GB2321954A - Garment drying method and apparatus - Google Patents

Garment drying method and apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2321954A
GB2321954A GB9802846A GB9802846A GB2321954A GB 2321954 A GB2321954 A GB 2321954A GB 9802846 A GB9802846 A GB 9802846A GB 9802846 A GB9802846 A GB 9802846A GB 2321954 A GB2321954 A GB 2321954A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
garment
shaping
drying
holding
shoulder region
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9802846A
Other versions
GB9802846D0 (en
Inventor
John Lambert Hindle
Edward George Hirst
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
DUCKER TECHNOLOGY Ltd
JLA Ltd
Original Assignee
DUCKER TECHNOLOGY Ltd
JLA Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by DUCKER TECHNOLOGY Ltd, JLA Ltd filed Critical DUCKER TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Publication of GB9802846D0 publication Critical patent/GB9802846D0/en
Publication of GB2321954A publication Critical patent/GB2321954A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F73/00Apparatus for smoothing or removing creases from garments or other textile articles by formers, cores, stretchers, or internal frames, with the application of heat or steam 
    • D06F73/02Apparatus for smoothing or removing creases from garments or other textile articles by formers, cores, stretchers, or internal frames, with the application of heat or steam  having one or more treatment chambers

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention aims to improve the drying of garments and cutting down the 'finishing" time substantially. Accordingly, the present invention provides apparatus for drying a garment, the apparatus including: a static dryer including a cabinet into which in use hot air and/or steam is feedable to accelerate the drying and/or finishing process, and means (1) for holding shaping and/or stretching the garment on which the garment is arrangable to maintain the proper shape of the garment whilst it is being dried inside the cabinet. By using the means 1 for holding and shaping the garment, garment shrinkage due to fabric relaxation during the drying process is reduced or prevented and the duration of any finishing process required is reduced substantially.

