US3665624A

US3665624A - Portable garment pressing device

Info

Publication number: US3665624A
Application number: US66005A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles D Briddell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-08-21
Filing date: 1970-08-21
Publication date: 1972-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-30

Abstract

A portable garment pressing device comprising a base buck having a pressing surface against which the garment is placed for pressing and an elastic cover sheet adapted to extend over the garment and be stretched to conform to variations in thickness of the garment and hold the garment firmly against the buck while being pressed, either with or without the employment of heat. The device also may be used to store a garment in pressed condition by hanging the pressing device with the garment in it in depending manner in a storage space, such as a closet.

Description

United States Patent Briddell [54] PORTABLE GARMENT PRESSING DEVICE [72] Inventor: Charles D. Briddell, 335 l-lill-N-Dale Dr.,

York, Pa. 17403 [22] Filed: Aug. 21, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 66,005

[52] U.S. Cl ..38/71 [51] Int. Cl. .A47j 51/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..38/7l,2l

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,513,755 7/1950 Smith ..38/71 X 1,621,116 Lance ..38/71 51 May 30, 1972 Bayler ..38/2l Corby ..38/71 Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson Attorney-C. Hercus Just [57] ABSTRACT A portable garment pressing device comprising a base buck having a pressing surface against which the garment is placed for pressing and an elastic cover sheet adapted to extend over the garment and be stretched to conform to variations in thickness of the garment and hold the garment firmly against the buck while being pressed, either with or without the employment of heat. The device also may be used to store a garment in pressed condition by hanging the pressing device with the garment in it in depending manner in a storage space, such as a closet.

27 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY30 1912 3. 665.624

sum 1 n; 0

INVENTOR. CHARLES D. BRIDEELL BY A T TORNE Y PATENTEnmvao L972 3, 665,624

SHEET 2 CF (3 AT ORNEY PATENTEDMAY 30 I972 SHEET 30F G mm: 1 8% W ////A v INVENTOR. CHARLES D. BRIDDELL 1 1 fl BY 1 /fl 7a /4% ATTORN PATENTEDMAY 30 I972 SHEET t 0F 6 68 .4! Ann;

I l z lf:

FIG. l2

INVENTOR. 72

CHARLES D. IDDELL ATTORNEY PATENTEUMAY 30 I972 3 66 5 624 saw 5 BF 6 INVENTOR. CHARLES D. BRIDDEL L PATENTEDMAYBOIQYZ 3,665,624

SHEEI 6 BF 6 INVENTOR. CHARLES D. BRIDDEL L PORTABLE GARMENT PRESSING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many types of garment valet units and pressing devices have been devised heretofore, some of which employ heating means and others rely simply on pressure to achieve pressing of the garment. One of the principal dIfiICUItIES and shortcomings of said prior devices, especially those which employ heat, comprises the uneven heating of the garment, such as a pair of trousers wherein, for example, the heating means is applied against the outer surface of one of the trouser legs which receives much more of the heat than the other trouser leg which is farthest from the heating means. A typical example of such a device is represented in US. Pat. No. 3,145,490, to Corby, dated Aug. 25, 1964.

Other garment pressing assemblies and pants pressers attempt to overcome the foregoing shortcomings by providing each of a pair of pressing members with electrical-resistance type heating structures, which obviously doubles the cost of the heating arrangement. Such a device generally is shown in each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,950,498, to Lehnen et al., dated Mar. 13, 1934, and 2,317,406, to Ryan, dated Apr. 27, 1943.

One attempt has been made to provide a single heating element which is placed between the legs of a pair of trousers, for example, and a pair of pressing members respectively engage the outer surfaces of the trouser legs. Such an arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,529,899, to Bayler, dated Nov. 14, 1950, but the central heating device is rather complex and is heated by steam, thereby requiring a steam-generating unit which is connected thereto and is illustrated in the patent. Such an arrangement obviously is expensive and is not conveniently portable.

Still other devices of the so-called non-heat type garment pressing devices are relatively complex, such as the structure shown in US. Pat. No. 3,070,910 to De Dube, dated Jan. 1, 1963.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the principal purpose of the present invention to provide a number of related embodiments of garment pressing units or assemblies which are portable and essentially comprise a base buck, which preferably is elongated and transversely curved to provide an outermost convex pressing surface which adds strength to the structure, and pressing, either with or without the aid of heat is afiorded primarily by an elastic cover sheet, which is adapted to be stretched over the pressing surface of the buck and retained under tension by various embodiments of clamping and latching means, which hold the sheet in such stretched condition for any desired period of time, the elastic nature of the cover sheet permitting the same readily to accommodate variations in thicknesses or projections on the garments being pressed, without rendering such thickened areas prominent at the completion of the pressing operation as is now customary by the use of conventional steam-operated pressing units and heavy pressing heads which bear against rigid buck surfaces.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pressing device of the type referred to above in which a single electricresistance type flexible member or sheet is adapted to be disposed between the legs of a pair of trousers, for example, while the same are held in compressed manner between said aforementioned buck and electric cover sheet, whereby both legs of the trousers are heated uniformly and simultaneously to press said garment, either with or without the assistance of dampening, which may be provided by appropriate spray devices prior to affixing the elastic cover sheet in operative position, before heat is applied.

A further object of the invention is to provide various types of clamping or latching means by which the elastic cover sheet is placed under tension and suitably maintained in stretched, pressing manner over a garment placed upon the pressing surface of the base buck, all of said devices being readily operable with the application of minimum amounts of manual force.

