US3713567A

US3713567A - Pants pressing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3713567A
Application number: US00160476A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Paris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-07-07
Filing date: 1971-07-07
Publication date: 1973-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-30

Abstract

A pants presser is provided that is flexible and readily adaptable for pressing slacks, shorts and pants of various sizes, shapes and designs, including flared leg and bell bottom types. It uses a frame structure having a pair of upper and lower parts, with each part having a pair of spaced-apart creasing blades, each blade is adapted to align with a corresponding blade of the other part to define cooperating, side-positioned pairs for insertion within legs of the pantslike garment. One frame part and the blades carried thereby for collapsible and expandable with respect to the other part to enable the insertion, pressing and removal of a pair of pants, and each blade of the frame structure is adjustably mounted with respect to its frame part and has a central flexible portion for shape-conformance with respect to a pants leg.

Description

finite States atent 1 Paris 1 1 Jan. 30, 1973 [541 PANTS PRESSING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: August F. Paris, 1415 McCullough jgg g gfgffiz jgjg s :32?

Brockway 5824 Attorney-Green, McCallister & Miller [22] Filed: July 7,1971 [21] Appl. No.: 160,476 [57] ABSTRACT A pants presser is provided that is flexible and readily adaptable for pressing slacks, shorts and pants of vari- [52] US. Cl .223/73 ous sizes Shapes and designs including flared leg and lift. Cl be" bottom yp It uses a frame structure having a [58] Field of Search ..223/57, 70, 72-74, pair of upper and lower parts with each part having a 223/6l63v65 pair of spaced-apart creasing blades, each blade is adapted to align with a corresponding blade of the References Clted other part to define cooperating, side-positioned pairs for insertion within legs of the pantslike garment. One UNITED STATES PATENTS frame part and the blades carried thereby for collapsi- 1,791,601 2/1931 Ramsdell ..223/73 x ble and e pa b with respect to t other p to 2,092,278 9/1937 Harvey ..223/73 enable the insertion, pressing and removal ofa pair of 2,715,987 8/1955 Elrod ..223/74 pants, and each blade of the frame structure is ad- 2,944,71O 7/1960 Bader ..223/73 justably mounted with respect to its frame part and 3,272,403 9/1966 Carpenter et al has a central flexible portion for shape-conformance Carpenter et al t respect to a pants 3,480,188 11/1969 Frauendorf ..223/73 3,115,285 12/1963 Hitz ..223/73 24 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures 96b 96c H Iq PATENTEDJM 30 ms SHEET 1 OF 5 mm 0mm August I-.' Paris HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJAN 30 1975 O N IO Slb SHEET 2 OF 5 I/VVE/VTGH. August F. Paris age %c 1% HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJAN30 I975 3.713.567

sum 3 OF 5 zo- "48b III/I111, j 12" -51 IN VENTOR. August E Paris HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEUmao I973 SHEET 4 BF 5 INVENTOR. August E Paris H/S A TTORNE Y8 PANTS PRESSING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an improved apparatus for pressing shorts, trousers, pants and slacks and particularly, to apparatus which is readily adapted to accurate pressing and creasing of a pantslike fabric garment. A phase of the invention deals with apparatus that is flexible and adaptable to various conformations and shapes of pantslike garments.

2. Description of the Prior Art I-Ieretofore, difficulty has been encountered in providing a good and accurate pressing of pantslike garments having a wide variation in their conformations, shapes and types of fabric. For example, apparatus suitable for pressing a conventional pair of pants of slacks is not suitable for knitted material or generally suitable for so-called flared or bell bottom types of garments. Also, although existing apparatus may be employed to steam-press conventional length of trousers as well as shorts, to provide satisfactory creases it has been necessary to thereafter remove the trousers from the apparatus and then place them on a so-called buck presser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has thus been an object of the invention to find a practical solution to the problem of making available a pants pressure that will be accurately adaptable for and that will accomplish a quick and efficient pressing of the various shapes of pants leg garments and without damage to the fabric material thereof.

Another object of the invention has been to devise a presser apparatus whose creasing blades may be expanded and contracted with respect to each other fully along their length extents and without danger of tearing or otherwise damaging the fabric of a pair of pants.

A further object of the invention has been to provide a pants pressing apparatus whose positioning blades are not only adjustable with respect to their support frame structure, but have a flexibility, in themselves, that furthers their conformation to the shape of a particular pantslike garment.

A still further object of the invention has been to provide a pants pressing apparatus that is readily and accurately adaptable to various shapes of pantslike garments and that will provide an effective and efflcient pressing operation.

These and other objects of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art from the illustrated embodiment and the description thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation illustrating a pressing apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention; in this figure, support frame structure is shown in a transversely expanded or pressing position.