Description

GARMENT DRYING METHOD AND APPARATUS This invention relates to a method and apparatus for drying a garment, for example and in particular, after the garment has been wet cleaned.
In the past, at a professional cleaners, garments are usually dry cleaned, as wet cleaning may result in the fabric being damaged or misshaped, particularly during the drying process. Typically dry cleaning involves the use of solvents such as percoethylene, the use of which is tightly regulated. This results in the problem that expensive apparatus is required to comply with safety standards regarding the use of the solvents.
As an alternative to dry cleaning, it is of course known to wet clean a garment, after which the garment may be dried eg by using a tumble drier. However if a garment (which would normally be dry cleaned) is wet cleaned, problems often arise in the drying stage as the garment fabric may alter resulting in the garment being misshapen or shrunk. For this reason, the wet cleaning of "dry-clean-only" garments is typically not thought to be appropriate.
In the case of wet cleaning, after drying the garment may undergo a finishing stage, part of which may involve reshaping the garment to rectify any fabric relaxation which has occurred during the drying stage.
It is known to use a "tailors' dummy"-type mannequin as part of the finishing process. However such an item is not used while the garment is being dried.
The problem with this finishing stage is that it is time consuming, labour intensive and therefore expensive. In addition errors may be made in reshaping a garment because this reshaping is effected after shrinking or "relaxation" has occurred and when it is difficult to judge what the original and proper shape of the garment should be. When this happens the garment may require washing and reshaping again.
The present invention aims to alleviate some or all of the above problems, thereby improving the drying of garments and cutting down the "finishing" time substantially.
Accordingly in a first aspect, the present invention provides apparatus for drying a garment, the apparatus including: a static dryer having a cabinet into which in use hot air and/or steam is feedable to accelerate the drying and/or finishing process, and forming means for holding and shaping the garment on which the garment is arrangable to maintain the proper shape of the garment whilst it is being dried inside the cabinet.
By using the means for holding and shaping the garment, garment shrinkage due to fabric relaxation during the drying process is reduced or prevented and the duration of any finishing process required is reduced substantially.
Preferably the means for holding and shaping the garment includes either or both of the following: (a) support means for supporting the forming means in the drying cabinet; and/or (b) shaping means for shaping the garment, the shaping means being adjustable so as to bias all or part of the garment into its normal shape. The garment may be an upper body garment eg a coat, jacket, shirt, blouse etc.
Preferably the shaping means includes any or all of the following: (i) means for shaping a shoulder region of the garment; (ii) means for shaping a body portion of the garment lying beneath a sleeve/arm hole; (iii) means for maintaining the correct length of the garment; (iv) means for shaping garment sleeves or cuffs; and/or (v) at least one adjustable shoulder support for biasing in use an upper sleeve region of the garment away from a shoulder region.
Such an apparatus may be adjusted to shape many different types and sizes of garments, especially jackets and coats.
Preferably the support means includes a hook. By providing a hook the holding and shaping means can hang on e.g. a rail along with other garments in the drying cabinet, and/or before and/or after the drying process.
Preferably the means for shaping the shoulder region of the garment includes a yoke shaped so as to fully support the shoulder and neck region of the garment.
Preferably the means for shaping the portion of the garment lying beneath the sleeves/arm holes includes one or more body elements located below the means for shaping the shoulder region, each body element being movable in use so as to bear down against the body of the garment. The body shaping elements of the first aspect of the present invention are preferably biased to bear against the body of the garment. Preferably the apparatus includes locking means for fixing the body shaping elements in position.
Preferably the means for maintaining the length of the garment includes gripping means for gripping the garment, the gripping means being movable relative to the means for shaping the shoulder region. Preferably the gripping means includes at least one clamp for gripping a lower portion e.g. a lower hem of the garment.
In a preferred embodiment each adjustable shoulder support is substantially hemispherical in shape and is mounted on the end of a member which extends from the means for shaping the shoulder region of the garment.
Preferably the dryer incorporates a fan to feed hot air and/or steam into the dryer to facilitate the drying and/or shaping of a garment during the drying process.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of drying a garment which includes the steps of: (i) fixing the garment in position so to maintain its proper shape, and (ii) drying the garment inside a drying cabinet into which in use hot air and/or steam is feedable to accelerate the drying and/or finishing process.
Preferably, the step of drying the garment in position includes arranging the garment on a means for holding and shaping the garment.
In addition the method preferably includes any or all of the following: (i) shaping the garment shoulder region; (ii) shaping the portion of the garment body lying beneath the arms; (iii) maintaining the garment length; and/or (iv) shaping the garment sleeves.
In addition the step of shaping the portion of the garment body lying beneath the arms may include adjusting one or more expanding side stretchers.
Preferably the step of maintaining garment length includes clamping a lower portion e.g. hem of the garment in one or more bottom clamps and stretching the garment lengthwise.
In a third aspect, the present invention provides means for holding and shaping a garment as described above.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a garment hanger according to an aspect of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of a garment hanger showing the approximate position of a garment arranged on the hanger; Fig. 3 is a side view of the garment hanger of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a front view of a drying cabinet; Fig. 5 is a rear view of the drying cabinet of Fig. 5; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the dryer of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a side view of the dryer of Fig. 5 and also includes a trolley for supporting garment hangers in the dryer; Figure 8 is a front view of a second embodiment of a garment hanger according to the present invention; Figure 9 is schematic view of the garment hanger of Figure 8 showing retraction and expansion of the hanger.
