US2743541A - Press plates - Google Patents

Description

y 1, 1956 R. M SCHULTZ 2,743,541

PRESS PLATES Filed March 10, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 1, 1956 R. M. SCHULTZ 2,743,541

PRESS PLATES Filed March 10, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 magma VJQMCE BY 14-, 4%, MM M M MW y 1, 1956 R. M. SCHULTZ 2,743,541

PRESS PLATES Filed March 10, 1953 4 s -s t 3 IN VEN TOR.

May 1, 1956 R. M. SCHULTZ 2,743,541

PRESS PLATES Filed March 10, 1953 4 SheetsSheet 4 ywika, wzc hii'm M W @7 1 PRESS PLATES Roy M. Schultz, Chicago, Ill., assignor of one-half to Davis Press Pad Co., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois, and, by mesne assignments, one-half to Bishop David Freeman 00., a corporation of Illinois Application March 10, 1953, Serial No. 341,425

6 Claims. (Cl. 38-66) This invention relates to an attachment for a garment steaming and pressing machine and to a method of steaming and pressing garments and has special reference to an attachment for, or a part of, the head or buck that introduces a deflecting and diffusing surface between the higher pressure steam and the garment to be pressed so as to reduce the pressure of the steam and uniformly distribute and increase the available moisture during the erally provided in the head. When the head valve is i opened, the steam under pressure surges through these ports at high velocity. When no liner between the head and the grid plate is used, or when a copper screen or United States Patent '0 woven pad is used, there is no restriction to reduce the velocity of the steam and the steam passes through the grid plate at the same high velocity. There is insuflicient time and space to permit the steam to reduce its temperature and condense. Consequently, the steam strikes the garment being pressed and passes through the layers of garment in a superheated condition. This action takes place only in the localized areas directly beneath each steam port. The areas between the ports remain in a comparatively cool condition for an interval of time. Correspondingly, the superheated areas directly under the ports are dampened by condensed steam considerably less than the surrounding areas. The garment is therefore subjected to uneven distribution of both temperature and moisture. The steam surging through the relatively large ports in the press head at high velocity produces a jet action that continues through the copper screen or woven pad liner and the grid plate and causes undesirable steam marks known as hot spots and nickel marks. The steam travelling through the garment does not have the opportunity to be distributed over the pressing area and, therefore, there is no opportunity to soften the garment surface for proper pressing and uniform finishing.

An object of the invention is to provide a device for use with or as a part of the press head or buck of a garment pressing machine that eliminates direct steam-jet action causing steam marks on garments and produces an improved conditioning and pressing of fabrics.

A further object of the invention is to provide in conjunction with a press head or buck of a garment pressing machine a steam deflecting and diffusing surface between the high pressure steam and the garment being pressed in order to reduce the velocity of the steam and uniformly distribute and increase the available moisture of the steam during the pressing operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plate having a plurality of perforations, certain, if not all, of which are provided with integrally-formed bafiles lying above and over the perforations to form hooded openings for spraying the steam sideways to produce a gentle fog or cloud spreading in the form of a fiuify blanket over the entire face of the plate.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plate of this type as a part of the press head or the buck of a garment pressing machine adapted to break up the jets of high pressure steam into a gentle fog so as to obtain uniform pressure over the entire pressing surface by a gentle layer of softening and moistening steam to condition the fabric being pressed and to avoid steam marks or hot spots on the fabric.

By breaking up the jets of high pressure steam to form a cloud or fog of uniform pressure across the entire face of the plate, more moisture is available and the moist steam is more uniformly distributed during the pressing operation. Local cool areas between steam ports and hot spots directly beneath these ports are therefore eliminated. The steam will be given adequate time to be distributed uniformly over the entire pressing area and the spotting of the fabric heretofore experienced is overcome. Specifically, the new plate may be used as a liner between the press head and the press plate. It may be used as the press plate or the face of the press head itself. Irrespective of the manner of application, it is found that the invention has the following specifiic advantages in use:

(a) Eliminates harmful action of high heat and pres sure of steam jets from the press head. during pressing operation;

(b) Eliminates steam marks on garments caused by steam jets;

(c) Eliminates uneven finishing caused by hot and cold areas over pressing surface due to steam jets not being diffused before reaching garment;

(d) Spreads steam sideways to cover the entire inside surface of grid plate so that the steam emerges at relatively uniform temperature and pressure from substantially all the grid plate perforations;

(e) Produces even temperature over whole pressing surface;

(f) Reduces glazing on fabrics made of thermoplastic fibers;

(g) Provides substantially even moisture content under normal operating conditions over the whole pressing surface;

([1) Provides an equal thickness cross-sectionally throughout entire length and width to provide a firm base for an outer grid plate when and if used with a plate embodying the present invention; and

(i) Prevents soft areas in pressing surface that buttons or zippers might puncture, dent are otherwise irreparably damage the outer grid plate.