Still another object of the invention is to provide one embodiment of pressing device in which the elastic cover sheet is permanently secured along one edge of the buck, and is used, the flexible heating sheet also may be permanently connected along the same side of the buck, while the opposite side edge of the elastic cover sheet is engaged by said aforementioned latching means to place the same under stretched tension.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a buck which may be molded in one of several different methods from synthetic resin, either of a thin, hard nature achieved by rotational molding, compression molding, injection molding, or by molding and processing an expandable or foam type synthetic resin so as to have an appropriate skin thereon, a portion of which may be formed so as to be suitable to serve as a pressing surface upon the buck.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a thermostatic control for the electric heating member, which will automatically determine the maximum heat which the heating member may generate before the current is disrupted, the capacity of the heating member to develop the required amount of heat to effect satisfactory pressing also being calculated so that, coupled with the adjustable setting of the thermostatic control, the amount of heat developed prior to disrupting the current will be adequate to effect a satisfactory pressing cycle, whereby said thermostatic control also serves as a timer, as well as providing safety measures to prevent overheating and possible damage to the garment being pressed.

One further object of the invention is to provide another embodiment of mechanism to support the elastic cover sheet which comprises a frame adapted to extend around the margins of the buck, the elastic cover sheet being attached along opposite side edges to corresponding sides of said frame, and appropriate latch means are provided by which the frame may be positioned around the margins of the buck in such manner as to place the elastic cover sheet under transverse tension by stretching the same to impart appropriate pressing pressure to the garment disposed upon the buck.

One other object of the invention is to provide zipper means to effect stretching and tensioning of the elastic cover sheet and to maintain it in such condition for effecting the pressing of a garment, either with or without the use of heat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a portable garment pressing device incorporating the principles of the present invention and showing certain elements thereof in exemplary, separated position.

FIG. 2 is a view of one end of the device shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating the legs of a pair of trousers disposed between certain of the pressing and heating elements in exaggerated, expanded manner.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation similar to FIG. 2 but showing the pressing device in clamped condition to hold a garment in position to be pressed.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, further enlarged view of one embodiment of latching and clamping means disposed in operative, clamped position.

FIG. 4a is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the latching and clamping mechanism in initial position to effect a clamping operation.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating the first step in the procedure of pressing a pair of trousers, said view showing an exemplary manner of placing the first trouser leg in the pressing device.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the next step over that shown in FIG. 5, wherein the flexible heating sheet has been placed over the first leg of the trousers and the second leg is being disposed on top of the heating sheet, prior to placing the elastic cover sheet over the second trouser leg.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 5 and 6, but showing the final step in the operation of placing a pair of trousers in the pressing device and the cover sheet being latched in stretched position in which it is disposed while pressing of the trousers occurs.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, foreshortened, vertical, longitudinal section view of one embodiment of buck construction formed from expandable synthetic foam type resin.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing a further embodiment of buck formed from synthetic resin in which rotational molding is used to form a thin, rigid, lower shell, and an additional sheet thereof which serves as a pressing surface, said shell and sheet having expansible or foam type synthetic resin disposed therebetween and connected thereto for insulation purposes, and strength.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary top plan view of a buck formed from synthetic resin, either of the type shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged end view of the left-hand end of the buck shown in FIG. 10 as seen on the line 1 111 thereof.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged end view of the buck shown in FIG. 10 as seen from the line 12-12 thereof at the right-hand end.

FIG. 13 is an exemplary side elevation of a buck of the type shown in the preceding figures, but employing a zipper-type latching means to stretch and dispose the elastic cover sheet in operative pressing position.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a still further type of mechanism to support the flexible cover sheet in operative position relative to the base buck.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary, transverse, sectional view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 14 as seen on the line 1515 thereof.

FIG. 16 is a side elevation of one of the latch means employed in the mechanism shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a side elevation of an exemplary thermostatic control for the electric heating element.

FIG. 18 is a plan view of an exemplary electric heating sheet comprising part of some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged and exaggerated sectional view of the sheet shown in FIG. 18 as seen on line 1919 thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-7, the same comprises a base buck 10, an elastic tension or cover blanket or sheet 12, and a flexible heating sheet 14. If desired to effect heatless pressing, the flexible heating sheet 14 may either be omitted or not energized. Also, if heatless pressing is desired, the flexible heating sheet 14 may be replaced by a thin, relatively stiff sheet, such as cardboard, and especially the type known as artists board, of which certain types are used to mount photographs and pictures. Under such circumstances, the sheet is placed between a pair of trouser legs prior to placing the elastic cover sheet 12 in the operative position thereof, such as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The base buck 10 in said aforementioned embodiment is formed from a suitable sheet of metal, such as aluminum, which extends longitudinally of the buck and the upper surface is convex in a transverse direction. If desired, the upper surface of the buck 10 may be covered with a sheet of suitable fabric which is cemented thereto in order to minimize the possibility of unduly flattening the seams of a pair of trousers, for example, or any other garment, and rendering such seams apparent at the completion of the pressing operation.

The sheet is supported by a pair of end plates or trusses 16, which are disposed slightly inward from the opposite ends of the base buck 10 and are securely fastened thereto appropriately by screws or otherwise. The trusses 16 are formed from wood or other suitable material. Also, a bottom finishing plate 18, formed from suitable sheet metal, for example, such as aluminum, is disposed over the space defined by the lower edges of the trusses 16 and the sides of buck 10. Preferably, an intermediate truss 16 also is provided to render further rigidi ty to the sheet metal member comprising the upper surface of buck 10.

