US2313935A - Cleaning machine for cuffs of trousers and the like - Google Patents

Description

March 16, 1943. W C;- GLOVER, JR v 2,313,935

CLEANING MACHINE FOR CUFFS OF TROUSERS AND THE LIKE Filed` Feb. 13, 1941 Patented Mar. 16, 1943 lorrics CLEANING MACHINE FOR CUFFS OF TROUSERS AND* THE LIKE Application February 13 1941, Serial No. 378,724

2 Claims.

This invention relates to cleaning machines particularly for removing accumulations of dust, dirt and the like from the cuffs of trousers, pockets of clothing, and similar articles.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which is efficient and convenient to operate.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a nozzle shaped so that portions thereof will clean under the tack stitching of cuifs and other relatively inaccessible places; to provide a nozzle with teeth adapted to loosen the dirt and lint that tends to cling to the fabric; and to provide the machine with means for effecting suction through the nozzle for withdrawing and depositing the accumulations into a bag or container forming a part of the machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple, inexpensive construction wherein the nozzle, suction pipe, and motor form a unit with the cover for the bag.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a cleaning inachine embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the upper portion of the machine, particularly illustrating the suction nozzle and the unit mounting thereof with the fan, motor, and bag cover.

Fig, 3 is a similar section taken at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 2, with parts broken away to better illustrate the construction.

Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary View of the nozzle.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

l designates a cleaning machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, and which includes a base 2 supporting a stand 3 carrying a nozzle and suction fan assembly 4 on its up er end. The stand 3 is preferably formed of foraminated sheet metal which, in the illustrated instance, is rolled to cylindrical form for providing an inner bag retaining chamber 5. Sleeved within the upper end of the stand is a collar ii having an inwardly extending annular flange l encircling the bag opening The upper face of the ange is substantially flat to form a cover seat 9, and the inner marginal edge is provided with a countersunk, annular shoulder lll for supportingly engaging the rim Il of a bag l2,

later described. The collar is also provided on the exterior side thereof with a bead I3 which seats upon the upper edge la of the stand, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The collar thus described is suitably secured, for example, by draw-bolts which clamp the stand between the collar and base 2.

The bag i2 is preferably formed of fabric having sufficient closeness of weave to retain dust, lint, etc., while being sufficiently porous to allow passage of air therethrough. The bag may be of cylindrical form and has a hem l5 at its upper end carrying a hoop Iii that provides the rim referred to above. When the rim seats upon the shoulder, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the bag is suspended within the stand 3. The bag preferably extends substantially to the bottom of the stand so as to provide maximum capacity and thereby lengthen the periods between which the bag must be emptied.

Seated upon the collar 6 is a cover ll' having a dome-shaped top I8 anda peripheral flange i9 for engaging the seat 9. rl"he cover also includes an inner, annular flange or rib 20 which seats on the rim Il of the bag and clamps it against the shoulder l to provide a dust-tight joint. Formed integrally with the cover is a fan housing 2l carrying a motor 22 on one side thereof and a suction nozzle 23 on the other. The motor 22 includes an armature shaft 24 projecting into the fan housing and carrying an impeller 25. The fan housing has an inlet 25 at the center thereof, opposite the motor, and a circumferential discharge Z'i having connection with the interior of the bag through an opening 23 in the cover.

The nozzle 23 comprises a hollow body 29 forming an interior duct 3i) connected with the inlet or suction opening 26 of the fan housing. The upper end of the body carries a substantially fan-shaped head 3l including upwardly converge ing sides 32-33 and outwardly and upwardly extending curved ends 343-35 forming a substantially arcuate opening 3B therebetween having connection with the duct til. Extending across the opening is a plurality of upwardly projecting guards or teeth 31, spaced apart to provide a series of passagewayso to the duct 3i). The teeth 3l are of substantially triangular shape and have flat faces 39 and f-i extending from the plane of the opening and converging in slightly rounded tips el. 'Ihe transverse faces of the teeth are substantially at and form relatively sharp corners l2 with the inclined faces 39 and 40 to provide scrapers for dislodging dust and lint when the cuff of a pair of trousers, or the like, is moved thereacross.