The term plate as used herein and as is used in the claims is meant to include material of sheet form such as sheet metal and/ or composition or plastic materials, etc. The term perforated when related to the term plate is meant to include openings in the form of punched or pierced holes, or openings provided in any other suitable form depending on the requirements at the time the plate is made.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detail description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a garment steaming and pressing machine having a steam deflecting and diffusing surface embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the outer face of the press head with a portion broken away to show the plate embodying the invention used as a liner between the press head and the grid plate;

Fig. 3 is a microphotographic view of the magnification of four and one-half times of a limited area of the liner plate illustrating a specific form of pattern for the hooded vents or openings;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of at least two such openings;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of an area of the liner plate showing a still further different layout pattern for the hooded vents or openings;

Fig. 7 illustrates diagrammatically the press head, liner plate embodying the invention and grid plate to show how this liner plate spreads the steam sideways in a direction parallel to the face of the liner plate to effect. uniform pressure and distribution of the steam passing through the perforations of the grid plate.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the hooded vents or openings illustrating the steam being directed sideways across the face of the plate;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but illustrating the prior art structure and the manner in which the steam jets continue directly through the ports under high velocity to strike the garment with full force and leave steam marks thereon;

Fig. 10 purports to illustrate a piece of fabric that has been pressed by the prior art method and bearing steam marks produced by these jets;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion of a press head incorporating a plate embodying the invention as a liner between the press plate and the grid plate;

Fig. 11(a) is a similar view but showing the liner plate with its hooded openings extending to the longitudinal edge of the press head and with'the reinforcing band and press plate lying over the hooded openings;

Fig. 12 is a similar view but illustrating a different arrangement of the parts;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged elevational view of the press head to illustrate the manner of holding the grid plate and the liner plate upon the press head;

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are views similar to Fig. 11, but showing still further arrangements of the parts;

Fig. 17 illustrates a still further form of mounting the parts embodying the invention upon a press head, the mounting assembly using springs to provide movement between the grid plate and the liner plate and press head;

Fig, 18 is an enlarged elevational view of a plate showing a different form of hooded openings;

Fig. 19 is a view taken along line 19-19 shown in Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is an enlarged elevational view showing a still further arrangement of hooded openings embodying the present invention;

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional detail view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 22-22 of Fig. 20; and

Fig. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2323 of Fig. 20.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the conventional type of pressing machine usually comprises a support 19 upon which is mounted a clothpadded table 11 which has heretofore and which will hereinafter and in the claims he termed a buck. Buck 11 is adapted to have articles of wearing apparel or garments pressed thereon to be engaged by a pressure or clamping member 12 which has heretofore and which will hereinafter and in the claims be termed a head. Head 12 is mounted on spaced arms 13 hingedly mounted as at 1.3a on a suitable support 1312 so that it may be swung downwardly into engagement with the garments placed on buck 11. As has hereinbefore been recited, hot steam is released 4. from within head 12 by manual manipulation of handle 12:: connected to a suitable valve when the head is brought down into clamping or pressing engagement with the buck, the steam being released through spaced apertures 14 at one face of the head.

Head 12 is heated by steam so that it is always hot during the pressing operation and the steam heat supplied for heating the head is automatically supplied in addition to that supplied for release through apertures 14. It is not believed to be essential or'desirable to trace the path of steam through the head and from thesource of supply since heads of this type vary in construction and are well known. The heated head 12 is swung downwardly by the initial grasping of a handle 15, a continuation of the downward movement being attained by foot pressure or a treadle, not-shown, or other suitable manner. As the operator swings the head downwardly, the handle 12a is manually manipulated to open the valve at the proper time for releasing steam through the apertures 14. A perforated grid plate 16 for contact with the garment to be steamed and pressed is secured to head 12. In certain cases, head 12 is of a substantially oval or so-called ironing board shape and is concave on its'underside, thus requiring the perforated grid plate 16 to be shaped likewise so as to contact therewith over the entire face thereof. If a flexible plate is used, it may not be necessary to preform the plate to form a concave cavity of the head. The head and plate are shown in the drawings of such a size and shape purely for illustrative purposes since heads and bucks are provided for various pressing operations on garments of various types.