The lower opposite portions of the end trusses 16 comprise feet members 20, which may be capped by resilient pads to minimize marring and scratching by the pressing device when placed upon a supporting surface, such as a counter, table or otherwise. The preferred nature of the various embodiments of the pressing devices comprising the present invention is such that they readily are mobile in that they are light in weight and of such size as readily to render them portable as well as being suspended in vertical condition, either while sup porting a garment in pressed condition or without such garment disposed therein.

In the above-described embodiment, one edge each of both the elastic cover sheet 12 and heating sheet 14 is secured along one side of the buck 10, such as by utilizing a clamping strip 22 which, as shown in detail in FIG. 3, may be channelshaped and afiixed by a suitable number of screws or rivets 24 to the metal plate comprising one side of the buck 10. The elastic cover sheet 12 may be formed of any one of a number of suitable types of material such as neoprene synthetic rubber, natural rubber, mixtures of synthetic resins and natural or synthetic rubbers, or any other type of suitable elastic material capable of withstanding pressing temperatures. By way of example, but without limitation, it is not necessary for such pressing temperature to exceed about F.

The elastic cover sheet 12 also need not exceed approximately ria-inch in thickness and, depending upon the strength of individual selected materials, said thickness may be less. The essential requisite of the material is that it be capable of being stretched transversely between the edge clamped by the strip 22 and the opposite edge that is fastened to clamping member 26 which, as shown in FIG. 3, preferably is channelshaped and of such nature, for example, that a folded edge of the sheet 12 may be fitted in locking manner within the channel 26. The channel 26 also is provided with a plurality of latching hooks 28 which are disposed in evenly spaced relationship along the member 26 for engagement with a plurality of latch or clamp members 30.

The clamp members 30 respectively are each connected pivotly at one end, to a small U-shaped bail or link 32, shown in FIGS. 4 and 4a, which, in turn, are affixed to a rotatable tube or rod 34, which may be termed a clamping rod. Suitable openings 36 are formed in the opposite side of the metal sheet which forms the pressing surface of buck 10 from that to which clamping strip 22 is connected, as clearly shown in FIG. 1, for purposes of accommodating the latch members 30. An appropriate coil spring 38, shown in FIGS. 4 and 4a extends around pivot 40 and engages latch members 30 and the bails 32 so that when the clamping rod 34 is disposed in initial position, as controlled by the operation of manual operating handle 42 which is connected to the outer end of rod 34, the latch members 30 will be disposed with the upper, hooked ends thereof in the position substantially as shown in FIG. 4a, in which position said hooked ends readily may engage the latching hooks 28 on the outer, free edge of elastic cover sheet 12.

OPERATION OF PRESSING DEVICE Referring to FIGS. 5-7, the principal steps involved in the operation of the pressing device illustrated in FIGS. l4 respectively are set forth. In FIG. 5, the elastic cover sheet 12 and flexible heating sheet 14, if used, are folded back from the buck 10 in order to permit the first leg 44 of a pair of trousers to be disposed upon the upper pressing surface of buck 10 and be held temporarily in stretched position by exemplary clamps 46. As can be readily seen from FIGS. 5-7, the ends of the smooth sheet comprising the pressing surface of buck 10 extend beyond the end trusses 16 a short distance, such as of the order of 1 inch or less, in order to form a flange surface which can be engaged by the jaws of the clamps 46, for example. After placing the leg 44 upon the buck 10, and assuming that the pressing operation is to involve heat, the flexible heating sheet 14 then is placed over the trouser leg 44, to permit the second trouser leg 48 to be smoothly placed upon the upper surface of sheet 14. To hold the same temporarily in stretched condition, the clamps 46 may be momentarily disengaged from the trouser leg 44 and be reapplied to clamp both trouser legs against the buck 10.

Following the aforementioned operation, the elastic cover sheet 12 is placed over the upper trouser leg 48 and the latching hooks 28 are substantially automatically brought into engagement with the upwardly extended latch members 30 at the conclusion of such positioning of the sheet 12. It then is only necessary to move the operating handle 42 from the inoperative position, shown in FIG. 1, 2, 5 and 6, to the operative position shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, which results in stretching the elastic cover sheet 12 transversely a limited amount to place the same under substantial tension which is fully adequate to secure the cover sheet 12 in tensioned operative pressing condition for a desired predetermined period of time.

The mechanism for moving the latch members 30 to the operative, clamped position thereof in which they maintain the cover sheet 12 in stretched and tensioned, taut condition over the pair of trouser legs disposed thereunder is such, as will be seen from FIG. 4, that a line drawn between the hook 28 and the pivot 40 will pass to the far side of the axis of rod 34, whereby the pivot 40 has been moved past the so-called line of centers comprising the hook 28, axis of rod 34 and pivot 40 for each of the latch members 30. Accordingly, no further mechanism is necessary to retain the elastic cover sheet 12 in such stretched, taut condition.

In the event the elastic cover sheet 12 is selected from a material which may offer at least a limited amount of friction, the sliding movement of the outer edge portion thereof over the rounded corner portion 50 of buck will be rendered less difficult if friction-eliminating means are utilized, such as an elongated strip 52 of relatively friction-free synthetic resin such as sold under the tradenames Teflon and Delryn, or otherwise, is applied longitudinally along said elongated rounded corner portion 50 of buck 10. Such strip is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, but is better illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The use of such means minimizes the amount of manual force required to operate the handle 42 to effect the clamping action of the elastic cover sheet 12.