A practical embodiment of an apparatus for holding and shaping a garment is illustrated in Fig. 1. The apparatus 1 (generally called a garment hanger or former) comprises a yoke or upper shaping member 2 for shaping the shoulder region of the garment attached to which are adjustable shoulder supports 4 and 6. The adjustable shoulder supports are substantially hemispherical in shape and are mounted on the end of elongate members 8 and 10 which extend from opposite sides of the upper shaping member 2.
A frame member 12 extends from the base of the yoke 2 and attached to this, at approximately its midpoint, is a pair expanding side stretchers 14 and 16, one being mounted on either side of the frame 12.
The side stretcher 14 is linked to the frame 12 by a pair of arms 18 and 20 and, likewise side stretcher 16 is linked by arms 22 and 24. The upper arms 18 and 22 are each pivotally linked at one end to the upper end of a respective side stretcher 26 and 28 and, at their other end, to the frame at point B. The lower arms 20 and 24 of each pair are pivotally linked at one end to a respective stretcher and at the other to a fixed bracket 30 on the frame 12 such that each lies just below and substantially parallel to its respective upper arm.
Attached to each of the upper arms is an end of a respective spring 32 and 34, the other end of which is attached to the frame. Approximately one third along the length of each of the upper arms, from where they are attached to the frame, a second pair of short arms 15 and 16 is pivotally attached. The other end of each of these short arms is attached to a pivot pin 17 which is restricted to move in one direction along the frame by a second bracket 18 attached to the frame.
The arms are arranged such that when the side stretchers 4 and 5 are extended fully in a first position away from the frame, the arms 18, 20, 22, 24 lie approximately horizontally and when the side stretchers are pulled in to a second position to lie close to the frame the arms lie in a more upright position, as shown in Fig. 1. The biasing means (springs 32, 34) bias the arms to the first Position, which in use stretches the sides of the garment on the hanger.
The pivot pin 17 is also attached to a bracket 19 which can move along the frame and this bracket 19 can be fixed in position via a locking nut 20. To extend the side stretchers is very simple: the locking nut is removed and the action of the spring forces the side stretchers to extend.
At the base of the frame are a pair of clamps 21 and 22, which are used to clamp e.g. the hem of a garment and which can be moved along the frame by means of a adjustable stretcher 23. At the top of the former is a hanging hook 24 supporting the apparatus.
Figure 2 shows how a garment 30 would be arranged on the former of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the garment hanger of Fig. 1, showing more clearly the position and construction of the bottom clamps 21 and 22 in the closed position.
Each clamp comprises two elements 35 and 36 which are linked pivotally about a pivot pin 30 located approximately midway along the elements' lengths. In the closed position as shown, the upper end of the elements on one side of the pivot pin are closed together, and the bottom elements on the other side of the pivot pin are separate. To open the clamps the lower ends are pushed together, thereby causing the upper ends to pivot about the pivot pin in opposite directions and effecting separation of the upper ends.
In use, the clamp 21,22 may be moved along a stem 33 to adjust the position of the clamps relative to the yoke 2, thereby maintaining the length of a garment on the hanger.
Figs. 4-7 show one embodiment of a dryer 50. Fig. 7 shows a side view of the dryer, which comprises a cabinet 52 with a door 70. On the flat section 58 of the roof 54 a main fan 60 is mounted and on the angled section 56 of the base 55 an extraction fan 62 and gas burner 64 are mounted. Fig. 7 also shows a trolley 72 on which one or more garment hangers may be supported when inside the dryer.
In use, garments are loaded on to a number of respective garment hangers which are then loaded on to a trolley 72. The trolley 72 is wheeled into the dryer 50 and the door 70 of the dryer 50 is closed. The gas burner 64 provides heat to the dryer 50 and steam is supplied into the dryer via the main fan 60. The steam is then extracted from the dryer using the extraction fan 62. Supplying steam via the fan 60 ensures that the steam is introduced into the dryer cabinet without being directed straight onto the garments.
Figs. 5 and 6 are a back view and a top view respectively of the dryer which show more clearly the position of the main fan 60 the extraction fan 62 and the gas burner 64 on the cabinet from different views.
Figure 8 shows a garment hanger according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The hanger includes a small yoke or upper shaping member 80 mounted at the upper end of a frame 81. The side stretches 82,83 are each mounted on a pair of arms 84,85. Each arm 85 is pivotally connected to a respective third arm 86 and each pair of arms 84,86 are pivotally connected together in the region of their mid-points.
The end of each arm 86 not connected to the arms 85 is pivotally mounted on the frame 81. The end of each arm 84 which is not connected to the side members 82,83 is slidably and pivotally mounted to the frame 81 thereat point 87. The ends of arms 84 connected to the frame 81 may slide up and down the frame, thereby allowing side stretches 82,83 to move in and out with respect to each other and the frame 81.
The attachment at point 87 may be biased such that the side stretches 82,83 are biased to their retracted position. Furthermore, there may be some form of locking means, e.g. a locking nut at point 87 (or elsewhere) to fix side stretches 82,83 in a desired position e.g. fully or partially extended.
Figure 9 schematically shows how arms 84, 85 and 86 operate in order to permit the side stretches 82,83 to retract and extend.
The above embodiments of the present invention have been described by way of example only and various alternative features or modifications from what has been specifically described and illustrated can be made within the scope of the invention, as-will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art.

