US2243061A - Creasing device - Google Patents

Description

May 20, 1941. J. L. LAMIA GREASING DEVICE F iled Oct. 28, 1959 INVENTOR josepiz 1:. Lama M ATTOR Y Patented May 20, 1941 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE CREASIN G DEVICE Joseph L. Lamia, Bayside, N. Y.

Application October 28, 1939, Serial No. 301,780

2 Claims.

My invention relates generally to garment pressing devices and more particularly to a device adapted to creasing trousers, pleated skirts, and so forth.

It is one object of the invention to provide a device of the character described which shall be simple and economical of manufacture and assembly.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision of a pressing or creasing device consisting of a casing comprising two similar parts of heat insulating material arranged to completely protect the user from contact with the heat applying surfaces.

A more specific object is to provide a pressing device in which the heat conducting element which engages the garment is formed of a single sheet of metal and adapted to be sprung into position between the elements of the housing.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of .a device of the character described in which the heat conducting element which engages the garment may be retained in position in the device without recourse to the use of fastenings of any kind.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent in the accompanying drawing taken in conjunction with the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of the device in assembled relationship.

Figure 2 is an interior perspective view of onehalf of a two part shell utilized for the case or housing of the device.

Figure 3 [is a perspective view of the interior of a second shell which co-acts with the shell of Figure 2 to form the complete housing.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a metallic or other heat conducting part, which engages the garment.

Figure 5 is perspective view of one form of heating element used with the device.

In prior creasing devices such as are illustrated in the United States Patents to Bellman, Nos. 1,889,432 and 1,959,047, issued Nov. 29, 1932, and May 15, 1934 respectively the garment engaging metallic surfaces are exposed so as to present an accident hazard in the hands of inexperienced users.

In the embodiment of my invention as herein disclosed, the garment engaging metallic surfaces are completely shielded from contact with the users fingers so as to entirely eliminate the possibility of being inadverently burned while using the device.

The housing shells comprise elongated, substantially hollow body portions having side walls H and I2, forward end wall I3, and a rear end wall I4, the latter of which results from a substantial merging or streamlining of the side walls II and I2.

To retard the circulation of heat from that end of the device which contains the garment engaging element, as identified by the end wall I3, I provide a partition wall I5 extending between the side wall so as to divide the shell into forward and rear compartments.

In order to adequately support the garment engaging surface as well as for the purpose of lending rigidity to the housing shells, the forward compartment is provided with one or more longitudinally extending webs I6 which preferably terminate .at their rear ends in engagement with the partition wall Hi.

The upper edges of the side walls II and I2, as shown by the numeral IT in Figures 2 and 3, lie in a common plane to define contacting faces or edges which abut when the shells are in assembled relationship as shown in Figure 1.

Although the respective elements of the shell may be secured in assembled relationship by the use of rivets or screws, I prefer to employ a combination of both so as to minimize the assembly work necessary in preparing the device for use. To this end a key I8 projects substantially normally from the plane surface I! of side wall I2. As clearly shown, the key i8 is generally rectangular in contour and includes two stepped sections I9 and 20, as more clearly disclosed in Figure 3.

The side wall II is formed with a cut-out portion 2| comp-rising sections 22 and 23, which are complementary to the parts I9 and 29 of the key [8 and aligned therewith.

Now it will be seen that when the two shell pieces comprising the casing are placed face to face with their plane surfaces IT in engagement, the key I8 will engage the recess 2| to prevent lateral displacement of the parts.

Reverting again to the forward portion of the shell, it will be noted that the upper edge of the forward wall I3, as well as the upper edges of side walls II and I2, are formed with a continuous slot 24 which extends from their intersections with the partition I5 throughout the length of forward wall I3.

The garment engaging surfaces of the device as shown in Figure 4, are preferably formed from a single metallic plate 25. To define a V shaped section in which the included angle is greater than the angle defined between the edges of the forward ends of the shells when the latter are in an assembled relation. That is, the part 25 whether stamped from a single sheet or formed of two pieces riveted or otherwise secured along one edge, is such that its two component surfaces must be sprung together in order to be received between the two halves of the shell. The peripheral edges of the metallic plate 25 are turned outwardly as shown at 26, so that when the plate and the shell are assembled the turned edges 25 of the former will engage the grooves 24 of the latter, thus maintaining the plate in assembled position without the necessity of employing fastenings of any kind.

