US2284232A

US2284232A - Method of and apparatus for finishing garments

Info

Publication number: US2284232A
Application number: US311981A
Authority: US
Inventors: John H Richa
Original assignee: CHARLES B JONES
Current assignee: CHARLES B JONES
Priority date: 1940-01-02
Filing date: 1940-01-02
Publication date: 1942-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 1959-05-26

Description

May 26, 1942. .1. H. RICHA 2,284,232

7 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING GARMENTS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l2 jig. I.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 26, 1942. JQH. RICHA 2,284,232

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING GARMENTS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 I 4 Shets-Sheet- 2 neunw I I I) ll l/AL; I 12' \\i I i i 45 6/ j 16 I a? J ,i 72/ L69 g 0 j.

; jfeam or am or flffier Permm/e Mafer/b/ Jae/ref Wall Naferia/ Balk;

F/h/I'ihed May 26, 1942. J. H. RICHA 2,284,232

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING GARMENTS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 1 4 Sheets-Sheet s J. H. RlcHA I May 26, 1942.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FQRFINISHING GARMENTS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I ll] ml INVENTOR :{o/l l7. Flt/fa.

ATToRbiEY the outer form removed.

Patented May 26, 1942 UNITED STAT ES. PATENT ame METHOD o'F AND APPARATUS FOR, rmrsrnnc GARMENTS John H. Bicha, Kansas City, Mo., assignor of onehalf to Charles B. Jones, Kansas City, Mo.

Application January 2, 1940, Serial No. 311,981

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for finishing fabric articles such as clothing and the like, and has for its principal object to provide for finishing such articles with a minimum number of lays. For example,'it is the usual practice to finish coats, after they have been cleaned, on bucks of steam pressing ma chines, and many lays of the garment are required to complete the steaming and pressing operation. With the present invention a garment of this character may be completely finished in a single operation, and which results in an exterior bag-like form arranged to-cooperate with the interior bag for pressing the fabric of a garment therebetween.

It is also an object of the invention to provide mechanism to prevent belling of the edges of a garment incidental to inflation.

'In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective viewof a'garment finishing apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, the particular apparatus illustrated being adapted for finishing coats and like garments, a part of which is broken away to show the clamp for retaining the lower front of a coat to prevent spreading thereof.

Fig. 2.is a vertical section through the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a section through the inner form at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 2 with Fig. 4 is .a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic view showing a portion of a garment engaged between the inflatable bag portions of the apparatus.

Fg. 6 isa detail perspective view of the outer inflatable form with. the sections thereof in spaced condition.

Fig. 7 is 'a frag entary view from the oppo! the casing by a motor 23, also supported on the site side of-the outer form, particularly illustrating the adjustable hinge connections of the sections.

Fig; 8 is va horizontal section through the outer inflatable form.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a finishing apparatus embodying the features of the present invention, especially designed for finishing the upper portion of a pair of trousers.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an outer inflatable form for the apparatus shown in Fig.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10, showing a pair of trousers applied to the inflatable bag.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section through the inflatable form illustrated in Fig. 11.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

i designates a finishing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and with which I am able to practice my improved. method of finishing fabric garments and similar articles.

The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 includes a cabinet-like housing 2, including a front wall 3, side walls 4. and 5, atop 6, and a rear wall 1. Projecting from the upper portion of .the front wall 3, at the top thereof, is an extension 8,

having sides 9 and ill which may be formed as extensions of the

side walls

4 and 5, a front H, a topr'l2 coextensive with the top 6, and an under side l3 spaced below the top l2 to form an opening it above the wall 3.

The cabinet thus described forms a' compartment for housing the working parts of the apparatus, and the extension provides a support for suspending the garment supporting appliances therefrom, as later described.

Supported in the body of the cabinet, at a point below the opening M, is a bracket l5 mounting a. blower l6, including a casing l'l having an air inlet 98 in aside thereof an'da dis-' charge outlet l9 terminating in a collar 20 to which an L-shaped duct 2| is connected. The blower also includes a rotor 22 that is operable in bracket and having its armature connected with the rotor on the side of the casing opposite the air inlet opening I8 so that air is drawn into the cabinet through a screened opening in the front wall, through the inlet opening of the blower casing, and discharged through the L'- shaped duct 2|. The duct 2| has its outlet end turned downwardly and extends through an opening 25 provided in the under part iii of the cabinet extension, the duct being secured in position by fastening devices 25 extending through a flange 21 thereon and connected with the part In order that the circulated air may be heated,

The garment supporting appliance consists of an inflatable form 31, which, in some instances, may be used in conjunction with an outer, inflatable form 88. The inflatable form 31 is swivelly suspended from the collar 35 and substantially conforms in shape to the article to be flnished, for example a coat, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive. The form 31 is preferably exthe air inlet opening I8 is covered by a heating tain pressure therein when the steam and/ or air is passed therethrough. qThe weaving, however,

is sufliciently open to permit restricted discharge of the steam and/or. air through the meshes thereof for treating and softening the fabric of the coat, or other garment as the case may be, while maintaining ballooning action of the steam and/or air to restore the coat to its original shape and effect cure of the fabric thereof.