Grid plate 16 is preferably of perforated sheet material that may be metal or some such material as plastic or the like of comparatively small thickness. Perforations 16a in plate 16 may be punched in the sheet so as to leave small annular burrs projecting downwardly from around the apertures for engagement with the garment to be pressed, as disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,810,984 granted to Vanney A. Ray on June 23, 1931, or, instead of forming burrs during the perforating operation to obtain a roughened pressing surface, the surface between the apertures may carry a deposit of granules to form the pressing surface, as disclosed and claimed in copending application Serial No. 144,913, filed February 18, 1950 now issued on March 31, 1953, as United States Patent 2,632,968. Steam at various pressures, generally ranging from 50 to pounds, is normally used in the operation of pressing machines. For this range of steam pressure, the temperature of the steam will vary from 298 to 338 F. To cause this steam to emerge from perforations 16a of grid plate 16 evenly distributed with a uniformpressure over the entire pressing surface, an insert or liner 20 is disposed between press head 12 and grid plate 16, which constitutes a steam deflecting and diffusing surface between the high pressure steam emerging through press head openings 14 and the garment to be pressed so as to reduce the pressure of the steam and uniformly distribute the same as well as increase the available moisture and uniformly distribute this moisture during the pressing operation.

Liner 20 is perforated but its perforations are formed in a manner-to spray the steam sideways or laterally, as clearly illustrated in detail in Figs. 7 and 8, and to spread it like a fluify blanket over the entire inside surface of grid plate 16 before coming through its perforations 16a. The manner of spraying steam sideways or laterally is clearly illustrated in the enlarged detail shown in Fig. 8. Side openings 21 are formed by providing perforations 23 (Fig. 4) in plate 20 and baflie or hood portions 22 extending outwardly over these perforations. The particular manner, the material of plate 21! is handled is immaterial as long as these side openings are formed to spread the steam sideways. In the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5, hood portions 22 are illustrated in the form of a strip or arch spanning perforations 23 and extending away from plate 20 a distance sufiicient to provide the side openings 21. In a plate, the number of perforations 23 and their rows may vary. Although a very satisfactory arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 3 showing a photomicrographic enlargement of four'and one-half times of a portion of plate 20 measuring 3 /2 by 3", it will be understood that the number of perforations per square inch may be varied according to the volume of steam to be handled. To secure spreading of the steam uniformly and in all directions over the inside surface of grid plate 16, bafile or hood portions 22 and their side openings 21 are arranged in rows that are staggered with respect to the direction of side openings 21. For example, row 24 has the axis of its openings extending, say, longitudinally of plate 20. Row 25 has the axis of openings 21 arranged obliquely While row 26 has its opening 21 extending also obliquely, but in an opposite direction to row 25. It will be observed that the embodiment in Fig. 6 has the orientation of the hooded portions and the stagger of the rows so arranged that steam from any hooded vent is discharged generally toward a space between other adjacent hooded portions 22 so as to commingle the steam emerging from all these openings 21 to form gentle clouds that quite uniformly distribute themselves across the face of plate 20 and across the inside face of grid plate 16. Any arrangement may be used, however, that will provide the desired distribution emerging from these side openings 21 to provide this fluffy blanket over the entire inside surface of grid plate 16.

The action of plate 20 as a steam-diftusing liner plate between press head 12 and grid plate 16 is illustrated diagramatically in Fig. 7 while the action of the same press head and grid plate without plate 20 as a liner therebetween is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 9.

Steam holes 14 in press head 12 are usually spaced one inch apart and steam under high pressure travels by a jetting action through these holes. Assume that a copper screen or woven liner 30 is used between press head 12 and grid plate 16 instead of liner plate 20. The jets of steam emerging through openings 14 drive through this copper screen or woven liner 30 in jet formation and continue directly through grid plate 16 still under high velocity. These jets of steam strike the garment with full force and leave steam marks approximately one inch apart. They may not always be visible or apparent to the eye. This high pressure steam in travelling through the garment has .no opportunity to soften the garment surface for proper pressing. Fig. 9 illustrates diagrammatically the straight-through action of the steam jets and how the latter pass through the garments without distribution. Fig. 10 illustrates the effects of this jet action upon fabric.