Claims (20)

CLAIMS:
1. Apparatus for drying a garment, the apparatus including: a static dryer having a cabinet into which in use hot air and/or steam is feedable to accelerate the drying and/or finishing process, and forming means for holding and shaping the garment on which the garment is arrangable to maintain the proper shape of the garment whilst it is being dried inside the cabinet.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for holding and shaping the garment includes support means for supporting the forming means in the drying cabinet.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the means for holding and shaping the garment includes shaping means for shaping the garment, the shaping means being adjustable so as to bias all or part of the garment into its normal shape.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the shaping means includes any or all of the following: (i) means for shaping a shoulder region of the garment; (ii) means for shaping a body portion of the garment lying beneath a sleeve/arm hole; (iii) means for maintaining the correct length of the garment; (iv) means for shaping garment sleeves or cuffs; and/or (v) at least one adjustable shoulder support for biasing in use an upper sleeve region of the garment away from a shoulder region.
5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the support means includes a hook.
6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the means for shaping the shoulder region of the garment includes a yoke shaped so as to fully support the shoulder and neck region of the garment.
7. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the means for shaping the portion of the garment lying beneath the sleeves/arm holes includes one or more body elements located below the means for shaping the shoulder region, each body element being movable in use so as to bear down against the body of the garment.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the body shaping elements are biased to bear in use against the body of the garment.
9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the apparatus includes locking means for fixing the body shaping elements in position.
10. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the means for maintaining the length of the garment includes gripping means for gripping the garment, the gripping means being movable relative to the means for shaping the shoulder region.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the gripping means includes at least one clamp for gripping a lower portion of the garment.
12. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each adjustable shoulder support is substantially hemispherical in shape and is mounted on the end of a member which extends from the means for shaping the shoulder region of the garment.
13. A method of drying a garment which includes the steps of: (i) fixing the garment in position so to maintain its proper shape, and (ii) drying the garment inside a drying cabinet into which in use hot air and/or steam is feedable to accelerate the drying and/or finishing process.
14. A method according to claim 13 wherein, the step of drying the garment in position includes arranging the garment on a means for holding and shaping the garment.
15. A method according to claim 13 or claim 14 including any or all of the following: (i) shaping the garment shoulder region; (ii) shaping the portion of the garment body lying beneath the arms; (iii) maintaining the garment length; and/or (iv) shaping the garment sleeves.
16. A method according to claim 15 wherein in addition the step of shaping the portion of the garment body lying beneath the arms includes adjusting one or more expanding side stretchers.
17. A method according to claim 15 wherein the step of maintaining garment length includes clamping a lower portion of the garment in one or more bottom clamps and stretching the garment lengthwise.
18. Means for holding and shaping a garment as included in any one of claims 1-13.
19. Apparatus for drying a garment substantially as any one embodiment herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
20. A method of drying a garment substantially as any one embodiment herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9802846A 1997-02-10 1998-02-10 Garment drying method and apparatus Withdrawn GB2321954A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9702643.9A GB9702643D0 (en) 1997-02-10 1997-02-10 Garment drying method and apparatus

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9802846D0 GB9802846D0 (en) 1998-04-08
GB2321954A true GB2321954A (en) 1998-08-12

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GB9802846A Withdrawn GB2321954A (en) 1997-02-10 1998-02-10 Garment drying method and apparatus

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GBGB9702643.9A Pending GB9702643D0 (en) 1997-02-10 1997-02-10 Garment drying method and apparatus