FIG. 1A is a fragmental isometric view showing details of the construction of a swing support for the front end of a lower frame part of the structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a view on the scale of and similar to FIG. 1, but showing the apparatus support base broken away and the frame structure in a collapsed position for either receiving a pair of pants thereon or for removing a pair of pants therefrom.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FiG. 2, but showing an expander bag in an operative position on the apparatus, and a portion of a pants leg in position over the bag and in a pressing position on the frame structure; in this figure the frame structure is shown in a trouser pressing expanded position.

FIG. 4 is a greatly reduced somewhat diagrammatic top plan view of the apparatus of FIGS. I to 3 illustrating it with a pair of pants mounted in position thereon for pressing.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are, respectively, end sections in elevation on the scale of and taken along the lines VV and VIVI of FIG. 1; these figures show a pair of pants directly in position on an expander bag and indirectly in position on the frame structure.

FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged, partially sectioned, fragmental detail in side elevation particularly illustrating a steam and hot air supply means, a support head and part of the support base, a head frame, and back end connections of the frame structure with respect to the head frame and the support head of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a fragmental front end view on the scale of and of the apparatus of FIG. 7 and taken from the right hand side of such figure; this figure particularly illustrates a rectangular head frame which carries the frame structure and which is positioned in front of the support head part of the apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a front end view of the head support part of the apparatus of FIG. 1 on the scale of such figure and with the front support frame removed.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view in elevation and FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the same scale illustrating a crotch or fly clamping and pressing part of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side fragment in partial section illustrating a form of latch and keeper assembly as applied to end portions of frame support parts and cooperating blades shown in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

' FIG. 13 is an end fragmental section in elevation on the scale of and of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a fragmental side view in partial section on the scale of FIG. 12, but illustrating a form of intermediate latch and keeper assembly of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmental side view in eleva-' that is being pressed to avoid the possibility of overstretching or damaging its fabric material.

FIG. 16 is an end view in elevation on the scale of and taken along the line XVI-XVI of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a reduced top plan-fragmental view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 15, particularly illustrating means for gauging the positioning of stop limit means for the fluid motor;

and, FIG. 18 is an exploded view of support frame parts, creasing blade, and blade adjusting parts of the presser apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 7 and 9 of the drawings, a steam and hot air supply unit is shown of the general type illustrated in detail in US. Pat. No. 3,254,813. In this connection, a base support and hot fluid supply unit 10 is shown provided-with a lower housing part 1 and an upwardly extending and backwardly offset, frame-supporting head part 12. An electric motor 13 is shown utilized in FIG. 1 to beltdrive a blower 14 which draws-in air through an open, screened-off, end portion 11a of the housing part 11. The air from the blower 14 passes upwardly through a duct, as indicated by the dotted lines of FIG. 1, to move along baffling and the coils of a steam coil and baffle assembly 15 for thus heating the air before it is blown outwardly from the front end of the support head part 12 through spacing between an outer end ring or flange 27 and a steamer head 25. The head 25 is shown centrally positioned with respect to and secured to the ring 27 by means of a cross-extending cruciform spoke structure 26 (see particularly FIGS. 7 and 9 of the drawings).

In FIG. 7, input or entering hot steam is supplied by line and passes through a conventional condensate trap 21, with pure steam leaving the top of the trap along line 22 and solenoid-operated control valve 23 to the main chamber of steamer head 25 and centrally outwardly through vent openings 25a into the back open-end portion of permeable fabric or nylon expander bag B (see FIG. 3). The bag B is adapted to be securely removably mounted in a clamped or tight relationship on and about the flange or ring 27. Condensate and poorer quality steam flows through line 20a from the trap 21, through jacketing in the head, and is moved out through fitting 20b into and along a lower steam coil assembly and is then exhausted through a steam condensate return line 20c. Again referring to FIG. 7, the control valve 23 may be solenoid-operated in the live steam line 22 for controlling the flow as desired and for cutting off the flow when live or hot steam is not being actively introduced into the permeable expansion bag B.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the support head part 12 or generally, the base support unit 10, carries and has mounted thereon an endwise, longitudinally forwardly extending, pants supporting, pressing frame structure A. The frame structure A has an upper stationary frame part which is removably secured in position to extend above the lower housing part 11 of the unit 10 and forwardly of the upper or head support part 12 thereof. A transversely or vertically downwardly spaced-apart, second support frame part 30 is removably and swingably mounted on and with respect to the head support part 12 for expanding and contracting or inward and outward transverse movement with respect to the first or upper part 30.