In view of the elastic nature of the cover sheet 12, it readily will be apparent that, for example, projections such as seams and buttons, or any other extra thicknesses of cloth in the garment, readily will be accommodated by the elastic nature of sheet 12 without causing undue pressure upon such thicker portions or projections and thereby minimizing the tendency for seams and the like to be so evident following conventional pressing of garments which include such seams, such as along trouser legs, wherein the seams frequently are quite prominent and exhibit a hard pressed streak or shiny surface, especially in garments which are somewhat worn and have been pressed repeatedly. Stretching the cover sheet 12 transversely over the curved buck 10 affords the added advantage of producing a pressing force perpendicular to and toward the buck which is appreciable and significant, as distinguished from stretching the buck across a relatively flat surface.

ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 8, a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of base buck 54 is shown which is broken in the middle to foreshorten the view. In this embodiment, the buck 54 may be molded from a suitable, expandable type synthetic resin, sometimes referred to as foam type resin. An ap propriate mold is utilized and the resin is suitably processed in accordance with customary procedures. Some of the appropriate resins from which the buck may be formed are sold under the tradenames Cycolac .IS," an expandable ABS; expandable polyurethanes and expandable polystyrenes.

The buck 54 may be shaped in plan view as a trapezoid. It will be seen that the molded buck is provided with a plurality of transversely extending, reinforcing ribs or trusses 56, the endmost of which may comprise the end trusses and appearancewise, resemble the end trusses 16 of the embodiment shown in the preceding figures. Also, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 10, a box-like compartment 58 is integrally molded in the buck and is provided with a removable metal cover 58, for purposes to be described, and a plurality of

openings

59, 60 and 61, which receive various mechanical and electrical elements involved in supplying current to and operating a thermostatic switch, details of which also are described hereinafter in relation to FIG. 17.

The upper surface 62 of the buck comprises the pressing surface and, in accordance with known techniques of molding synthetic resins, the same may be provided with a suitable, durable skin" surface to enable the same to serve as a pressing surface. If desired to provide a more rigid type of pressing surface, however, attention is directed to FIG. 9 in which a slightly modified embodiment is illustrated, comprising base buck 54'.

Buck 54 is provided with a relatively thin, rigid shell 63 and may be formed by a technique known as rotational molding. Many types of rigid, synthetic resins may be used for the formation of such shell. Also, another, preferably arcuate shell or sheet 64, which actually forms a pressing surface, is formed by a similar technique and is spaced above the upper surface of shell 63 to provide a space within which a suitable, expandable or foam type synthetic resin 66 may be disposed and suitably affixed to the relatively rigid shell 63 and sheet 64. The use of such expandable or foam type synthetic resin is especially convenient and efficient with respect to employing the base bucks formed therefrom in pressing operations which involve the use of heat such as that afforded by the flexible heating sheet 14, or any equivalent thereof.

Although not specifically illustrated in the illustrations of FIGS. 10-12, it will be understood that an elastic cover sheet 12 is connected to the

bucks

54 or 54. To accomplish this, it will be seen by reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 that the molded buck 54, or 54', is provided along the lower edge of one side with a recess 68 which extends along the entire length of the buck for purposes of receiving a metallic clamping channel 70, that, for example, may be fixedly connected to the side of the buck by a series of bolts 72 spaced longitudinally along the channel 70 and also extending through the preferably folded edge of the elastic cover sheet 12 so as to effectively lock the same to the buck. If a flexible heating sheet, such as sheet 14, is employed in regard to heat-type pressing, as distinguished from heatless pressing, one edge of such heating sheet also may be secured to the buck by being disposed within the channel 70, or an extension from the heating sheet may be disposed therein.

The opposite side of the

buck

54 or 54 is molded to provide another and larger elongated recess 74 for purposes of accommodating a tube 76, which, at suitable locations therealong, is provided with clamping hooks 78. A continuous extended rib that is hook-shaped in cross-section may be used, if desired, in lieu of individual hooks. The tube 76 functions similarly to the clamping rod 34 in the preceding embodiments and it will be understood that the hook 78 is operable to engage the latching hooks 28 affixed to the outer edge of the elastic cover sheet 12 as described above with respect to the preceding embodiment. Operating handle 80 extends through one end of the tube 76 to effect operation thereof. The tube 76 is suitably supported by a circular strap-like metal bearing 82, having overlying ends which are mounted in a molded recess 84 and receive a bolt 86 therethrough which is threaded into a suitable socket formed in the adjacent side of the

buck

54 or 54. If desired, a metal nut may be molded into the interior of the synthetic resin from which the buck is formed. One of the end trusses 56, as shown in FIG. 11, may be provided with a suitable bracket 88 upon which the outer end of the handle 80 may be disposed to latch the handle in position to maintain the elastic cover sheet 12 in stretched, garment pressing condition.

Referring to FIG. 13, it will be seen that another and relatively simple embodiment is provided for securing the outer, free edge of the elastic cover sheet 12 in stretched, garment pressing condition. The figure represents an elevation of that side of the elastic cover sheet 12 which is to be engaged for stretching operation. The means to accomplish this comprises what is commonly referred to as a Zipper comprising a slide-fastener type of connecting means 90. The latter comprises a pair of

co-engageable strips

92 and 94 of small interlocking fingers and a slide 96 which is movable longitudinally along the connecting means 90 to effect engagement and dis engagement of said rows of fingers relative to each other.

In the preferred construction of this embodiment, an extension 98 of the connecting means 90 is provided at the lefthand end as viewed in FIG. 13. Said end preferably is of the type commonly used in such connecting means as are employed on garments such as Windbreakers, and the like, wherein the strips of interlocking fingers are initially entirely separated and a guide key" on the end of one strip is inserted into a socket in the other strip to enable the slide 96 to initiate connection of the fingers from that end of the connecting means when the slide is moved toward the other end. It will be understood that, initially, there is a space 100 extending transversely between the two strips of interlocking

fingers

92 and 94. The closing of said space results in the elastic cover sheet being transversely stretched to impose desired pressure upon the garment being pressed by cover sheet 12 and/or by the use of the flexible heating sheet 14, if the same is employed. In said embodiment, the strip of fingers 94 preferably is connected to an additional band 102 of fabric or other suitable material which is rigidly clamped to the lower portion of the side of the buck along which it is disposed.