The bottom portion of the bag extends below the perforated form, as at 58, and is looped inwardly, as at 59, to 'connect with a closure plate 10, the closure plate 10 being adjustably mounted on the rod 52 so as to vary the length of the bag in accordance with the length of the coat, the plate being adjusted so that the loop tensible and therefore includes a pair of

adjustable sections

39 and 40 having side portions 4| and 42 conforming to the sides of a garment to be placed on the form and the upper portions of the sections terminate in shoulder portions 43 and 44. The lower ends of the sections are closed by

plates

45 and 45. The facing sides of the sections are open and have

side edges

41 and 45 arranged to telescope within a central section 49 comprising a substantially rectangular frame having front and back plate portions 505| forming connecting continuations of the

sides

41 and 48, a bottom portion 52 corresponding to the

bottom plates

45 and 45 of 'the side sections, and an upper portion 53 having a tubular neck 54 terminating in a flange 55 that is sleeved over the collar 35 and swivelly secured thereto by set-screws 55, the set-screws 55 being threaded in the flange and having their ends engaged in the annular groove 35 as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The side edges of the. side sections are thus adapted to telescope'within the central section to adjust the form for width, as now to be described.

Connecting the side edges ,41 and 48 of the side sections are

brackets

51 and 58 having upwardly converging

web portions

59 and 50 beportion 59 terminates approximately at the. edge of the coat as shown in Fig. 3. The plate is secured in adjusted position by a set-screw .or similar fastening device 1| threaded in the sleeve 12 through which the rod 82 is passed. Fixed .to the bag and preferably attached circumferentially of arm openings 13 and 14 are similar bags 15 and 15 substantially conforming in shape to the shoulder portion of the garment at the sleeves and which extend downwardly therein so that a portion of the air and/or steam is discharged therein to balloon the sleeves and shoulders thereof to their normal shape.

Steam is supplied to the interior of the form through a nozzle 11 that is connected with a pipe 18 extending from a control valve that.

is fixed to the separator 33', upwardly through the cabinet, laterally into the extension, and through an opening 85 in the L-shaped duct 2| to terminate in a depending leg 8| carrying the nozzle 11. The valve 19 has an actuating lever 82 adapted to be operated by a flexible connection 83 witha foot pedal or the like (not shown).

When the outer form 38 is used, it is suspended from a track 84 that is attached to the under side |3 o'f thecabinet extension and to the rear of the inflatable form just described- The outer form 38 includes a back section 85 and side sections 85 tween which is slidably mounted a hollow wedge tral section. The sections are interconnected and 81 thatare adjustably hinged thereto to conform to the variable width of the inner form. The adjustable hinge connections include straps 85 fixed to the side sections and having slots 89 engaging fastening devices 99 anchored in the back section 85, the straps being adjustably clamped to the central section by wing nuts 9| as shownin Figs. 7 and 8. The side sections are curved to substantially conform to the sides of the garment and are secured at the front by a clasp 92 of any's'uitable design. The interior face of the side sections, as well as the back section 85, is

' provided'with a flexible bag-like covering which by springs 54 and 55 which have their ends'secured to the

brackets

51 and 58. The walls forming the side and central sections of the is constructed of a material permeable to a fluid medium, such as the air discharged by the blower and/or steam, and the material is preferably a fabric woven with suflicient tightness to provide limited permeability for effecting ballooning or distention thereof and maintenance of a cermay be a, woven fabric and which, when inflated, cooperates with the inner bag to press the garment therebetween. A pressure medium such as air is admitted to the chambers of the outer section through connections as indicated at 93 (Fig. 8) When the outer form is used the sleeves of the garment are extended through

shoulder openings

94 and 95 therein. In the modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 9 the form 95 is not extensible,.however,

' the shoulder or arm-portions 91 which carry sleeve expanding bags 98 are adjustable to vary the width of the shoulder portionof the garment. This is eifected by providing a T-shaped fitting 99 having a branch I50 engageable in the neck portion I" of the form and having laterally diverging branches I02 and'ili3 on which tubular eiitensions I04 and I05 are telesco'pingly mounted.

The tubular extensions in this instance carry the bags 98 which extendv the sleeve and shoulder portions of the garment? to their original form.

The Tefltting and tubular extensions are perforated so that steam and air delivered through the nozzle H16 are passed through the perforations to the interior of the form.