With the view of obtaining maximum creasing efficiency, both surfaces of part 25 are heated.

In the specific embodiment of the invention disclosed, I provide a heat element 21 (Figure 5) comprising independent units 28, 29, 33 and 3|, it being apparent that one of the units will be positioned in each of the forward sub-divisions of the shell which are provided by the web l3 and in close proximity to the interior surfaces of the metallic plate 25. The lead wires 32, 33, 34 and 35 extend from their respective heating units through apertures 36 and 31 in the partition wall I5 to an electrical conductor 38 which leads from the shell through a bore 43. It will be obvious that one-half of the bore 43 is formed in each element of the shell. It will be understood, of course, that I may lead a heating unit from the conductor 38 through the forward portion of one of the shells and then around the apex of the part 25 to the other element of the shell and thence back to the conductor 38, so as to form a simple looped effect rather than to employ the individual heating elements shown in Figure 5. If desirable, the heating element may be insulated from the shell as by the use of a layer of asbestos which will at the same time function to maintain the heating element in close proximity to the surface of plane 25.

I assemble the device by positioning the heating elements, two on either side of the metallic plate, after which the plate itself is laid in the upstanding part of one of the housing shells with its peripheral edges 26 engaging the slot 24.

The second part of the shell is then laid upon the first half and compressed into engagement therewith against the spring-like action of plate 25, after which a headed screw 39 or a rivet, is inserted in a lined aperture 49 formed in a boss 4| in the rear portion of the housing.

To facilitate use of the device I have formed the external surfaces of the shell with an indentation 42 adapted to receive the thumb and forefinger of the user and simultaneously prevent the fingers from moving forwardly to the heated end of the device. If desirable, the forward end of the shell may be formed with vents to dissipate the heat generated by the units 28, 29, 3B and 3|.

It will be seen that I have provided a construction which is simple and economical to manufacture, readily assembled and disassembled for purposes of repair and in which a single simple mold is sufficient to provide the two elements of the housing.

Additionally, it will be apparent that the heating plate is retained in position in the housing without the use of fastenings of any kind and that the heating units themselves are secured against displacement by being segregated in independent sub-divisions of the house.

Furthermore, it will be obvious that the creasing surfaces of the part 25 are completely shielded from the hands of the user by the insulating material of the housing which of itself is formed to prevent direct circulation of heat from the coil 21 to the handle, or rear portion of the device.

In use, the device is held between the fingers, the palm of the hand engaging the rear portion of the shell or housing. The garment to be creased is then supported in a relatively rigid manner from a hanger, or the like, the lower edge being engaged by the free hand and the creasing device is passed up and down in contact with the fabric which is guided in engagement with the V shaped metallic plate 25 until a satisfactory crease is formed. The uniform distribution of heat as accomplished by similar heating of both surfaces of the part 25, greatly expedites the operation and insures a finished and satisfactory result.

I claim as my invention:

1. A creasing device comprising in combination, a pair of similar co-acting housing shells of heat insulating material, each of said shells including a rear portion having a plane peripheral edge which co-acts with the similar edge of the other to form a closed handle portion of the housing, and a forward portion having a peripheral edge merging with but extending angularly outwardly from the plane of said beforementioned edge, and a substantially V shaped heat conducting element arranged to be received between the angularly disposed edges of the forward portion of said housing, the surfaces of said V shaped element defining an included angle greater than the angle between the edges of the forward portions of said housing so that when the beforementioned rear edges of the housing are positioned in abutting relationship, the V shaped heat conducting element will be clamped between the angularly disposed forward edges of the shell, and means to heat both surfaces of said V shaped elements.

2. A housing shell for a creasing device comprising in combination, a rear portion having an upwardly turned peripheral edge and a forward portion having a peripheral edge merging with but angularly disposed to the plane of the peripheral edge of the beforementioned rear portion, a bridge wall extending between the peripheral edges of the rear portion to substantially insulate the latter from said forward portion, and a web formed internally of said forward portion and extending from said bridge wall to reinforce said forward portion.

JOSEPH L. LAMIA.

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