A still further embodiment of portable garment pressing device which employs the basic principles of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 14-16. Referring to FIG. 14, the buck is essentially similar in shape and structure to any of those in the preceding embodiments and has been appropriately designated by the reference numerals thereof. The principal difference lies in the manner in which the elastic cover sheet is supported and applied against the pressing surface of the various embodiments of the buck with which said elastic cover sheet may be employed. Accordingly, in FIG. 14, elastic cover sheet 104 is shown connected along opposite side edges to a frame 106 which comprises a pair of rigid side frame members 108 and 1 10.

Referring to FIG. 15, the particular, cross-sectional shape of the side members is an I-beam, preferably of aluminum. A channel member may be used in lieu of the I-beam if desired, especially for purposes of receiving a clamping channel 112 of suitably smaller cross-section, for purposes of securely clamping the outer edge portions of the side edges of elastic cover sheet 104. It will be understood that a similar clamping means is embodied in the other side frame member 108, whereby both opposite elongated side edges of the sheet 104 are securely clamped respectively to the side frame members 108 and 1 10.

Connected to one end of the

exemplary buck

10, 54 or 54', is a fixed, stationary bracket 114, the same having an upwardly extending, downwardly curved hook 116. The frame 106 includes a pair of

end members

118 and 120 which, conveniently, and inexpensively, can comprise metal bars of suitable diameter and preferably light weight material. The opposite ends of the bars respectively extend through side frame members 108 and 110 adjacent the ends thereof and maintain the same in spaced relationship to constitute the rigid frame 106. The end frame member 118 is disposed under the hook 116 while the opposite end of the frame 106 is elevated so as readily to permit such connection. Said opposite end of the frame which includes end member 120 then is lowered, which progressively stretches the elastic sheet 104, transversely, across the upper surface of the buck and any garment which is spread along the buck for pressing.

The opposite end of the

exemplary buck

10, 54 or 54' is also provided with an outwardly extending bracket 122 to which a movable anchoring clamp 124 is afiixed. Details of said anchoring clamp are best illustrated in FIG. 16. The same comprises a narrow channel 126 which is securely anchored to the bracket 122. Pivotaly connected between the opposite sides of the channel 126 is a bell crank lever 128. Another short lever 130 also has one end pivotaly connected between the opposite sides of channel 126. An operating handle and lever member 132 is connected by pivot 134 to the opposite end of short lever 130 and one end of handle and lever member 132 is pivotaly connected at 136 to the bell crank lever 128 in spaced relation to the pivot 138 by which bell crank lever 128 is pivotaly connected to the channel 126.

When the outer handle portion of lever member 132 is elevated in the direction of the arrow 140, the outer end of bell crank lever 128 also will be elevated in the direction of the arrow 142. When the outer end of lever 128 is thus elevated, the end member of frame 106 may be pressed downwardly while continuously conforming the elastic sheet 104 to the curved upper surface of the buck of the device and thereby transversely stretching said sheet. Also, when the end member 120 has been lowered until it is in position to be engaged by the bell crank lever 128, the outer handle portion of lever 132 then may be pressed downwardly and produces a mechanical advantage which is created by the toggle comprising a portion of member 132 and short lever for purposes of readily and quickly lowering the outer end of bell crank lever 128 into engagement with the end frame member 120 and effect the final lowering movement of said frame member.

In view of the fact that when the handle portion of lever 132 has been lowered to the position shown in FIG. 16, the elements comprising the toggle will be in a straight line, the anchoring clamp 124 will be self-locking and require no further means to maintain the frame 106 in the normal operative pressing position thereof in which it surrounds the sides and ends of the buck and holds the elastic cover sheet 104 in firmly clamped position across the upper, pressing surface of the buck. It is to be understood that the clamp illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 16, and described above, merely is representative of a number of commercial type clamps which may be used in lieu of that illustrated.

The embodiment of the pressing device illustrated in FIGS. 14-16, in addition to being capable of pressing garments such as trousers, also is well adapted to press garments and other items of both larger and smaller areas than trouser legs, for example, such as coats, jackets, neckties, dresses, blouses, and the like. This is due to the fact that the larger garments may be draped downwardly from each of the side edges of the buck and thereby permit a much wider area of fabric to be pressed in the device comprising such embodiment than a garment which is only as wide as the buck or less. Further, in regard to all of the embodiments described hereinabove, it is to be understood that multiples of smaller garments such as neckties, handkerchiefs and other haberdashery items susceptible to being pressed, may be pressed in said various embodiments, either with the use of heat or without the same.

HEATING DETAILS AND CONTROLS In selecting a suitable, flexible heating sheet to comprise the sheet 14, the construction must be such that, in addition to being flexible, it must be capable of generating substantially uniform heat at all locations throughout the area of the sheet. There are available from commercial and industrial sources at present, certain types of electrical resistance sheets incorporating current-conducting metal powders, carbon, and the like. These are of such nature that when, for example, elongated electrodes are secured to opposite edges of said sheet and the current is imposed between said electrodes, the sheets will uniformly generate the desired amount of heat, but continual use and flexing of such sheets may result in cracks being developed after certain periods of time.