In Figs. 10 to12 inclusive is shown a flexible "bag-like form for simultaneously finishing the waist, seat, and thigh portions of a pair of trousers or similar bifurcated garment. In this instance the outer form may be omitted and the bag I! is attached directly to a fitting I08 that is swivelly suspended from the collar of the L- shaped duct-2l. The bag includes leg portions I09 andllll having closed ends and which are substantially larger in size than the largest garment to be finished. This bag is also constructed of fabric having limited permeability and is of the Y material described in connection with the bags of ance with that illustrated in Figs. 1 to inclusive,

the coat is applied over the bag covering of the inner form, with the bag in collapsed condition, and the front lower corners of the coat are clamped together by a suitable clamp as indicated at N5, the arm bags ES and it being extended through the armholes of the sleeves. The width of the form is extended to conform to the size of the coat by manipulation of the wedge ti. Steam isthen admitted into the bag of the formupon opening the valve 19 so that the pressure inflates or balloons the bag and fills out all portions of the garment to their original shape. Simultaneously with inflation the steam permeates through the meshes of the bag and through the fabric of the garment, softening the fibers so that the garment is readily returned to its original shape by the ballooning effect of the bag. After shutting off the steam, heated air is admitted to the interior of the form upon openng of a valve H6 in the air duct and starting operation of the blower. The supply of 'air is continued to maintain the inflati'n or ballooning of the bag be applied over the garment as shown in Fig. 1,'

the sleeves of the garments and arm bags being extended through the shoulder openings of the outer form as shown. Air may then "be admitted to inflate the bags of the outer form so that the pressure thereof acts against the outer surface of the coat in cooperation with the pressure of the inner bag on the inner surface of the coat. When the heated air is discharged through the bag, the suction of the inlet of the blower acting on the air in the cabinet draws the heated air through the screened opening 24 and this air is recirculated through the garment.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 9 operates in the same manner as the preferred form except that the adjustment is made across the shoulder by manipulating the extension tubes carrying the arm bags.

To finish a pair of trousers on the form of the invention shown in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, the trousers are applied to the bag Ill'l while it is in collapsed condition,- after flwhich air and/or steam are admitted to inflate the bag within the trousers. Upon admission of steam the fabric of the trousers is softened so that they 'are returned to their original shape by the ballooning action of the bag. Air is discharged into and through the meshes of the bag to maintain distention and effect curing of the trousers while retained in their original shape. If desired, the

outer form shown in Fig. 7 may be applied over the trousers to press the outer surfaces thereof upon inflation of the bags H3 and H5.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a simple and inexpensive method of finishing garments, and that the garments. may be processed with minimum operations. It is also obvious that the inflated bags adjust themselves into all portions of the garment so that parts thereof are finished that cannot be reached or effected on ordinary pressing equipment.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: g I

1. The method of finishing a fabric garment including, clothing the garment upon an in flatable and permeable bag while the bag .isjn

deflated condition, distending the garment to its normal shape by inflating the bag with a pressure medium, simultaneously subjecting the fabric of the garment to the inflating medium by permeation of the inflating medium "through the bag into contact with the garment, and'applying pressure to the exterior of the garment.

2. The method of finishing a fabric garment including, clothing the garment upon an inflatable and permeable bag while-the bag is in de'. flated condition, distending the garment to its normal shape by inflating the bag with steam, simultaneously softening the fabric of the garment with steam permeating through the bag into contact with the garment, and pressing the exterior of the garment with an inflatable bag enveloping the garment and inflated there against.

flated condition, distending the garment to its 'normalshape by inflating the bag, moistening the garment, maintaining distention of the moistened garment by the bag, pressing the exterior of the garment with an inflatable bag enveloping the garment and inflated thereagainst while the bag, is; distended on the permeable bag, and drying the garment between said bags by permeating the inflatingv medium through the permeable bag into contact with the garment.

4. The method of, finishing afabric garment including, clothing the garment upon an inflatable and permeable bag while the bag is'in deflated condition, distending the garment to its normal shape by inflating the bag with steam, simultaneously softening the fabric of the'garment with steam permeating through the bag into contact with the garment, pressing the exterior of the garment with an inflatable bag enveloping the garment and inflated'thereagainst, suspending flow of the steam, maintaining distention of the garment within said enveloping inflating air through the permeable bag into contact with the garment.

5. The method of finishing a fabric garment including, clothing the garment upon an inflatable and permeable bag while the bag is in deof the bags into contact with the garment, suspending flow of the steam, maintaining distention of the garment between said bags by introduction of hot air into the bag to whichthe steam was admitted, and drying the garment while maintained between said bags by permeating the hot inflating air through said bag into contact with the garment.

6. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character described including, a support, a fluid medium inlet connection depending on the support, a flexible bag adapted to be distendable within a garment clothed thereon in response to pressure of a fluid medium, means suspending the bag from said connection, and means for introducing the fluid medium into the bag through said inlet connection for ballooning the bag to the expanded shape of the garment, said bag having a permeable body portion for dischargin the fluid medium through the'garment clothed thereon for conditioning the fabric of the garment simultaneously with expansion of the garment.

7. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character described including, a perforated form, a flexible bag loosely enveloping the form and adapted to be distendable within a garment clothed thereon in response to pressure of a fluid medium, and means for introducing the fluid medium into the form for discharge into the bag through said perforations for ballooning the bag 8. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character described including, a support having f a depending fluid medium inlet connection,-a perforated form suspended from said inlet con-' nection, a flexible bag loosely enveloping the form and adapted to be distendable within a garment clothed thereon in response to pressure of a fluid medium, and means for introducing the fluid medium into the form through said inlet connection for discharge into the bag through said perforations for ballooning the bag about adapted to be distendable within a garment -clothed. thereon in response to pressure ofa fluid medium, means for introducing the fluid medium into the bag for ballooning the bag to the expanded shape of the garment, an outer flexible and inflatable bag adapted to envelopthe garment, and means for admitting aninfiating medium into the outer bag, one of said bags having a permeable portion for discharging the inflating medium through the garment for conditioning the fabric of the garment while maintaining expansion of the garment.

10. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character described including, a flexible bag adapted to be distendable within a garment clothed thereon in response topressure of a fluid medium, means for introducing the fluid medium into the bag for ballooning the bag to the expanded shape of the garment, said bag having a permeable body portion for, discharging the fluid medium through the garment clothed thereon for conditioning the fabric of the garment simultaneously with expansion of the garment, an outer inflatable bag adapted to envelop the garment while contained on said permeable bag, and means connected with the outer bag for introducing a pressure medium into said outer bag.

11 Apparatus for finishing garments of the character described including, a perforated form, a flexible bag loosely enveloping the form and adapted to be distendable within a garment clothed thereon in response to pressure of a fluid medium, means for introducing the fluid medium into the form for discharge into the bag through said perforations for ballooning the bag about the form to the expanded shape of the garment, said bag having a permeable body portion for discharging the fluid medium through the garment clothed thereon for conditioning the fabric of the garment simultaneously with expansion of the garment, an outer form adapted to close over the extended garment while clothed on said bag, a flexible bag lining the outer form and adapted to be distended against the garment by pressure of a fluid medium, and means for introducing a pressure medium into the bag lining the outer form. I

12. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character described including, a perforated inner form, a flexible bag loosely enveloping the'inner form and adapted to be distended to the natural shape of a garment clothed thereon, an outer form, and a flexible bag loosely lining the outer form and adapted to be distended against the garment by a fluid pressure medium, one of said bags having a permeable portion for discharging the fluid medium through the garment for conditioning the fabric of the garment simultaneously with pressing of the garment between said bags.

13. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character described including, an inner form comprising a pair of perforated sections arranged to beadjusted to and from each other, a flexible and permeable bag loosely enveloping the inner form and adapted to be distended to the natural shape of 'a garment clothed thereon, an outer form comprising a pair of sections, adjustable hinge means connecting the sections to adjust said sections to close over the inner form, flexible bags loosely lining'the sections of the outer form and adapted to be distended against the garment by a fluid pressure medium, and means for discharging fluid medium into the bags to press the garment between said bags and condition the fabric of the garment by the fluid medium discharged through the permeable bag.

14. An apparatus for finishing garments of the character described including, a form, a flexible bag loosely enveloping the form and adapted to be distendable within a garment clothed thereon in response to pressure of a fluid medium, shoulder sections having movable support on the form, sleeve expanding bags'carried on the shouldcr sections and cooperating with portions of the bag to distend the shoulder portions of the garment, and means for introducing the fluid medium into the bag and into the sleeve expanding bags, said first named bag having a permeable portion for discharging the fluid medium into the garment clothed thereon and for conditioning the fabric of the garment simultaneously with distention of the garment.

15. An apparatus for finishing garments of the character described including, a form, a flexible bag loosely enveloping the form and adapted to be distendable within a garment clothed thereon in response to pressure of a fluid medium,

shoulder sections having movable support on the ,form, sleeve expanding bags carried on the shoulpanding bags, said bags having permeable portionsfor discharging the fluid medium into the garment clothed thereon and for conditioning the fabric of the garment simultaneously with distention of the garment.

16. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character described including, a form having the general shape 0 a torso, a flexible bag loosely enveloping the form and adapted to be distendable within a garment clothed thereon in response to pressure of a fluid medium, said bag having a permeable body portion for discharging the fluid medlumthrough the garment clothed thereon for conditioning the fabric of the garment, means for introducing a fluid inflating and conditioning medium into the bag, and means,

exterior of the bagfor engaging the outer surface of the garment to control expansion of the garment responsive to inflation of the bag.

JOHN H. RICHA.