Attention is particularly directed to the laterally projecting ends 43 and 44 0f the nozzle which are formed by the curved ends 34 and 35, as these projections provide for a maximum length nozzle and allow for cleaning under the tack stitch a of the cuil b of trousers and other inaccessible places, such as the corners of pockets and the like.

The cover is secured in position by a thumb nut 45 and a stud bolt 45, having threaded stems 41 and 48 which extend through openings 49 and 5H in the cover and into threaded sockets 5I and 52 of the collar flange 1. The threaded stern for the nut 45 has a reduced portion 53 forming a shoulder 54 with the threaded end thereof, and

the opening 49 which receives the stem 41 has` is controlled by a switch 59 carried by the motor D housing.

In using the machine constructed and assembled as described, the motor 22 is energized to eifect rotation of the fan or impeller 25 which draws air through the passageways between the teeth and discharges it into the bag. The culi of the trousers is passed over the teeth of the nozzle, as shown in dotted lines Fig. 4, and drawn downwardly s0 that the tips of the teeth closely engage in the crease and inner surfaces of the cui. The cuff is then drawn laterally across the teeth, in the longitudinal direction of the opening 35, so that the edges thereof remove the lint and dirt tending to cling to the cuff. Usually the cuis are secured by tack stitches arranged on the opposite sides thereof. For this reason the cuff will be moved over the nozzle between the tacks at one side with the tacks passing under the projecting ends 43 and 44 of the nozzle so that a portion thereof passes under the tacks and enters the space thereunder to dislodge and remove the accumulations. When one side of the cuff is cleaned, the cuff is removed and the opposite side applied in a similar manner. The dust, dirt and other material is dislodged by the teeth as the cuis are drawn thereacross and are drawn by suction of the fan between the passageways 38 and into the duct 30 for discharge by the fan into the bag.

When it is necessary to remove the bag for emptying the contents, the thumb nut 45 is loosened and backed off from the threaded socket 5l of the collar 6 so that the enlarged threaded end of the stud 41 enters the enlarged portion of the opening 49. In this position the cone end 56 will clear the flange 1 so that upon loosening of the thumb nut 46 the cover may be swung laterally to permit removal of the bag l2. When the bag i2 is emptied and reinserted, the cover is returned to its position on the collar. As soon as the cone end enters the conical counterbore 51, the stern will automatically center with the threaded socket 5i, whereupon the nut 45 is turned to screw the stem thereinto, then when the nut 46 is retightened the cover is clamped to the collar for retaining the bag and establishing a dust-tight joint therebetween.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that I have provided a cleaning device of simple and inexpensive construction, and which is equipped with a nozzle adapted to remove dust, lint and like accumulations from the cui, pockets, and other inaccessible places of clothing and similar articles.

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

l. In a machine for cleaning the cuffs of trousers and the like, a suction nozzle having side walls spaced apart and having upwardly and outwardly projecting end walls cooperating with terminal edges of the side walls to form an elongated siot-like opening of less length than the spacing between the tackings of a cuif, and a plurality of spaced triangular-shaped teeth projecting upwardly from the edges of the side walls and extending transversely of the slot-like opening, said teeth having upwardly converging edge faces to closely engage in the fold crease of the cuff, said outwardly projecting end walls forming portions adapted to pass into the space between the tacking and fold crease of the cuff to present the teeth to the portions of the cui underlying the tackings.

2. In a machine for cleaning the cuffs of trousers and the like, a suction nozzle having spaced side walls terminating in arcuate edge faces and having upwardly and outwardly projecting end walls cooperating with the arcuate edges of the side walls to form an elongated slotlike opening, and a plurality of spaced teeth projecting above the arcuate edges of the side walls and extending transversely across the width of said slot-like opening, said teeth being of triangular shape with their apices arranged t0 engage the fold crease of a cui and said outwardly projecting end walls being adapted to pass into the space between the tacking and fold crease of the curi to present the apices of the endmost teeth to the portion of the fold crease under said tasking when the cuff is shifted back and forth across the nozzle in the direction of said slot-like opening.

WILLIAM C. GLOVER, JR.

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