The steam marks on the fabric are caused by the absence of a sufficient restriction to reduce the velocity of the steam adequately between the press head and the grid plate. The steam passes through the grid plate at the same high velocity and there is insufficient time and space to permit the steam to lose its superheat and condense. It, therefore, strikes the garment being pressed and passes through the layers of the fabric in a superheated condition. As a result, the superheated areas directly under the ports 14 are dampened by condensed steam considerably less than the surrounding areas. The fabric is therefore subjected to uneven distribution of both temperature and moisture.

When applicants plate 20 is used between press head 12 and grid plate 16 as illustrated in Fig. 7, this uneven distribution is eliminated. The high velocity jets of steam issuing from steam ports 14 strike plate 20 and are diverted in a lateral direction by being forced to travel through perforations 23 and then through side openings 21. The velocity is reduced to allow the steam enough time to give up its superheat and instead of high velocity jets of superheated steam issuing in localized spots one inch apart, a lower velocity cloud of steam with uniform temperature and moisture content is emitted from the entire pressing surface of grid plate 16 as illustrated at 31 in Fig. 7.

Figs. 11 to 17, inclusive, illustrate different ways of carrying or mounting plate 20 on a press head. Fig. 11 illustrates head 12 with its usual passages or chambers 32 receiving the steam from a suitable source. Steam apertures 14 are provided in head plate 33 attached by bolts 34 or other suitable means to press head 12. Liner plate 20 is disposed between head plate 33 and perforated grid plate 16. The attachment to carry insert plate 20 and grid plate 16 against head plate 33 may include, as shown specifically in this form, the coil springs 35 and 36, which are arranged to lie across the head 12 at opposite ends and which are designed to grip a ring bracket 37 connected by a suitable fastening member 38 to an extension of these parts 16 and 20. In Fig. 11, this extension includes a perforated bent back portion 39 of grid plate 16 and a reinforcing band 40 which may be attached to the grid plate in any suitable way as by welding, brazing, or other mechanical connection. Perforated bent back portion 39 has its upper end bent over to embrace the upper edge of reinforcing band 40 to provide a secure connection at 38 with ring bracket 37. In this particular embodiment of insert 20, the material is upset to form knobs at 41 on the surface of plate 20 opposite to head plate 33. These knobs or dents 41 in the material of plate 20 extend outwardly from the plate a distance sufficient to provide uniform distribution of the steam between head plate 33 and plate 20.

. The steam will be rapidly distributed therefore and the pressure and temperature uniformly dropped as the same is fed through apertures 23 in plate 20. Side openings 21 directly below hoods 22 will feed the steam side ways or in a direction generally parallel to the outer face of plate 20. The velocity or pressure of the steam will further drop and will be emitted from the perforations 16a in grid plate 16 in a uniform flow as shown in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 11(a), the perforated bent back portion 39 of grid plate 16 is likewise provided with a reinforcing band 40, but insert plate 20 extends to the edge of press plate 33 and reinforcing band 40 lies over a few of the end rows of hoods 22 because this plate 20 is perforated from edge to edge. Springs 35 are attached to the ring bracket 37 in the same manner.

In Fig. 12, a slightly different arrangement of the parts is suggested. The grid plate 16 is omitted while the insert plate 20 is carried directly against the head plate 33 by a single end band 42 along each side. In this instance, perforations 23 of plate 20 face away from head plate 33 so that the hoods 22 lie against this face of head plate 33. The pressing surface of this unit comprises the surface between apertures 23, and to roughen the same so that the pressing operation will not leave shine upon the fabric it is treated in a manner disclosed in Patent 2,632,968 aforesaid, to wit, by applying a layer of sprayed material 43 thereagainst or otherwise treated. Plate 20 is not perforated the entire distance crosswise, but is left with a peripheral unperforated portion 44 to which the reinforcing band 42 may be suitably attached as by welding, brazing, etc. In this instance, the hoods 22 will keep plate 20 properly spaced from head plate 33 to provide distribution of the high pressure steam. A suitable action in the distribution of the steam is obtained although it is compelled first to go through side openings 21 and then to emerge through perforations 23.

In Fig. 14, the insert plate 20 and the grid plate 16 are both employed. Apertures 23 lie directly against head to close olfthe edges of the press head against the escape o'f steam which in some instances has been found to be undesirable and annoying.

