US2191914A - Fabric cleanser - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7, 1940- c. B. PREACHER 2, 9 .9

FABRIC CLEANSER Filed Dec. 16, 1937- M Q5441, w 9 5.

Patented Feb.- 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FABRIC CLEAN SEE Charles B. Preacher, Sumter, S. O. ApplicationDecember 16, 1937, Serial No. 180,127

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a fabric cleanser and has more particular reference to a device for cleaning clothes or other fabrics wherein a cleaning fluid is caused by heat treatment to circulate' 6 from a heating chamber, through the clothes or fabrics to be cleaned, and back into the heating chamber.

7 An object of the invention is the provision of a novel and an improved fabric cleanser.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a generally simplified fabric cleanser wherein the cleaning fluid due to expansion by heat treatment is discharged'with considerable force against the fabric to be cleaned and is caused to percolate through the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a cleanser wherein agitation of the fabric to be cleaned is not only unnecessary but wherein -the fabric is held in such a position that it effectively separates without sealing the cleanin fluid in the heating chamber from the cleaning fluid discharged therefrom whereby efficient circulation is obtained for cleaning the fabric.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a cleanser having adjustable fabric holding means for adapting it to accommodate various amounts of fabrics to be cleaned.

Other objects of the invention include the novel combinations and arrangements of parts as herein disclosed in connection with an embodiment exemplifying the invention and as set forth in the appended claims. I

In the accompanying one sheet of drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates an upright cross section through a fabric cleanser embodying the features of the invention with parts broken away or otherwise removed for the sake of clarity and with a suitable source of heat shown more or less diagrammatically;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary upright cross section through the cleanser shown in Fig..1 but taken substantially at ninety degrees therefrom to illustrate the adjustable feature of the fabric holding means; and 45 Fig. 3 is a plan view of the embodiment of the fabric cleanser chosen to illustrate the features of the invention. v

Illustrative of a fabric cleanser for accomplishing the objects of the invention, the drawing shows a container ll of'any suitable shape and construction having a bottom l2, upstanding side walls l3 and an open upper end I5. A heating chamber I8 is provided in the lower end of the container II with means for supporting articles ll of clothing or other fabrics to be cleaned in spaced relation from the bottom H of the container.

The supporting means just mentioned as illustrated. in Fig. l is constructed of a hollow tubular member l8 receivable within the container ll, resting on the bottom I2 adjacent the side walls l3 and having suitably secured on its upper end above and spaced from the bottom l2 a screen or other perforate member [9 of sufficient strength to support the articles I'I above 10 the chamber l6 and of suflicient porosity as not to interfere with the circulation of the cleaning fluid. The supporting means just described is suitably secured as by', for example, soldering or brazing in place in the lower end of the container and cooperates with adjustable clothes or fabric holding means for so holding various kinds ofclothes or-fabrics above the chamber l6 that the clothes or fabrics while effectively separating without sealing the cleaning fluid in the chamber it from cleaning fluid on the clothes or fabrics ll will nevertheless permit the fluid to percolate downwardly into the heating chamber l6.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a suitable adjustable clothes holding means is fabricated by securing a hollow tubular member 2i carrying across its lower end a screen or other member 22 like the member H! to the lower ends of.depending arms 23'which are integral at their respective upper ends with a connecting member 24 which is useful as a handle in positioning the adjustable fabric holding means in cooperative relationship with the fabrics to be cleaned in the container II. The arms-23 and the connecting member 24 constitute a substantially inverted U- shaped member which carries the member 22 for engaging on the clothes or fabrics I'I in the container II and for pressing the clothes or fabrics against the member I9 whereby they are squeezed v laterally outwardly into close engagement with the side walls 13 of the container.

The depending arms 23 are provided with a plurality of respectively aligned apertures 25 which are spaced longitudinally of each arm and which cooperate with aligned apertures. 26 in lugs 46 or ears 2'! at the upper ends of diametrically opposite sides of the container and a retainin orl or pin 28 adapted to be inserted through the apertures 26 and any pair of aligned apertures 25 in the arms 23 for adjustably securing the adjustable clothes or fabric holding means in adjusted position.

For conducting the cleaning fluid expanded by the heat from the source shown diagrammatically at 29 in Fig. 1 from-the chamber l6 and face of the fabrics to be cleaned. 65

directing it over and against the upper surface of the compressed clothes or fabrics II in the container II, a tube or other suitable conduit 3I is secured at one end in an aperture 32 in the lower end of a side wall I3 and aligned with an wardly at the upper end of the container I I and.

is provided at its upper end with a downwardly directed nozzle or outlet member 34 adapted to direct the expanded fluid on and over the upper surface of the clothes or fabrics H as shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3.