Positive, two-way acting pneumatic or fluid motor means 75 and 85 are, at their lower ends, pivotally mounted by

bifurcated mounts

76 and 86 on the unit 10 adjacent the lower portion of the upper support head 12. As shown in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, the motor 85 is operatively connected by its piston rod 87, clevis 88 and pivot lug 90a to an operating or swing arm 90 to move back end portions of the

support rods

32b and 32b of the lower frame part 30' inwardly and outwardly with respect to the upper frame part 30. The swing arm 90 has a dog-leg shape and, at its back end, is carried on a pin 92 by a pivot mount or clevis 49 that extends from a rectangular head or end frame 45. The front end of the operating arm or swing arm 90 is centrally mounted on a clevis 94 on a cross-extending member 93 (see FIGS. 1, 2, 7, 8 and 18) that is weldsecured to tie back end portions of lower, longitudinally forwardly extending, support

rods

32b and 32b of the lower frame structure 30. The clevis 94 is centrally secured on the cross or tie member 93 of T bar shape and has a pivot pin 94a that pivotally carries forward eyelet end 90b of the arm 90 (see FIG. 18).

The motor is connected through its piston rod 77, connecting sleeve 79, rod extension 78 and cross-extending connecting pin or rod 80 on a swing arm structure having (see FIG. 8) a side-extending rod and a two-part crank or operating arm having one part 67 that is pivotally mounted on a bifurcated mount 48 by a pin 48b and a sidewise-offset lower part 67a that is welded thereto and to which pin or sidewise-extending rod 80 is secured. The mount 48 has a backwardly extending, centrally positioned leg 48a (see FIGS. 7 and 8) that is secured as by weld metal to a cross-extending member 46 of a rectangular head, front or end support frame 45. The motor 75 is employed to move forward end portions of the

support rods

32b and 32b inwardly and outwardly with respect to the upper frame part 30. As shown inFIGS. 7 and 18, a pair of longitudinally extending operating members 65 are, at their back ends, tied together by cross piece 650 and are pivotally mounted on the two-part crank or operating arm member 67, 670 by a pin 68. Front end portions of the members 65 are tied together by cross member 65b and are secured by bolts 66 on a common slidable, mounting bracket 62. A pair of front swing leg members 60 (see also FIG. 1A) are, at their backends, pivotally secured by a cross shaft 63 on the bracket 62 to extend downwardly towards front end portions of the pair of

lower rod members

32b and 32b. Each swing leg 60 is pivotally connected to an associated one of the rod members by a pin 61 (see also FIG. 1). The motors 75 and are thus utilized to move the lower frame structure 30' between a close-in or collapsed positioning with respect to the upper frame structure 30 (see FIG. 2) and a downwardly expanded, pants-stretching position with respect thereto (see FIG. 1).

With particular reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the upright or vertical, rectangular head, front or end support frame 45 is shown mounted on the support head 12 substantially centrally thereof by means of a rod or pin 51 extending from the head 25 and by suitable reinforcing rib pieces (not shown for simplicity of illustration) that are welded thereto and to cruciform part 26 of the rim assembly 27.

The end frame 45 is employed as a back end mount for both the upper, stationary frame structure or part 30 and the lower, swingable frame part or structure 30. The upper support frame part 30 has a pair of sidewise spaced-apart and longitudinally forwardly, substantially horizontally extending,

support rod members

32a and 32a of identical construction that, at their back ends, are threaded and secured in position on the end frame 45 by pairs of nuts 34 (see FIGS. 7 and 18). A horizontally spaced-apart, longitudinally extending pair of supplemental support rods 55, are at their back ends 55a, also threaded and secured by nut pairs 35 to the end frame 45. The front ends of the rods 55 are secured to an associated upper,

main rod

32a or 32a by a cross-extending member 64 that also serves as a back stop for sliding movement of slide bracket 62 on a pair of horizontally spaced-apart guide rods 55b. It will be noted (see FIGS. 1 and 2) that the bracket 62 is slidably mounted on rods 55b for back and forth movement thereon between back stop member 64 and a cross-extending front stop member 56 that also serves to mount the front ends of the pair of slide-guide rods 55b.

A pair of horizontally or sidewise spaced-apart, associated or cooperating upwardly or outwardly spacedapart and substantially parallel, creasing blades respectively designated 31a and 31a are provided for the upper frame part 30 (see also FIGS. 5 and 6). One blade 31a is in an outwardly or vertically aligned relation with associated support rod 32a, and the other blade 31a has a similar relationship with its associated rod 32a. In like manner, the lower frame part 30 has a pair of sidewise spaced-apart

support rods

32b and 32b of similar construction, which have associated downwardly or sidewise-outwardly spaced, longitudinally extending, creasing

blades

31b and 31b (see also FIG. 5).

The pair of

blades

31a and 31a that are carried by the upper frame structure or part 30 and the pair of

blades

31b and 31b that are carried by the lower frame structure or part 30' are shown provided with identical types of latch-keeper, adjustable mountings on a vertically or outwardly aligned, associated, support rod or member of the particular frame involved. Two types of latch keeper assemblies have been illustrated in FIGS. -12, 13 and 14, with one type shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 being utilized for mounting end portions of each creasing blade with respect to its associated support rod, and a second type illustrated in FIG. 14 for intermediate connection or mounting of each creasing blade with respect to its associated support rod.