It is found with the advent of garments made of syntheticfabrics that lower temperatures for the finishing of these garments are required. In Fig. 15, press head 12. is provided'w'ith its head plate 33 and'the insert plate 2t? arranged in a manner shown in Fig. 14. Grid plate 16 is also provided, but a longitudinal band 48 is secured to the edges as by welding, or the like, indicated at 49. Band 48 has an upturned portion 50 slotted at 51. Insert plate 20 is also provided with a longitudinal band 52 having a hole 53 and a curved outer edge 54 to receive the springs 35 and 36. Band 52 may be attached to this insert plate in any suitable way as by welding, brazing, or the like, indicated at 55. A spring 56 having legs 57 and 53 extending from a coil loop 59 (see Fig. 17) joining these legs is adapted to be disposed in spaced relation about the head so that a lateral projection 60 of leg 53 will extend through slot 51 of band 48 and in hole 53 of band 52. Lateral extension 60 has its inner extremity provided with a right angle turn 61 to prevent displacement of spring 56 after it is mounted in place. Leg 58 is also provided with a lateral extension 62 engaging in an opening in a hole in the upstanding leg 50 of band 48 carrying grid plate 16. Lateral extension 60 also extends through slot 51;. The arrangement is such that when head 12 is lifted away from buck 11, coils 59 of springs 56 will force bands 48 on opposite sides of grid plate 16 downwardly so as to force grid plate 16 away from head 12 and insert plate 20.

This movement of grid plate in away from insert plate 20 allows circulation of air therebetween and etfects a drop in temperature between pressing operations so that on subsequent lowering of head 12 against buck 11 and a release of steam as grid plate 3.6 is brought against insert plate 20, the temperature of the steam will drop and tend to provide maximum moisture for the steam. In this manner, there is assurance of moisture in each pressing operation and this is true even though the head 12 may be continuously used over a considerable period of time, such as might result in a substantial build-up of temperature.

The structure illustrated in Fig. 16 provides a similar breathing action between grid plate 16 and insert plate 20. The parts are arranged slightly different however, in that grid plate 16 is continued beyond press head 12 and turned upwardly at right angles to embrace a flange 65 that may be secured as by welding or the like, as indicated at 66, the grid plate 16. Insert plate 24) is also provided With'a reinforcing band 67 similar to band 52 shown in t Fig. 15, this band 67 being secured as by welding or the like at 68 to insert plate 20. Springs t) are also provided in the structure shown in Fig. 16 to force grid plate 16 away from insert plate 2t when head 12 is lifted from buck 11. The construction of springs 56 and their arrangement with respect to these parts are substantially the same as for springs'56 illustrated in Fig. 15. It will be observed that during the pressing operation, grid plate 16 in both structures shown in Figs. and 16 will be brought against insert plate as the steam is released by handle 12a. Reinforcing bands 65 and 67 are arranged in Fig. 16 to prevent the escape of steam sideways from between grid plate 16 and insert plate 20. The same is true with respect to reinforcing band 52 shown in Fig. 15.

As previously stated, side openings 21 may be provided in a number of desirable ways. Also, it is not necessary that the side openings 'be provided in opposed relation asshown in Fig. 8. In Figs. 18 and 19, I have illustrated insert plate 20 formed with a plurality of rosettes punched fromthe plate in a manner to provide a series of side openings 70. Each rosette designated '71 is formed with four'such openings 70 to secure increased distribution of the steam sideways as it is forced through apertures 23 iii-plate 20.

Insert plate 2!) is also susceptible of different forms of construction. As previously stated, the purpose of'the invention is to provide a deflecting and diffusing surface between the higher pressure steam emitted from the press head and the garment to be pressed so as to reduce the pressure of the steam and uniformly distribute the same as well as increase the available moisture during the pressing operation. In Figs. 20 to 23, inclusive, 1 have illustratcd a diffuser plate designated broadly as St and comprising opposed members 81. and 82, each member being provided with a plurality of bossed holes 33 and 84, respectively, joined by a plurality of rib grooves and 86 extending between the respective bossed holes in each member. It will be observed that the series of bossed holes 83 in upper member 81 are open to the top of this diffuser plate hit. The embossmcnt encircling these holes is on the underside so that the rib grooves 85 of member 51 are likewise on the underside. Holes 34 in lower member 82 open at the bottom of diffuser plate 80, but the embossment for these holes is on the opposite side so that the rib grooves 86 of this member 82 are on the upper face. The arrangement is such that the rib grooves 85 of upper member 81 extend between the holes 84 of lower member 82. Likewise, the rib grooves 36 of lower member d2 lie between the holes ($3 of upper member 81. it is thus apparent that steam forced through upper holes 83 will be diffused in different directions through the spaces adjoining the ribbed grooves 86 and 35 of both members so as to be emitted from holes 84 of lower mem ber 82. Members 81 and 82 are secured together by brazing together at 96) at the cross-overs of rib groot es 85 and 86. While its members in the form of separate plates are involved in constructing the difiuser plate 80, a very simple and eflicient arrangement is obtained between the holes in each member so that there is complete diffusion and opportunity for the high pressure steam. to lose its velocity and pressure and affect the discharge of steam in the form of a gentle cloud spreading like a ilufiy blanket over the lower face of lower member 82.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the character of my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under varying conditions of service, without eliminating certain features, which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to me by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a garment pressing machine having a pressing surface adapted to be supplied with steam, a head having a metal plate forming a partition between a steam chamber containing live steam under substantial pressure and a relatively low pressure region, said plate being apertured to provide a substantial number of passages therethrough throughout the plate area, the plate metal at each aperture being expanded to form an arch covering such aperture with the metal being cut at the arch sides, each arch extending into the low pressure region to form tortuous passages, each arch being shaped to discharge the steam into the low pressure region generally parallel to the plate proper, the various steam discharge passages being suific'iently numerous and fine so that steam expands to a low pressure and forms a generally homogeneous steam blanket throughout the low pressure region, said blanket having little velocity of its own. v

