recess. As a result, the clothes hanger and the finished outer garment hanging thereon can be easily pulled up off the dummy, spe cifically without the sleevehole seams of the outer gar ments catching on the opposite ends of the shoulder support.

is 1 Finally, it is suggested to extend the clear space up into the neck portion of the bust, such that the clear space is freely accessible, i.e. open, from behind in the neck portion as well. An upper hanger part can thus be guided out of the neck portion of the bust which centrally and upwardly extends the shoulder support, such that an upper hook end can freely project from the top of the neck portion. As a result, suitable load lifting means of a conveyor or the like can insert an empty clothes hanger into the recess of the shaping body and, after the treatment of the outer garments, pull the garments off the shaping body together with the clothes hanger. During the treatment, the clothes hanger is supported by a bracket arranged above the neck portion.

A preferred exemplary embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a simplified side view of an upper portion of the apparatus, Fig. 2 is a simplified rear view of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a section III-III of a shoulder support, on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Figs. 1 and 2.

The figures sketchily illustrate an upper part of a shaping body 10 (steaming dummy), particularly a bust 11. Via an upright support column 12, the bust 11 is connected to a base which is not shown. The base may be associated with a hem-holding device which is also not shown. Such a device is for example disclosed in DE-PS 35 31 954. Furthermore, sleeve-tensioning bodies may be arranged in the region of the base. These bodies may for example be designed according to DE-OS 36 17 585.

- 6 In order to be treated, one outer garment at a time, for example a sports Jacket, a jacket, a coat or a blouse, is applied over the bust 11. The shaping body 10 with the bust 11 is moved together with the outer garment into a treat- s ment chamber which is not shown. In this chamber, steam and hot air are applied to the outer garment which is thus smoothed on the bust 11.

is The shaping body 10 comprises a shoulder support 13 and bosom formers 14 which serve to shape the bosom. The shoulder supports 13 and the bosom formers 14 are covered on the outside with a covering 28 made of a (textile) material which is permeable to steam and air. This covering is sketchily illustrated in the figures with dot-dash lines (Figs. 1, 2 and 4).

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the shoulder support 13 is in one piece. It comprises two shoulder sections 15 and 16 which incline in opposed directions and slightly ascend to a (central) neck base 17 which links the shoulder sections 15 and 16 (Figs. 1 and 2). The shoulder support 13 may be solid and be formed from a solid material (Fig. 3) or it may be hollow and be formed from sheet metal or the like.

According to the invention, the shoulder support 13 is provided with a clear space 18. The clear space 18 is located on the rear side 19 of the bust 11 below or partly inside the shoulder support 13. As a result, the rear side 19 of the bust 11 is partly open. The clear space 18 extends over both shoulder sections 15 and 16 and the neck base 17. Accordingly, the clear space 18 comprises three portions 20 and 21 which converge in an approximately star-shaped manner. The portions 20 located in the shoulder sections 15 and 16 are identically designed and extend over a rearward lower corner portion of the shoulder support 13, whereas the portion 21 located in the neck base 17 is designed such that the neck base (in a top plan view) surrounds the clear space 18 in the region of the portion 21 in an approximately U-shaped manner (Fig. 4).

is The dimensions of the clear space 18 are defined such that it approximately corresponds to the depth of the sectionally shaped clothes hanger 22 and accomodates an upper portion of the main hanger part 23 and a lower portion of an upper hanger part 24 of the clothes hanger 22 (Fig. 4). A lower portion of the main hanger part 23 projects into a portion of the bust 11 which is located below the shoulder support 13. This portion of the bust 11 is hollow. Together with the clear space 18 in the shoulder support 13, this portion forms a recess 25 for the complete main hanger part 23 (Figs. 1 and 2). A free end portion of an upper hanger part 24 of the clothes hanger 22, particularly approximately an upper half of its hook end 26 projects through the portion 21 and out of the top of the neck base 17 of the shoulder support 13 (Figs. 1 and 2). In this case, the clothes hanger 22 is supported at the hook end 26 on a bracket 27. This bracket protrudes beyond the top of the neck base 17 and is firmly connected to this neck base or the support column 12 (Fig. 1).

The covering 28 is placed over the bust 11 in such a way that the rear side 19 of the bust remains uncovered in the region of the recess 25. Accordingly, the covering 28 covers the front and is placed over the top of the shoulder supports 13 so as to end in the clear space 18. Free edge portions 29 of the covering 28 terminate at end portions of the clear space which are directed to the rear side 19.

Here, the edge portions 29 are connected to the shoulder support 13 preferably by adhesive bonding (Fig. 3). In this manner it is ensured that the clothes hanger 22 is in sertable into the recess 25 from the rear side 19 by means of a movement which is transversely directed relative to the upright support column 12.