The mounting and construction of the keeper latch assemblies is the same for all of the support rods and their respective associated creasing blades. Thus, in FIGS. 12 and 13, one type of assembly is illustrated as applied to the support rod 31a and its associated blade 32a. A notched keeper 36 is shown extending from a welded-on or secured position w from the support rod member 31a towards the blade member, 32a to receive a stepped or offset latching end portion 37b of a springpressed sliding type of latching finger 37; With particular reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, the latching finger 37 is mounted on a flattened upper portion- 33 of the member 32a by means of a pin and bolt assembly 38 which extends downwardly through and is adapted to move within an elongated slot s in the member 32a. A tension spring 40 is connected between the lower end of the assembly 38 and an extending mounting lug 39 that is secured by weld metal w to the underside of the member 32a by a half sleeve portion 39a, see FIG. 13. A projecting pin 370 provides a finger grip for facilitating an outward unlatching movement of the finger 37 with respect to a selected notch of the keeper 36, as effected by expanding the spring 40 against its flexible tendency to maintain the finger 37 in a latched position.

With particular reference to FIG. 14, a second type of keeper latch assembly is illustrated which has a swing or pivot type of latching finger 41, instead of the slide type of finger 37 of the embodiment of FIG. 12. The finger 41 has a stepped or offset latching portion 41b that is adapted to be swung into one of the slotted portions of the keeper 36 which is identical to the keeper used with the finger 37. The finger 41 is pivotally mounted by a nut and bolt assembly 42 for swinging movement on the flattened portion 33 of the member 32a. Although either or both types of latching

fingers

37 and 41 may be used throughout the full length of each creasing blade, such as the blade 32a, we prefer (see FIG. 1) to employ the self-latching type 37 at the ends of the support member or

rods

31a, 31a, 32b and 32b and to employ fully manual type 41 at intermediate positions along the length of each rod and blade pair or assembly. Thus, where it is desired to utilize the flexible nature of each

creasing blade

31a, 31a and 31b, 31b, the fingers 41 may be moved out of latching position with respect to the associated keepers 36 to permit the blade to flex, for example, in a manner illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, to accommodate the blades and thus the frame structure A to an unuaual shape of pantslike garment, such as a bell-bottom pair of trousers. However,.when desired and particularly when pressing a more or less conventional shape of trousers, the latching fingers 41 may be employed in the notches of the keepers 36 and in the same positioning as the end keepers 36 and their associated fingers 37. It will also be apparent that the

fingers

37 and 41 may be latched in different heights of slot portions with respect to each other.

Again referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the end or head frame 45 has a pair of cross-extending, spaced-apart, upper, reinforcing connecting members 46 that are shown secured in position by weld metal w. It also has a pair of more or less intermediately positioned, spacedapart, reinforcing rib members 47 that are in like manner secured in position within the frame. The pair of spaced-apart mounting ears of the bracket 48 are secured to extend from the member 46 by the centrally position bar 48a that is welded centrally in the spacing between the reinforcing members 46. As previously indicated, the bifurcated mounting bracket provided by the ears 48 and the extension bar 48a serves to pivotally carry operating arm portion 67 in a downward swingable relation with respect thereto.

In FIGS. 15, 16 and 17, means is shown for adjusting the maximum inward movement of the piston of fluid motor to thus limit the maximum outward or downward expansion swing of the back end portion of the lower frame structure 30. As disclosed by these figures, the casing of the motor 85 has a nut secured on its front end that is bored to slidably bypass the piston-rod 87. An upwardly extending mounting portion or post 116 is secured, as by weld metal w, on the nut 115 and slidably carries a through-extending adjustment rod or shaft 117. A T-screw or thumb screw 118 adjustably locks the rod 117 in any desired adjusted position. It will be noted that the left hand end of the rod 117 or that end which extends along the casing of the fluid motor 85 cooperates with a calibrated, numbered scale 120 which is secured to extend along the housing to thus provide a ready means of determining adjustment settings of the rod for maximum limits of inward movement of the piston. The right-hand or forward end of the adjustment rod 117 carries a transversely extending stop finger or foot piece 119 that is secured as by weld metal w thereon and at its lower end 119a (see FIG. 16) is of bifurcated shape to extend loosely about the piston rod 87. The bifurcated end or portion 119a serves as a limit stop by reason of the abutment of the clevis 88 therewith during inward movement of the piston rod 87. Maximum in-stroke means is preferably provided when relatively flimsy slacks or pants such as knit slacks are to be pressed and creased. In this way, any stretch damage to the rather relatively weak fabric may be prevented. The same type of adjustable piston movement or stroke limiting means may be employed with the motor 75 to limit its maximum inward stroke and thus,the maximum outward or expansion movement of the forward end of the frame 30. It will be noted by comparing FIGS. 1 and 2, that the pistons of fluid cylinders or

motors

75 and 85 move inwardly to expand the frame part 30 outwardly with respect to the part 30 and move outwardly to contract or collapse the frame part 30' inwardly with respect to the frame part 30.