Such cracks conceivably can result in short circuits and possibly cause burning or other types of injury to fabrics being pressed on one of the devices comprises the invention, and including such type of flexible heating sheet. Under the foregoing circumstances, and to obviate the possibility of such damage occurring, one preferred type of flexible heating sheet 14 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 18 and 19. Said details are as follows:

Two sheets of suitable, natural rubber or flexible synthetic resin material of identical shape are selected, the shape preferably being the same as that of the upper surface of the buck with which the heating sheet is to be used. Some of the suitable resins for this purpose comprise polypropylene, high density polyethylene, silicone rubber, high temperature P.V.C., flame retardant type A.B.S., and neoprene rubber. A coating of appropriate cement is applied to one surface of one of said sheets of material and a relatively fine size of electrical resistance wire is continuously threaded back and forth across said sheet and afiixed thereto by said cement in parallel lines, as shown in exemplary dotted line manner in FIG. 18.

One end of the wire comprises the positive terminal and the other end the negative terminal. By way of example, for purposes of illustration and without restriction thereto, it has been found that enamel coated electrical resistance wire 0.0071 inches in diameter, designated as no. 33 wire, and having a resistance of 0.62 ohms per foot, when connected in an electric circuit of 1 l5 volts will require between 150 and 200 watts to generate a pressing temperature of approximately 190F. In the particular example referred to, the individual courses of the resistance wire were spaced slightly less than A inch apart. Such arrangement readily provides for unifonn heat from both surfaces of the flexible sheet 14.

From FIG. 19, it will be seen that the

sheets

144 and 146 are arranged with the electrical resistance wire 148 threaded therebetween and secured in operative position by the cement layer 150. Other sizes of wire and spacings thereof may be utilized as long as the same are calculated to produce the desired amount of heat for the required amount of time to effect a satisfactory pressing operation. The period during which heat normally is required to effect satisfactory pressing of garments, at the temperature referred to, is between and l5 minutes, depending upon the thickness of the garment material.

Also, by permitting the garment to remain in the pressing device, without heat for longer periods of time, highly effective pressing can be achieved. For example, by leaving a pair of trousers in any embodiment of such pressing devices over night, or even a much shorter period, highly effective pressing of the trousers will result. Under such circumstances, it is preferred that a relatively stiff sheet having limited flexibility should be placed between the two legs of a pair of trousers to effect a better pressing result than when no such sheet is utilized. Artists board is highly suitable for such purposes. Other garments obviously may be so pressed.

As has been mentioned hereinabove, the pressing devices which employ heating means such as the flexible heating sheet 14 preferably have a thermostatic control switch in the circuit. Such switch, for example, is located in the box-like compartment 58 of the type of buck shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, for example, and suitable electrical conductors extend through openings 60 and 61, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In the embodi ment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the switch may be mounted in the space between the upper sheet which comprises the pressing surface of buck 10 and the bottom finishing plate 18 which defines an interior space of substantial size.

Referring to FIG. 17, the thermostatic control switch 152 comprises a mounting bracket 154, which preferably is connected directly to the upper sheet comprising the pressing surface of the bucks, such as buck 10 or removable metal plate 58', shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Heat from the heating sheet 14 is transmitted to the garment being pressed and from there to the buck 10, which is of metal, or to the removable metal plate 58' in the embodiments having a buck molded from resin. The

heat from the buck 10 or plate 58 is directed through the bracket 154 to the bi-metal strip 156 to cause suitable reaction thereof over a limited period of time. In the illustration shown in FIG. 17, the switch is ON, and in this condition, the contact 158 is engaged by the movable switch member 160. The switch member 160 is controlled and actuated by a spring-actuated toggle unit 162, one end of the spring being connected to an adjustable screw 164. When the switch is OFF, the contact 160 is in engagement with contact 166.

When the movable contact 160 of the switch 152 is in the OFF position and engages the contact 166, and it is desired to initiate operation of the flexible heating sheet 14 to apply heat to a garment being pressed, an actuating button 168 is pressed to move a conical tip 170 thereon into engagement with the upper end of screw 164. The button 168 may extend through opening 59 in FIGS. 8 and 9, or through one of the end plates 16 in the preceding embodiments. This will depress the bimetal strip 156 a limited amount, sufficient to snap the toggle unit 162 to the ON position, illustrated in FIG. 17. A spring 172 is mounted to engage the plunger of push-button 168 and restore it to the starting position shown in FIG. 17. When this occurs, the bi-metal strip 156 will restore itself to the position shown in FIG. 17, but in the meantime, the switch has been closed to establish a current circuit from a suitable source through the electric resistance heating means of the flexible heating sheet 14.

After the heat generated by the heating sheet 14 has increased the temperature of the garment being pressed and such heat has passed therefrom and has been transmitted to the pressing surface of the buck and from there to bracket 154, it ultimately reaches the bi-metal strip 156 and causes suitable deflection thereof after a predetermined period of time, adequate to press the garment, and opens the switch to discontinue the circuit of the flexible heating sheet 14. The length of time required to accomplish this is calculated to be adequate to effect a desired degree of pressing of normal, average weight garments.

A separate type of timer, either electrical or mechanical, may be used, if desired, either in circuit with the abovedescribed thermostatic switch shown in FIG. 17, or with a different safety type, heat-limiting switch, if desired, in accordance with the principles of the invention. Also, a signal light 174 may be included in the electric circuit to serve as a visible indicator that the heating sheet 14 is energized.