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Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2178538A1 (en) * 2000-03-13 2002-12-16 Fagor S Coop Clothes drying and dewrinkling cabinet
US6910292B2 (en) 2003-02-06 2005-06-28 Maytag Corporation Clothes drying cabinet with improved air distribution
US6928745B2 (en) 2003-07-25 2005-08-16 Maytag Corporation Clothes dryer with control panel seal
US6928752B2 (en) 2003-04-04 2005-08-16 Maytag Corporation Combination tumble and cabinet dryer
US8407914B2 (en) 2009-06-01 2013-04-02 The Procter & Gamble Company Passive heat management system
US8484867B2 (en) 2009-06-01 2013-07-16 The Procter & Gamble Company Fabric refreshing cabinet device for increasing flexural rigidity
US8783070B2 (en) 2009-03-27 2014-07-22 The Procter & Gamble Company Fluid dispensing system for fabric refreshing cabinet device
US8931667B2 (en) 2008-09-24 2015-01-13 The Procter & Gamble Company Methods and apparatuses for dispensing fluids
US9410281B2 (en) 2009-05-01 2016-08-09 Whirlpool Corporation Fabric treating systems and accessories
US10208424B2 (en) 2009-06-01 2019-02-19 Whirlpool Corporation Fabric refreshing cabinet device
EP3666961A1 (en) * 2018-12-12 2020-06-17 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Device with integrated laundry treatment functionality, support for such a device and method for use of such a device

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR102103510B1 (en) * 2019-01-08 2020-04-23 (주)볼드전자 Hanger for iron

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB409114A (en) * 1932-12-30 1934-04-26 Howard Addison Johnston Improvements in garment stretchers
GB1236908A (en) * 1968-03-02 1971-06-23 Anneliese Witzke Device for retaining the shape of garments during drying
GB1263951A (en) * 1968-03-15 1972-02-16 Unipress Company Inc Double buck garment drying apparatus
GB1414041A (en) * 1973-03-06 1975-11-12 Parlour N S Apparatus for treating laundry articles

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB409114A (en) * 1932-12-30 1934-04-26 Howard Addison Johnston Improvements in garment stretchers
GB1236908A (en) * 1968-03-02 1971-06-23 Anneliese Witzke Device for retaining the shape of garments during drying
GB1263951A (en) * 1968-03-15 1972-02-16 Unipress Company Inc Double buck garment drying apparatus
GB1414041A (en) * 1973-03-06 1975-11-12 Parlour N S Apparatus for treating laundry articles

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2178538A1 (en) * 2000-03-13 2002-12-16 Fagor S Coop Clothes drying and dewrinkling cabinet
US6910292B2 (en) 2003-02-06 2005-06-28 Maytag Corporation Clothes drying cabinet with improved air distribution
US6928752B2 (en) 2003-04-04 2005-08-16 Maytag Corporation Combination tumble and cabinet dryer
US6928745B2 (en) 2003-07-25 2005-08-16 Maytag Corporation Clothes dryer with control panel seal
US8931667B2 (en) 2008-09-24 2015-01-13 The Procter & Gamble Company Methods and apparatuses for dispensing fluids
US8783070B2 (en) 2009-03-27 2014-07-22 The Procter & Gamble Company Fluid dispensing system for fabric refreshing cabinet device
US9410281B2 (en) 2009-05-01 2016-08-09 Whirlpool Corporation Fabric treating systems and accessories
US10420435B2 (en) 2009-05-01 2019-09-24 Whirlpool Corporation Fabric treating systems and accessories
US10426284B2 (en) 2009-05-01 2019-10-01 Whirlpool Corporation Fabric treating systems and accessories
US8484867B2 (en) 2009-06-01 2013-07-16 The Procter & Gamble Company Fabric refreshing cabinet device for increasing flexural rigidity
US8407914B2 (en) 2009-06-01 2013-04-02 The Procter & Gamble Company Passive heat management system
US10208424B2 (en) 2009-06-01 2019-02-19 Whirlpool Corporation Fabric refreshing cabinet device
EP3666961A1 (en) * 2018-12-12 2020-06-17 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Device with integrated laundry treatment functionality, support for such a device and method for use of such a device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9702643D0 (en) 1997-04-02
GB9802846D0 (en) 1998-04-08

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