Referring to FIGS. 1, and 11 of the drawings, a fly or crotch clamping assembly is illustrated which is actuated into and out of a clamping position with respect to pants that are mounted on the frame structure A by means of a reciprocating fluid or cylinder motor 96. The motor 96, as shown particularly in FIG. 1, is at its back end pivotally mounted on a bifurcated mount or clevis 97 that extends from the upper part 12 of the unit 10 in a forwardly upwardly inclined relation. Piston rod 96a of the motor 96 is threaded at its forward end and adjustably secured to extend through an angle-shaped mounting piece 100 by means of a 'pair of nuts 96b. The mounting piece 100 is secured to project upwardly from a back end of a support member 99 that, at its back end, is pivotally mounted by a clevis 98 and a pin 98a on the part 12 to project forwardly thereof. A forwardly and downwardly extending offset or angleshaped suspension member 105 is, at its back end, removably fixed to the front of the support member 99, as by wing nuts 106. A pair of bolt and nut assemblies 107 that carry tension springs flexibly support or suspend a fly-clamping pad 109 that is mounted on a backing plate member 108. It will be apparent from a study of FIGS. 10 and 11 that forward or outward movement of the piston rod 96a will cause support member 99 to tilt forwardly inwardly and the clamping pad 109 to move into a secure pressing relation with the fly or crotch of a pair of pants P that are positioned, as shown in FIG. 4 on the apparatus for pressing. A reverse or inward movement of the piston rod 96a will cause a release thereof. It will be noted that tension springs 107a are mounted on the assemblies 107 between the member 105 and the back plate 108 to provide the pad 109 with a flexible adaptable type of mounting.

In operating the machine for the purpose of processconditioning or pressing a pair of pants or slacks, the frame structure A is first moved to its maximum inward or collapsed positioning of FIG. 2 by applying a positive force to the pistons of the motors and to move their

rods

77 and 87 to maximum outer positions shown in FIG. 2. A permeable fabric bag, such as nylon bag B, has been previously fitted over the frame structure A in the manner shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 to extend along the

support rods

32a, 32b, 32a and 32b and between them and their associated

creasing blades

31a, 31b, 31a and 31b, with its waist portion tightly fitted, as by a drawstring, over the rim of the flange or ring 27. The bag B will preferably be provided with a drawstring and slide fasteners for facilitating its insertion and removal for maintenance purposes and will have its forward end closed-off.

The pants or trousers P are slid over the frame a with the pairs of trouser legs being moved over vertically spaced-apart pairs of cooperating

blades

31a, 31b,3la' and 31b (see FIG. 5). The body of the pants is moved, as shown in FIG. 6, over the back portions of the same blade pairs. The lower frame part 30 is then moved to its outer, pants stretching position (see FIG. 1) by the application of positive fluid pressure to opposite ends of the

fluid motors

75 and 85 to move their

respective piston rods

77 and 90 inwardly. At this time, the fly or crotch pressing plate 109 may be moved into clamping position with the trousers P by a positive forward movement of the piston rod 96a of the fluid motor 96. FIG. 4 shows the pressing position of the pair of pants or shorts P. The blower motor 13 is then started and control valve 23 is opened to provide hot air and steam under pressure within the bag B. The

fluid motors

75 and 85 maybe actuated to expand the positioning of the frame part 30' either while or before hot air and steam are supplied to the bag B. FIGS. 5 and 6 also show the positioning of the pair of pants P during the application of hot air and steam to press them and form creases along the legs and the waist portion.

After the pressing operation has been accomplished, the blower motor 13 may be deactivated, the steam control valve 23 closed and the

fluid motors

96, 85 and 75 actuated. The motor 96 will be actuated to move its piston rod 96a inwardly, raise the pad 109 and then the motors 74 and 85 will be actuated to move their pistons inwardly substantially simultaneously. At this time, the pants P are loosely positioned on the structure A and may be slid'off endwise forwardly therefrom and another pair inserted for processing by repeating the operations.

