June 13, 1961 H. M. ZIEGLER SHIRT-FOLDING BOARD Filed 00L 20, 1959 INVENTOR.

. #ELE/v M. 2/6fe Unid States Patent O 2,988,251 SHlRT-FOLDING BOARD Helen M. Ziegler, 5 De Forest Road, Wilton, Conn. Filed Oct. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 847,490

z claims. (cl. v22a- 31) This invention relates in general toa shirt-folding board for home` use. Y

One of the more perplexing problems in the life of the average housewife is the problem of folding a shirt in a natural manner uniformly and symmetrically without creating undue bulges or wrinkles which contribute to the unsightly appearance of a shirt after it has been unfolded for use.` Shirt manufacturing organizations and Laundries have resolved this problem by utilizing relatively bulky, complex and expensive folding machines and procedures'. This has, however, not solved the housewifes dilemma.

Itis therefore, an object of this invention to provide `an apparatus for folding shirts which is lightweight, simple, inexpensive and efficient, thereby providing the average housewife` with a practical solution toher shirt-folding problem.`

One of the Vmajor problems involved in providingashirt-folding board for the average housewife is that some form of clamping means is necessary in order to effectively fold` a shirt around a for-ming board or device of that nature. "In Vorder` for this clamping device to be practical, it must be of a very simple design, lightweight, efficient `and also require in its use a relatively small amount of. mechanical skill. Therefore one of the features of my invention is a relatively simple clamping arrangement which secures the shirt in position as the shirt is being folded.

A more detailed explanation of the object and features of my invention is expressed in the drawings and explanations to follow in which:

FIG. 1 is la perspective view of one embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away perspective view illustrating the reverse side of the positioning panel;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the reverse face of the folding member; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the direction and along the line indicated by the numerals 4 4.

. In these w'ews the numeral 1 designates the shirt-folding panelthat is, the member around which a shirt is folded. Numeral 2 designates a positioning member or panel which not only provides for the correct alignment of the collar and the buttons on the folding member 1 but also cooperates with member 1 in providing the clamping or securing means to insure that the shirt which is being folded around the folding member 1 will not slide or move during the 4actual folding operation. The positioning member 2 is secured to the folding mem ber 1 by a pair of hinges 5.

A collar, positioning and receiving recess 3 is provided by an outwardly bulged portion in member 2 to orientate the collar of the shirt and also to protect the collar from being crushed or distorted during the folding operation. A button or fastener-positioning and protecting recess 4 in the form of the outwardly bulged portion, defining in its inner face a groove, is also provided in member 2 to insure proper alignment of the buttons or fasteners with the collar of the shirt. As illustrated in the drawings, the zones of the free edges of member 2 are turned up or flanged to receive member 1 and to thereby form a securing or clamping means for the shirt as itis folded around the shirt-folding member 1. When a shirt is being thus folded, member 1 is positioned within the turned up edges of member 2 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In order to provide the clamping means and `fateited June 13, 1961 ice A since both the front and back of a shirt lie between members 1 and 2 during foldingthe toleranceF-or spacing between the thin edge of folding panel or member 1 and the upturned sides of member 2 must be in effect, less than two thicknesses of the shirt material.

This is so because there must be a force exerted on the shirt material in order to provide a positive clamping means. p It is tobe remembered that shirt materials vary in weight and therefore the spacing between the thin edge ofthe folding board or member 1 and the upturned sides of member 2 determines the lightest weight material which can be `folded on the folding board. The shirt folding member 1 should be composed of a material which is somewhatresilient and exible in order that the securing force exerted on the shirt does not tear or damage the` shirt and also to permit adaptability of the shirtfolding board to various weight fabrics.

As can be best Aseen in FIG. l, recess 3 has a shape resembling the `contours of a collar. Base portion 9 of recess 3 forms a plane which is substantially parallel to the plane defined by the main surface of member 2. As best illustrated in FIG. 1, portion 8 of recess 3 is in a plane inclined downwardly from the connected edgesof thepanels. g j

During the actual folding of a shirt memberZ is placed on any adequate working surfacewith recesses 3 and. 4 facing downward as illustrated in FIG. 2. The collar of the shirt to be folded is inserted in recess 3 with the shirt front facing downward, with the back of the collar positioned parallel to the straight wall 10 and substantially perpendicular to portion 9 of recess 3. After the collar of the shirt is thus positioned, the buttons or clasps or fasteners of the shirt are 'aligned in recess 4 of member 2 and the shirt is arranged such that the front and back of the shirt are substantially parallel to the plane formed by the unrecessed portion of 4member 2.