VALET FEATURES Referring to FIGS. l-3, it will be seen that a bail type handle 176 is movably connected to the end plate 16 nearest the operating handle 42. The handle 176 is mounted with its legs slidable through holes in said end plate and the inner ends of the legs are bent or otherwise arranged to prevent complete withdrawal from the end plate 16. When handle 176 is withdrawn about an inch, it serves as a convenient means to carry or for otherwise handling or positioning the entire device. When not in use, handle 176 is disposed substantially against the outer face of end plate 16.

The handle 176 has a small U-shaped metal strap 178 extending around it and positioned against longitudinal movement thereon by being between a pair of stop flanges 180 which are fixed to handle 176. Said flanges 180 are off-center relative to the central longitudinal axis of buck 10 so as to be substantially on the center of gravity of the entire pressing device which is similarly off-center due to clamping rod 34 and the associated latching and clamping structure making the left-hand side portion of the pressing device, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, heavier than the right-hand side.

A supporting hook 182 has a loop on one end pivotally connected to strap 178 by a rivet 184. By such arrangement, the hook 182 may be pivotally moved relative to strap 178 which then may be pivotally moved upon handle 176 to permit the hook to extend perpendicularly relative to the plane of the end plate 16. Thus, when the handle 176 is withdrawn outwardly from end plate 16 and the hook 182 is disposed in said perpendicular position, the entire pressing device may be suspended vertically therefrom and supported by said hook from a clothes rod in a closet, hook, or otherwise.

Normally, the pressing device will not have the heating sheet 14, if used, energized during such suspended support of the device, but the heating sheet may be energized for heated type pressing, if desired, to press a garment while thus supported. Also, at the completion of the pressing of a garment, either with or without the use of heat, the pressing device, with the garment clamped therein, may be hung in such suspended position by hook 182 until it is desired to wear or otherwise remove the garment. Also, heatless type pressing may be accomplished in this manner over a period of a few hours, or overnight, for example. The size of the device also is such that it may readily be accommodated in a clothes closet.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A garment pressing assembly comprising in combination, an elongated base buck curved transversely and having the convex surface outermost for use to support a garment to be pressed, a flexible elastic sheet adapted to overlie a garment when placed upon said convex surface of said buck to be pressed, and means engageable with said elastic sheet and operable to place the same under tension in opposite transverse directions to provide pressure upon said garment to conform it to said buck and press it, said sheet also being yieldable to accommodate projections and irregularities in thickness of said garment without affecting to any appreciable extent the pressing action of said sheet and buck upon said garment.

2. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 1 further including means to secure one edge of said elastic sheet longitudinally along one side of said buck and said means which are engageable with said elastic sheet to place the same under tension comprising clamp means extending along the opposite side of said buck and engageable with said opposite edge of said sheet, said clamp means being operable to stretch said sheet in a transverse direction and thereby place the same under tension.

3. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 2 in which said clamp means include latches operable to move laterally outward and downward from said clamping surface of said buck along said opposite edge thereof and thereby effect said tensioning of said elastic sheet.

4. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 3 further including a rotatable bar extending longitudinally along said opposite side of said buck and connected to said latches for support thereof and simultaneous operation thereby when said bar is rotated oppositely in clamping and releasing directions.

5. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 4 further including an operating handle on one end of said bar and positioned relative to one end of said buck to permit rotatable movement of said bar in opposite directions relative to said buck.

6. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 5 in which said latches include links connected between said bar and latches and having pivots arranged to be moved toward and from a position in which said pivots are positioned and aligned past dead center to releasably lock said elastic sheet in stretched condition.

7. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 2 in which said clamp means comprises a slide-fastener assembly comprising two rows of engageable and disengageable locking fingers operable by a slide, said rows of fingers respectively being connected to said opposite edge of said elastic sheet and said opposite edge of said buck, said rows of fasteners normally being spaced transversely from each other a limited distance, whereby when the rows of fastening fingers are engaged, the elastic sheet will be stretched transversely to place the same under tension.

8. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 1 in which said means engageable with said elastic sheet to place the same under tension comprises a frame similar in shape to the margins of said buck and adapted for movement toward and from a position in which said frame surrounds the opposite sides and ends of said buck, means extending along opposite sides of said frame to secure the opposite side edge of said elastic sheet to said sides of said frame, and latch means carried by said buck and respectively engageable with opposite sides of said frame to hold the same in buck-surrounding position and thereby stretch said elastic sheet under tension and maintain the same in such condition for a desired period of time.

9. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 8 in which said latches are connected to the opposite ends of said buck and engage corresponding ends of said frame.

10. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 9 in which one of said latches is rigid and fixed to said end of said buck and the other latch includes a movable leg engageable with the other end of said frame and operable to facilitate the final lowering movement of said frame relative to said buck when the greatest amount of force is required to effect the final stretching of said elastic sheet over a garment when disposed upon said buck.

11. A garment pressing assembly comprising in combination, an elongated base buck, a flexible electrical-resistance heating sheet adapted to be placed between the legs of a pair of trousers when positioned upon said buck, a flexible covering member adapted to be stretched and thereby tensioned transversely across the uppermost leg of a pair of trousers when positioned upon said buck with said heating sheet disposed between the legs thereof, and circuit means to supply electric current to said heating sheet to apply pressing heat simultaneously and substantially evenly to both legs of said trousers by said single heating sheet.

12. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 1 1 in which said heating element comprises a continuous electrical resistance wire arranged in closely spaced parallel strands and encased in insulating flexible sheet material.

13. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 12 in which said insulating sheet material comprises two sheets of synthetic resin of dielectric type cemented together with said electrical resistance wire fixedly sandwiched therebetween.

14. A garment pressing assembly according to claim 11 further including an adjustable thermostatic control unit in the circuit means for said heating sheet and adapted to disrupt the circuit upon a predetermined safe high temperature limit being reached.

15. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 14 in which the heat generating capacity of the electric resistance wire is computed to require a predetermined period of time to reach the controlled maximum high temperature limit of said heating sheet which is adequate to complete the pressing of a garment, whereby said thermostatic control unit also serves as a timer.

16. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 11 further including means to attach one edge each of said heating sheet and covering member to one side of said buck, and said assembly also including means engageable with the opposite side of said covering member to stretch the same transversely across said buck and any article of apparel positioned thereon.

17 The garment pressing assembly according to claim 16 in which said buck is convex transversely to provide strength and rigidity thereto, said buck being formed from rigid sheet material and also including trusses extending transversely across at least the opposite ends of said buck and engaging the concave surface thereof.

18. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 17 in which said flexible covering member is elastic and said assembly also including tensioning means mounted along the opposite side of said buck from that to which said one edge of each of said heating sheet and covering member is connected, said tensioning means engaging the opposite side edge of said covering member and being operable to stretch the same transversely and place it under yieldable tension relative to a garment engaged thereby when positioned upon said buck.

19. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 11 in which said flexible covering member is elastic, said buck is convex transversely, and said assembly also includes a frame at least as long and as wide as said buck and connected along two opposite sides thereof to corresponding opposite sides of said covering member, and means to hold said frame and covering member in stretched condition over said buck and a garment when positioned thereon to effect pressing thereof.

20. A garment pressing assembly comprising in combination, an elongated base buck molded from synthetic resin and including a smooth pressing surface which is convex transversely, reinforcing transverse ribs molded integrally with and extending across said concave surface of said buck, an elastic cover sheet similar in size and shape to the convex surface of said buck, and means operable to stretch and tension said cover sheet over a garment when positioned upon said buck to conform to irregularities in thickness of said garment and maintain said cover sheet in stretched and tensioned conditron.

21. The garment pressing assembly according to claim further including elongated securing means extending along one edge of said buck and engaging one edge of said cover sheet to attach the same to said one edge of said buck, and said means which are operable to stretch said cover sheet comprising a tensioning rod mounted rotatably in an elongated recess formed along the opposite edge of said buck, and latch means on said rod engageable with the adjacent side edge of said cover sheet and operable to stretch the same transversely when said rod is rotated in one direction.

22. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 21 further including a flexible electrical resistance type heating sheet adapted to develop uniform heat substantially throughout the entire area thereof and to be placed between the legs of a pair of trousers when said trousers are positioned upon said buck for pressing, whereby said heating sheet when energized provides substantially unifonn simultaneous heating for both legs of a pair of trousers.

23. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 22 in which said buck is molded from foam type synthetic resin to provide heat insulation during pressing operations and also render the assembly light in weight.

24. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 22 in which said buck is formed from synthetic resin molded by a rotational molding process to form a rigid shell of substantially uniform thickness, said buck being provided with transverse reinforcing ribs extending between opposite sides of said buck and engageable with the concave side thereof, an additional sheet of similar rigid resin spaced from the convex surface of said shell, and foam type expanded resin disposed between and connected to said rigid shell and additional sheet of rigid resin to form a composite rigid buck having heat insulation characteristics.

25. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 1 further including a handle connected to the end of said buck adjacent which the cuffs of trousers are positioned when being pressed, a hook mounted upon said handle and offset toward the side of said buck on which said clamp means is mounted to compensate for the uneven weight contributed by said clamp means to said pressing assembly, whereby said garment pressing assembly may be hung by said hook in depending manner from a suitable support, either with or without a garment being clamped therein, for either pressing or storage operations.

26. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 25 in which said handle is mounted movably relative to said end of said buck between an extended operative position and a retracted inoperative position.

27. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 25 in

Claims

12. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 11 in which said heating element comprises a continuous electrical resistance wire arranged in closely spaced parallel strands and encased in insulating flexible sheet material.

16. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 11 further including means to attach one edge each of said heating sheet and covering member to one side of said buck, and said assembly also including means engageable with the opposite side of said covering member to stretch the same transversely across said buck and any article of apparel positioned thereon. 17 The garment pressing assembly according to claim 16 in which said buck is convex transversely to provide strength and rigidity thereto, said buck being formed from rigid sheet material and also including trusses extending transversely across at least the opposite ends of said buck and engaging the concave surface thereof.

20. A garment pressing assembly comprising in combination, an elongated base buck molded from synthetic resin and including a smooth pressing surface which is convex transversely, reinforcing transverse ribs molded integrally with and extending across said concavE surface of said buck, an elastic cover sheet similar in size and shape to the convex surface of said buck, and means operable to stretch and tension said cover sheet over a garment when positioned upon said buck to conform to irregularities in thickness of said garment and maintain said cover sheet in stretched and tensioned condition.

21. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 20 further including elongated securing means extending along one edge of said buck and engaging one edge of said cover sheet to attach the same to said one edge of said buck, and said means which are operable to stretch said cover sheet comprising a tensioning rod mounted rotatably in an elongated recess formed along the opposite edge of said buck, and latch means on said rod engageable with the adjacent side edge of said cover sheet and operable to stretch the same transversely when said rod is rotated in one direction.

22. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 21 further including a flexible electrical resistance type heating sheet adapted to develop uniform heat substantially throughout the entire area thereof and to be placed between the legs of a pair of trousers when said trousers are positioned upon said buck for pressing, whereby said heating sheet when energized provides substantially uniform simultaneous heating for both legs of a pair of trousers.

27. The garment pressing assembly according to claim 25 in which said hook is foldably connected to said handle for movement between operative and inoperative positions thereon.