I claim:

1. In a machine for steam-air pressing a pair of pants or shorts that has a base support structure provided with an endwise-positioned steam and hot air-supplying support head and an end flange about the head for mounting an open back end of a permeable garment expander bag thereon, a horizontally lengthwise extending frame structure carried by said head to extend outwardly therefrom, said frame structure having a pair of transversely spaced-apart frame parts, a first frame part mounted on said head and being provided with a pair of sidewise-spaced-apart longitudinally extending support members and an associated pair of sidewise spaced-apart and longitudinally extending creasing blades that are transversely outwardly spaced with respect to their associated support members, means adjustably mounting each of said blades on the associated support member to adjust its outward spacing with respect thereto, and a second part frame part mounted on said head and being provided with a pair of sidewisespaced-apart longitudinally extending support members and an associated pair of sidewise-spaced-apart and longitudinally extending creasing blades that are also transversely outwardly spaced with respect to their associated support members, means adjustably mounting each of said latter blades on the associated support member to adjust its outward spacing with respect thereto, one blade of said first frame part being adapted to cooperate with an aligned blade of said second frame part to provide a side-positioned first pair of blades for receiving one leg of a pair of pants to be pressed, the other blade of said first part being adapted to cooperate with an aligned other blade of said second part to provide a side-positioned second pair of blades for receiving the other leg of the pants, and means for swinging the blades of said second frame part into an expanded position with respect to the cooperating aligned blades of said one frame part for forming creases along the pants.

2. In a machine as defined in claim 1, each of said creasing blades being of flexible metal construction for shape-conforming to the legs of the pair of pants.

3. In a machine as defined in claim 1, a lever and swing support mechanism carried by said support head for mounting said second frame part on said head for transverse expanding and contracting movement with respect to said first frame part.

4. In a machine as defined in claim 3, means operatively carried on said support head for clamping a crotch portion of the pair of pants on said first frame part.

5. In a machine as defined in claim 1, said means for adjustably mounting each of said blades with respect to the associated support member comprising latchkeeper means spaced along each of said blades and extending between each said blade and the associated support member therefor, and said latch-keeper means having a keeper and a finger movable into and out of latch-engagement with said keeper.

6. In a machine as defined in claim 1, said means for adjustably mounting each of said blades with respect to the associated support member comprising a pair of endwise-positioned latch-keeper assemblies, and a pair of intermediately positioned latch-keeper assemblies between each said support member and the associated said blade.

7. In a machine as defined in claim 6, each said pair of endwise-positioned latch-keeper assemblies having a keeper and a latching finger that is spring-biased towards a latch-engaging position with respect to said keeper, and each said pair of intermediate latch-keeper assemblies having a keeper and a pivoted latching finger for swinging movement into and out of latching engagement with said keeper.

8. In a machine .as defined in claim 1, said first and second frame parts being in an aligned relation with respect to each other, and fluid motor means for swinging said second frame part into an aligned collapsed inward positioning with respect to said one frame part to receive the pair of pants to be pressed and for swinging said second frame part into an aligned transversely expanded position with respect to said first frame part for stretching the pants therebetween.

9. In a machine as defined in claim 8, means associated with said fluid motor means for adjusting said motor means to different maximum frame swinging positions.

10. In a machine as defined in claim 1, a permeable fabric garment bag positioned to extend over said pair of frame parts and therealong from said support head, said bag having a pair of leg portions that are closed along their forward ends and that are open into a common waist portion at a back end thereof, and said bag being adapted to receive and position the pair of .pants along its outside for expansion pressing of the pants when steam and hot air are introduced into the back end of said bag.

11. In a machine as defined in claim 1, first lever means suspended from and operatively connected between said first and second frame parts for moving a front end of said second frame part inwardly and out wardly with respect to said first frame part, and second lever means connected between a back end portion of said second frame part and said support head for moving a back end portion of said second frame part into and out of an expanded relation with respect to a back end portion of said first frame part.

12. In a machine as defined in claim 11, a first pneumatic motor operatively connected to said first lever means for actuating it, and a second pneumatic motor operatively connected to said second lever means for actuating it.

13. In a machine as defined in claim 12, clamping means pivotally mounted with respect to said head and cooperating with said first frame part for holding a crotch portion of the pair of pants in position thereon.

14. In a machine as defined in claim 13, fluid motor means operatively connected to said clamping means for moving it into and out of clamping engagement with the pants being pressed.

15. In a machine as defined in claim 1, each of said blades being of flexible construction, and said means adjustably mounting each of said blades with the associated support member being adapted to permit central flexing of said blades to accommodate said frame for pressing a pair of pants having flared leg portions.

16. In a machine as defined in claim 1, means cooperating with said blades for limiting a maximum outward movement thereof independently of resistance offered by legs of the pair of pants being pressed.

17. In a machine for pressing and creasing a pantslike garment wherein a base support structure is provided with a forwardly positioned hot fluid supplying head, a lengthwise extending frame structure carried by said head to extend lengthwise-forwardly therefrom, said frame structure having a pair of transversely spaced-apart frame parts of which one frame part is mounted on saidhead for cooperative expanding and contracting movement with respect to the other part, each of said frame parts carrying cooperating flexible blade means in a spaced-apart supported relation therealong, means for expanding and contracting said one frame part with respect to the other frame part, and means for adjusting the spacing between each said frame part and its cooperating said blade means along spaced-apart length portions of said blade means for accommodating said blade means therealong to pants of different shapes.