In operation, the clothes or fabrics to be cleaned are arranged in the container II on the screen member I9. By tilting the tubular member 2I and the screen member 22 to cause it to clear the outlet member 34, the adjustable fabric holding means may be inserted in the open upper end of the container II and moved therein to' bring the screen member 22 into engagement with the upper surface of the clothes or fabrics to be cleaned. By means of the member 25, the fabric holding means is then mav mipulated for gently compressing the fabrics between the screen members I9 and 22 and squeezing or spreadingmhem outwardly against the upright walls I3 of the container II whereupon the retaining rod 28 is inserted through the aperture 26 in one of the lugs 21 and moved transversely over the top of the container through a pair of the aligned apertures 25 in the arms 23 and the aperture 28, in the other lug 21 for removably retaining the fabric holding means in its adjusted position, the particular pair of aligned apertures 25 depending upon the amount of clothes in the container II.

There are many well known cleaning fluids which are available and suitable for use in the novel fabric cleanser of the inventionL For example, I may start with saponified water which may be introduced into the container before or after the clothes or fabrics have been arranged therein as just described above and, by applying heat from the source 29, cause the expansion and consequent circulation of the cleaning fluid from the chamber I6, upwardly through the conduit 3|, downwardly out of the outlet member, on the upper surface of the fabrics, through the fabrics and back into the chamber I6. The preferred procedure, however, is to supplysubstantially boiling saponified water to the container H after the fabrics have been arranged therein as already described and thus expedite the above described circulatory action for cleaning the fabrics. .I have observed that where the substantially, boiling water is supplied to the container after the fabrics have.

been arranged therein, the circulation begins almost immediately and water or vapor is sprayed through the outlet member 34 on the upper sur- It will be noted that the fabrics themselves are employed to resist the upward force of expansion, Within the container I I so that the force resulting from the expansion of the fluid in the chamber I6 causes the fluid to flow through the conduit 3| and the outlet member'34 and to impinge with considerable force against the upper surface of the fabrics. As the fluid is thus displaced from the chamber I6, it is replenished by fluid which has'been filtered, percolated or otherwiseforced through the fabrics whereby the fabrics are effectively cleaned. Thus, with novel and inexpensive apparatus, clothes or other fabrics are effectively and quickly cleansed and due to the temperatures where saponifled water is employed in the apparatus, the fabrics are likewise sterilized.

While I'have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limitedto the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A fabric cleaning device comprising a cylindrical container having a closed bottom and at opposite sides thereof of a length substan-' tially equal to the height of the side walls of said container, said operating arms having a horizontal handle portion connecting their outer ends outside of said container and each having between its inner and outer ends a vertical series of apertures respectively aligned with the apertures in the other to provide a plurality of pairs of apertures in said operating arms, each pair of apertures being arranged to register with the aligned apertures in the upwardly extending side wall portions of said container, a rod of greater length than the diameter of the container extending through the apertures in the side wall portions of said container and any pair of aligned apertures in said operating arms whereby to fix said compression member adjustably in said container relative to the closed and open ends thereof, and a fluid conducting conduit extending exteriorly of said container and at one end of said conduit communicating with the pressure chamber and at the other end of said cone duit communicating with the open end of said container whereby a circulation of a cleaning fluid may be maintained from said pressure chamber into the upper portion of said container for circulation downwardly therethrough.

2. A fabric cleaning device comprising a container having side walls, an open top and a closed bottom, said side walls including oppositely disposed portions extending above said open top and having aligned apertures therein, a fabric supporting perforate screen in 'said container, means for spacing said screen from the closed bottom of said container to provide a boiling and pressure chamber between said screen and said closed bottom, a fabric compressing perforate screen freely slidable within said container to press fabrics to be cleaned against said fabric supporting screen, a pair of vertical screen supporting arms atopposite sides of said fabric compressing screen and extending outside of said container through the open top thereof, said screen supporting arms. having a horizontal handle member connecting their outer ends outside 01' said container and each said screen supporting arm between its outer and inner ends being provided with a vertical series of apertures horizontally aligned with those in the other screen supporting arm respectively to provide a plurality of pairs of horizontally aligned apertures in said arms, a rod of greater length than the diameter of said container rem'ovably insertable through the aligned apertures in said side wall portions and any pair of aligned apertures in said screen supporting arms for releasably and adjustably securing said fabric compressing screen within said container relative to the closed and open ends thereof, and a fluid conducting conduit communicating at one end with the pressure chamber, extending therefrom exteriortion of said container, said fluid conducting conduit having outlet means at its upper end for spraying the circulating cleaning fluid downwardly against the upper surface of the fabrics to be cleaned for circulation downwardly therethrough.

CHARLES B. PREACHER.

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