Techniques of insuring that the front and back of the shirt will be substantially parallel to the unrecessed portion of member 2 will be individual and varying. However a preferred method is to initially position the collar in the front portion of recess 3, that is on the recess 4 side and away from the wall 10, and then grasp portions of the shirt on either side of the collar and pull the shirt over the surface of member 2 until the back of the collar of the shirt is in position parallel to the surface 10 and perpendicular to surface 9. This procedure will assure that the shirt which is to be folded will be smoothly positioned on member 2. Thereafter member 1 is swung over the back of the shirt and pressed toward member 2. This will cause the outer edge of the shirt collar to be engaged by the inner faces of portions 8 and 9 to assume a finished contour and height.

Since the tolerance or clearance between the inside walls of the upturned ends of member 2 and member 1 is less than two thicknesses of the shirt material which is to be folded, a force will be exerted on members 1 and 2 and the shirt material itself. There will also be a pressure exerted on the surface of the shirt which is directly below member 1. However, the main binding force will occur between the thin edges of member 1 and the inside wall of the anged zones of member 2. FIG. 4 illustrates the relative positions of the thin edge of member 1 and the inside wall of member 2 and the gap 6 represents the tolerance or clearance between the two members. FIG. 4 is not intended to be drawn to scale and is merely illustrative. In order to prevent the shirt from being ripped or torn by the edges surrounding the gap 6 illustrated in FIG. 4, member 1 should be composed of -a somewhat resilient and springy type of material. After the shirt has been placed and properly positioned in recesses 3 and 4 of member 2 and member 1 is lowered or closed over the shirt, the complete folding of the shirt may continue. The complete folding f the shirt is. a. matter 0f preference but may be aecomplished by folding the sleeves across the exposed or back portion of member 1 until the cuis of each sleeve entendit@ the. armpit of. theV Opneste Sleeve- At this time por. Qf the Shirt 011 both Sides thereof extend; beyond the width ofv member 1K. Next the shirt portions extendina beyend the width. of member 1. may be folded over and upon the back ofA folding member 1;, The Shirt tail Should; be folded in enough Sethat when thatpertion 0f the shirtwhich extends beyond the shirt; folding member 1 is folded upon the back ofthe shirt,V- that this last folded portion will extend up to the collar of the shirt. To remove the shirt the two main members 1 and 2 should be turned; over, that is the shirt folding member 1 should be on the bottom. Next member 2 should be opened up leaving the shirt folded on the folding member 1. Next theshirt may be simply slipped; off the folding board by aY gentle pull at the bottom of the shirt.

I n providing a lightweight and inexpensive device, I have found the optimum material to be a lightweight plastic having -a limited amount of resilience.

Manitestly, the construetion shown is eapable of modieation Iand such modification as is considered within the meaning and scope of the appended claims is also considered within the spirit andintent of the invention.

' l.Y A shirt-folding board assembly comprising a pair of panels hingedly connectedv to each other at one end of each of said panels,v the adjacent edges of each of said panels being at right angles to eachother, one of said panels having an inner face which is formed with an outwardly bulged portio-n adjacent said hinged connection to dene a collar-receiving recess and with an inclined portion contiguous to said bulged portion extending towards the unhinged edge of said onev panel, said unbiased. edge being Substantially Het, the other otsaid panels being substantially flat `and having a smaller surface area than said bulged panel and said bulged panel being provided with edge flanges overlapping the edges of said tlat panel when the latter is swung to cover said recess. s v i 2; A shirtfolding board assemblyl Iinclndin g irr-combination a pair of panels, means for hingedly connecting certain edges of the panels,` one of said panels having an inner face which isl formed with an outwardly bulged portion defining a collar-receiving recess, a ha l, overing said recess ladapted to engage a collar of a which is received in said recess, said base being` defined. a portion of s aid one panel adjacent'the line ofhinged- 091,1: nection and extending substantially parallel to the snrfaceA of said one panel, at least those edges of the panels et r than those which are hingedly connected being disposed at right `angles to each other, the area of said one panel being greater than that of the other panel, the other; of said panels, being formed of a resilient material, ilangesv extending from the edge zene/Sl et Said one. Redet and Overlapping the edges 0f the @therePanelV andbeide Spese@ therefrom at a distance` adapted to bring said'res 'ent Panel in. a Conditie@ 0f tension and t0 elampaglyeseaae a shirt placed between the edge Zone of the otherpanel and the flanges. when. said. other. resilient Panel' is swung in a positionto cover said recess. Y

Beiermeister June'24, 1909.v Steele Dec. 1,5;` 1942