18. In a machine as defined in claim 17, said means for expanding and contracting said one frame part with respect to said other frame part comprising, a fluid motor and lever mechanism operatively connected to a back end portion of said one frame part, and a second fluid motor and lever mechanism operatively connected to a front end portion of said one frame part, and each of said fluid motors being adapted to, in one of their respective directions of stroke, move said one frame part into an expanded relation with respect to said other frame part and to, in respective opposite directions of stroke, move said one frame part into a collapsed positioning with respect to said other frame part.

19. In a machine as defined in claim 17, a permeable garment receiving bag having an open end mounted on said head to receive hot fluid therewithin and being mounted to extend along said pair of frame parts in an inward positioned relation with respect to said blade means, and said blade means being adapted to directly receive and position a pair of trousers along the length of said frame structure.

20. In a machine as defined in claim 19, said head being adapted to supply hot fluid along the inside of a pair of trousers that are positioned on said frame structure when said frame parts are in an expanded relation with respect to each other, a crotch presser operatively carried by said head, fluid motor means pivotally mounted with respect to said head for moving said presser into pressing engagement with an outer surface portion of a pair of pants that are being carried on said frame structure, said crotch presser having a support structure pivotally connected at one end to said motor for swingable movement, and said crotch presser having a flexibly positioned pressing pad mounted on said support structure.

21. In a machine as defined in claim 17, said means for adjusting the spacing between each said frame part and its cooperating said blade means comprising a group of longitudinally spaced-apart notched keepers and cooperating latch fingers for engaging different notches of said keepers.

22. In a machine as defined in claim 21, an intermediate group of said latch fingers being pivotally mounted for retention in both latching and unlatching positions with respect to their associated said keepers, and an end group of said latch fingers being springpressed for urging them into latching engagement with respect to their associated said keepers.

23. In a machine for steam-air pressing of pants or shorts of different shapes that has a base support provided with an endwise-positioned steam supply head, a hot air venting means about the head and an end flange about the supply head and the air venting means for mounting an open back end of a permeable garment expander bag thereon, a horizontally lengthwise-extending frame structure mounted on the base support and projecting longitudinally outwardly with respect to the head, said frame structure having a stationary part and a cooperating moving part, each of said parts having a pair of spaced-apart creasing blades carried therealong and thereby, each said creasing blade of each said part having a transversely aligned and spaced cooperating relation with an associated creasing blade of the other art to define a pair of cooperating sidepositioned b ades for receiving one leg of a pair of pants, a permeable cloth bag of pantslike shape mounted on said fame structure and extending therealong to provide an under-support for a pair of pants positioned thereon for pressing, means for moving one blade of each cooperating pair into a closely adjacent relation with the other blade of the same pair of endwise-receiving a leg of the pair of pants, and means for moving the one blade of each said cooperating pair into an outwardly expanded position with respect to the other leg of the same pair for stretching a pants leg positioned thereon and forming creases therealong when steam and air are introduced into said bag to expand it within the pair of pants positioned on the machine.

24. In a machine as defined in claim 23, said means for moving one blade of each side-positioned pair constituting a pair of fluid motors, and adjustable stop means carried by each of said fluid motors and cooperating with the piston rod thereof for limiting the maximum outward movement of said one blade of each side-positioned pair with respect to the aligned other blade of the same pair.

Claims

1. In a machine for steam-air pressing a pair of paNts or shorts that has a base support structure provided with an endwise-positioned steam and hot air-supplying support head and an end flange about the head for mounting an open back end of a permeable garment expander bag thereon, a horizontally lengthwise extending frame structure carried by said head to extend outwardly therefrom, said frame structure having a pair of transversely spaced-apart frame parts, a first frame part mounted on said head and being provided with a pair of sidewise-spaced-apart longitudinally extending support members and an associated pair of sidewise-spaced-apart and longitudinally extending creasing blades that are transversely outwardly spaced with respect to their associated support members, means adjustably mounting each of said blades on the associated support member to adjust its outward spacing with respect thereto, and a second part frame part mounted on said head and being provided with a pair of sidewise-spaced-apart longitudinally extending support members and an associated pair of sidewise-spaced-apart and longitudinally extending creasing blades that are also transversely outwardly spaced with respect to their associated support members, means adjustably mounting each of said latter blades on the associated support member to adjust its outward spacing with respect thereto, one blade of said first frame part being adapted to cooperate with an aligned blade of said second frame part to provide a side-positioned first pair of blades for receiving one leg of a pair of pants to be pressed, the other blade of said first part being adapted to cooperate with an aligned other blade of said second part to provide a side-positioned second pair of blades for receiving the other leg of the pants, and means for swinging the blades of said second frame part into an expanded position with respect to the cooperating aligned blades of said one frame part for forming creases along the pants.