The illustrated apparatus Is provided with a push-out means 40 arranged in the recess 25. This push-out means is located below the shoulder support 13 and partially projects into the portions 20 of the clear space 18 at the bottom side of the shoulder support 13 (Fig. 1).

is The push-out means 40 comprises two push-out members 41. The push-out members 41 are both in the form of angular plates which are assigned (mirror-invertedly) at opposite end portions to the shoulder sections 15 and 16 of the shoulder support 13. A larger (flat) surface 42 of each push-out member 41 has an approximately triangular design with an acute-angled end pointing to the bottom (Fig. 2), i.e. to the base of shaping body 10 which base is not shown. A small surface 43 of each push-out member 41 which adjoins the larger surface 42 and is bent at an angle relative thereto laterally projects from the recess 25 and partly extends around the end walls of the shoulder support 13 (Fig. 4).

Each push-out member 41 is movably linked via a parallelogram guide rod mechanism 44 comprising two parallel guide rods 45 to a supporting arm 46 which is fixedly arranged below the shoulder support 13. The parallelogram guide rod mechanism 44 guides the push-out members 41 in such a way that they are movable to and fro in the recess 25 always in a vertically directed manner, so that they are movable to and fro in parallel to the upright support column 12. For this purpose, each push-out member 41 is connected to the associated supporting arm 46 below the shoulder support 13 with a conveying means, particularly a pressure medium cylinder 27 (Fig. 3).

In the retracted position of the push-out means 40, push-out members 41 are located in the end portion of recess 25 which is directed towards the support column In this position, the pressure medium cylinders 27 are retracted. Upper end portions of the push-out members 41 are the the 12.

then located in the clear space 18 in the shoulder support 13 (Fig. 3). In the extended position of the push-out means 40, the push-out members 41 are located at the outer end of the recess 25, so that the outer sides of the larger surfaces 42 of the push-out members 41 are approximately flush with the rear side 19 of the bust 11 (dot-dash lines in Fig. 3). In this position, the pressure medium cylinders 47 are extended.

A portion of the recess 25 is closable from the rear side 19 of the bust 11 by means of a flap 30. At the lower edge of its essentially flat surface area 31, the flap 30 has a leg 32 which extends approximately at right angles to the surface area and is directed towards the support column 12.

is At the free end of the leg 32 there is a hinge 33 with which the flap 30 is pivotably articulated on the shaping body 10, particularly its support column 12, about a horizontal axis of rotation 34 (Fig. 1). Below the leg 32 there is a stop lug 35 which is firmly connected to the support column 12. This stop lug comprises a stop face 36 which is inclined in such a way that the leg 32 rests against this face when the flap 30 is open in order to delimit the aperture angle of the open flap 30 (see dotdash lines in Fig. 1). The upper end portion of the surface area 31 of the flap 30 is curved towards the shoulder support 13, such that the curve of the flap 30 extends approximately parallel to the rear curve of the shoulder support 13. The dimensions of the surface area 31 of the flap 30 are defined such that opposite corner portions 37 of this area overlap sections of the shoulder support 13 which are located above the clear space 18 so as to form a stop for the closed flap 30 on the shoulder support 13 (Fig. 1). The width of the flap 30 is defined such that it only covers a central portion of the recess 25 at the rear side 19 of the bust 11 and only covers a central portion of the clothes hanger 22 (Fig. 2).

I Just like the bust 11, the whole rear side of the flap 30 is provided with a covering 38. If required, the covering may be padded so that the outer side of the flap 30 receives a profile which corresponds to the cut of the outer garment.

The flap 30 is closed by means of the outer garment which is to be applied over the bust 11 after the clothes hanger 22 has been inserted into the recess 25 and the hook end 22 has been suspended from the bracket 27. In this process, the push-out means 40 is in the retracted position as illustrated in Fig. 3, so that opposite corner portions of the main hanger part 23 (as viewed from the rear side 19 of the bust 11) are located in front of the push-out members 41 is (Figs. 1 and 3). The flap 30 is automatically opened by the angular leg 32 under gravity. As a result, an upwardly free opening 39 is formed behind the shoulder support 13. By means of a transverse movement of the push-out members 41 of the push-out means 40 into the position indicated by dot-dash lines in Fig. 3, the clothes hanger 22 is moved out of the recess 25 and at the same time takes along the back portion of the outer garment. Thus, the main hanger part 23 is moved behind the contour of the shoulder support 13. Subsequently, the clothes hanger 22 and the finished outer garment hanging thereon can be pulled up out of the bust 11 through the opening 39, i.e. off the bust 11, particularly without being able to get caught on the ends of the shoulder supports 13 or the clear space 18 of the bust 11.