2. A structure for steam distribution in a garment pressing machine having a steam press head and a perforated pressing surface, said steam press head under normal operation having steam therein at a pressure as high as about 100 lbs. p. s. i. and having a plate with ports therethrough of the order of about /i(; in diameter spaced at a dis tance of the order of about 1" through which the steam passes, said steam distribution structure forming a steam permeable'partition between the ported plate and the pressing surface, said structure comprising a plate having stationary parts thereof deformed by being bent laterally of the plate surface while still retaining substantially all of the material to form a solid plate, to provide a multiplicity of well defined passages therethrough having small arches over the openings, the passages being longer than the thickness of the plate and terminating on one side of the plate in a direction generally along the surface of the plate, the number of passages and dimensions thereof cooperating so that the discrete jets of high pressure steam upon one side of said steam distribution structure is changed after passage through said steam distribution structure to a low pressure moist blanket of steam diffused in a substantially homogeneous manner along the surface of said pressing surface.

3. In a garment pressing machine, the combination of a steam press head adapted to be connected to a source of steam at substantial pressure and a steam pressure reducing and diffusing plate in said head through which all steam must pass, said pressure reducing and diffusing plate comprising a plate member having a large number of passages formed therethrough, said passages being defined by local deformations laterally of the plate surface, said local deformations providing openings through the plate and small arches over the plate openings to provide a multiplicity of well defined passages therethrough, the passages being longer thanthe thickness of the structure to provide expansion passages through which steam may pass and dissipate energy, the passages being sufiiciently numerous so that steam pressure differentials along the high pressure side of the structure are reduced to a negligible value along the low pressure side thereof whereby steam supplied to the structure at high pressure will issue therefrom as a diffused, low pressure moist cloud.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein said small arches have a random orientation so that the passages terminating on the arched side of the plate will face various directions.

5. For use in a garment steam press, a steam diffuser construction of generally rigid material extending substantially as one piece from any point thereof in all directions toward the edges thereof, said, construction having a large number of tortuous passages therethrough whose physical dimensions remain substantially constant 1 under all operating conditions, said construction being static and having no movable parts and including at each tortuous passage an apertured plate portion, the aperture at each such plate portion being freely accessible on one side of said plate portion and being covered by an individual, imperforate hooded portion on the other side of 7 laterally oifset from the pattern of the other so that the embossed aperture of one plate is opposite a solid, imperforate, unembossed portion of the other plate, the ribbed grooves of one plate forming a. pattern which is non-registering with the ribbed grooves of the other plate, the solid, imperforate, unembossed plate portion of one plate constituting the hooded portion covering the opposed apertured portion of the other plate portion and the ribbed grooves extending from an apertured portion of one plate providing terminations along the plate surface for such apertured portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,245,571 Cooper Nov. 6, 1917 1,311,311 Braley July 29, 1919 1,340,519 Baitary May 18, 1920 1,502,873 Oberg July 29, 1924 1,680,032 Anderson Aug. 7, 1928 1,810,984 Ray June 23, 1931 1,870,934 Strobridge Aug. 9, 1932 2,154,597 Barrett Apr. 18, 1939 2,160,013 Burnstein May 30, 1939 2,674,053 Hoffman Apr. 6, 1954

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