1. In a machine for steam-air pressing a pair of paNts or shorts that has a base support structure provided with an endwisepositioned steam and hot air-supplying support head and an end flange about the head for mounting an open back end of a permeable garment expander bag thereon, a horizontally lengthwise extending frame structure carried by said head to extend outwardly therefrom, said frame structure having a pair of transversely spaced-apart frame parts, a first frame part mounted on said head and being provided with a pair of sidewise-spacedapart longitudinally extending support members and an associated pair of sidewise-spaced-apart and longitudinally extending creasing blades that are transversely outwardly spaced with respect to their associated support members, means adjustably mounting each of said blades on the associated support member to adjust its outward spacing with respect thereto, and a second part frame part mounted on said head and being provided with a pair of sidewise-spaced-apart longitudinally extending support members and an associated pair of sidewise-spaced-apart and longitudinally extending creasing blades that are also transversely outwardly spaced with respect to their associated support members, means adjustably mounting each of said latter blades on the associated support member to adjust its outward spacing with respect thereto, one blade of said first frame part being adapted to cooperate with an aligned blade of said second frame part to provide a side-positioned first pair of blades for receiving one leg of a pair of pants to be pressed, the other blade of said first part being adapted to cooperate with an aligned other blade of said second part to provide a sidepositioned second pair of blades for receiving the other leg of the pants, and means for swinging the blades of said second frame part into an expanded position with respect to the cooperating aligned blades of said one frame part for forming creases along the pants.

5. In a machine as defined in claim 1, said means for adjustably mounting each of said blades with respect to the associated support member comprising latch-keeper means spaced along each of said blades and extending between each said blade and the associated support member therefor, and said latch-keeper means having a keeper and a finger movable into and out of latch-engagement with said keeper.

8. In a machine as defined in claim 1, said first and second frame parts being in an aligned relation with respect to each other, and fluid motor means for swinging said second frame part into an aligned collapsed inward positioning with respect to said one frame part to receive the pair of pants to be pressed and for swinging said second frame part into an aligned transversely expAnded position with respect to said first frame part for stretching the pants therebetween.

10. In a machine as defined in claim 1, a permeable fabric garment bag positioned to extend over said pair of frame parts and therealong from said support head, said bag having a pair of leg portions that are closed along their forward ends and that are open into a common waist portion at a back end thereof, and said bag being adapted to receive and position the pair of pants along its outside for expansion pressing of the pants when steam and hot air are introduced into the back end of said bag.

11. In a machine as defined in claim 1, first lever means suspended from and operatively connected between said first and second frame parts for moving a front end of said second frame part inwardly and outwardly with respect to said first frame part, and second lever means connected between a back end portion of said second frame part and said support head for moving a back end portion of said second frame part into and out of an expanded relation with respect to a back end portion of said first frame part.

17. In a machine for pressing and creasing a pants-like garment wherein a base support structure is provided with a forwardly positioned hot fluid supplying head, a lengthwise extending frame structure carried by said head to extend lengthwise-forwardly therefrom, said frame structure having a pair of transversely spaced-apart frame parts of which one frame part is mounted on said head for cooperative expanding and contracting movement with respect to the other part, each of said frame parts carrying cooperating flexible blade means in a spaced-apart supported relation therealong, means for expanding and contracting said one frame part with respect to the other frame part, and means for adjusting the spacing between each said frame part and its cooperating said blade means along spaced-apart length portions of said blade means for accommodating said blade means therealong to pants of different shapes.

22. In a machine as defined in claim 21, an intermediate group of said latch fingers being pivotally mounted for retention in both latching and unlatching positions with respect to their associated said keepers, and an end group of said latch fingers being spring-pressed for urging them into latching engagement with respect to their associated said keepers.

23. In a machine for steam-air pressing of pants or shorts of different shapes that has a base support provided with an endwise-positioned steam supply head, a hot air venting means about the head and an end flange about the supply head and the air venting means for mounting an open back end of a permeable garment expander bag thereon, a horizontally lengthwise-extending frame structure mounted on the base support and projecting longitudinally outwardly with respect to the head, said frame structure having a stationary part and a cooperating moving part, each of said parts having a pair of spaced-apart creasing blades carried therealong and thereby, each said creasing blade of each said part having a transversely aligned and spaced cooperating relation with an associated creasing blade of the other part to define a pair of cooperating side-positioned blades for receiving one leg of a pair of pants, a permeable cloth bag of pantslike shape mounted on said fame structure and extending therealong to provide an under-support for a pair of pants positioned thereon for pressing, means for moving one blade of each cooperating pair into a closely adjacent relation with the other blade of the same pair of endwise-receiving a leg of the pair of pants, and means for moving the one blade of each said cooperating pair into an outwardly expanded position with respect to the other leg of the same pair for stretching a pants leg positioned thereon and forming creases therealong when steam and air are introduced into said bag to expand it within the pair of pants positioned on the machine.