For an adaptation to the shape of especially the female body, the bosom formers 14 may be adjustable, particularly in three dimensions by means of an adjusting gear as it is known for example from German Utility Model 90 03 467. It would also be possible to adjust the shoulder support 13 preferably by adjusting the bosom formers 14. For this purpose, the illustrated single- piece shoulder support 13 may for example be moved up and down along the support column - 11 12. Altnernatively, it would be possible to form the shoulder support 13 from several parts, so that the shoulder sections 15 and 16 can change their inclination in opposed directions. This may also be attained by an adjusting gear which is known from German Utility Model 90 03 467.

is 1 1 is

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for smoothing outer garments, especially sports Jackets, jackets. coats, blouses or the like by means of steam and hot air, with at least one shaping body (steaming dummy) having a bust for receiving a clothes hanger and an outer garment associated therewith, characterized in that the shaping body (10) or the bust (11) is designed to receive the clothes hanger (22) from a rear side (19).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bust (11) has an opening, especially a recess (25), which is preferably freely accessible from behind for receiving at least a part of the clothes hanger (22).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a part of the recess (25) is arranged below a shoulder support (13).

4. The apparatus according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a part of the recess (25) is designed as a clear space (18) in the shoulder support (13) of the shaping body (10) or the bust (11).

The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the clear space (18) in the rear side (19) of the shoulder support (13) also extends over a neck base (17) formed on the shoulder support (13) and serves for receiving an upper portion of the main hanger part (23) and a lower portion of an upper hanger part (24) of the clothes hanger (22).

6. The apparatus according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, wherein the recess (25) is at leastpartially coverable or closable preferably from outside.

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7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recess (25) is closable or coverable by a flap (30).

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the flap (30) is pivotable about a horizontal axis of rotation(34) assigned to a lower edge of the flap, preferably in such a way that the flap automatically opens.

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9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the flap (30) is connected with the axis of rotation (34) to a portion of a support column (12) supporting the bust (11), which portion is located below the shoulder support (13).

10. The apparatus according to one or more of claims 7 to 9, wherein, in the closed state, the flap (30) rests from behind at least against a portion of the shoulder support (13) which is located above the clear space (18), preferably in such a way that opposite upper corner portions (37) of the flap (30) overlap corresponding portions of the shoulder support (13).

11. The apparatus according to one or more of claims 7 to 10, wherein the pivoting path of the flap (30)is delimited.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the flap (30) comprises a leg (32) at a lower region whichleg is bent relative to a surface area (31) of the flap (30) in such a way that in the open position of the flap (30) the leg rests against a stop face (36) of a stop lug (35) which is preferably firmly attached to the support column (12).

13. The apparatus according to one or more of claims 1 to 12, wherein a push-out means (40) for moving at least a part of the clothes hanger (22) out of the recess (25) is arranged In the shaping body (10) or in the bust (11).

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14 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the push-out means (40) comprises two push-out members (41) arranged below the shoulder support (13) In the recess (25).

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the push-out members (41) are simultaneously displaceable in parallel to the upright rear side (19) of the shaping body (10), such that they are movable alternatively into an inner and outer end portion of the recess (25).

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, wherein each push-out members (41) is movable by one actuating means, especially a pressure medium cylinder (47).

17. The apparatus according to one or more of claims 14 to 16, wherein each push-out member (41) is guided by a parallelogram guide rod mechanism (44) which is connected to the shaping body (10), especially to the shoulder support (13), such that each push-out member (41) retains its approximately upright position when it is moved forwards and backwards.

18. The apparatus according to one or wore of claims 1 to 17, wherein, especially In the region of the neck base (17) on the shoulder support (13), the clear space (18) is designed in such a way that part of an upper hanger part (14) of the clothes hanger (22), preferably a hook end (26) of the upper hanger part (24), projects from the top of the neck base (17).

19. The apparatus according to one or more of claims 1 to 18, wherein a bracket (27) for receiving the hook end (26) of the clothes hanger (22) is arranged above the clear space (18) which opens out into the neck base (17), and is especially firmly connected to the shoulder support (13) or the support column (12).

20. The apparatus according to one or more of claims 7 to 19, wherein the flap (30) is provided with a covering (38) and/or padding at least on its outer side.

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21. The apparatus according to one or more of claims 1 to 20, wherein the bust (11) is provided with a covering (28) and/or a padding which terminates on the rear side (19) of the bust (11) at or in the recess (18).

22. An apparatus for smoothing outer garments substan- tially as described herein with reference to the drawings.