US3310208A - Garment finisher - Google Patents

Description

March 21, 1967 L. w. KILLEY 3,310,208

GARMENT FINISHER Filed Oct. 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 90 M a fM 85 55 INVENTOR.

L/Oyd Will/am Killeg March 21, 1967 1.. w. KILLEY 3,310,268

GARMENT FINISHER Filed Oct. 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Lloyd William Killeg United States Patent Ofitice 3,310,208 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 3,310,208 GARMENT FINISHER Lloyd W. Killey, 421 N. Main St., Monmouth, Ill. 61462 Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 497,208 Claims. (Cl. 22370) This invention relates to garment-finishing machines and, more particularly, to an improved garment support for holding the garment in position during the finishing operation.

Most garments must be supported during finishing or pressing operations on framework which provides support to the irregularly contoured shoulder regions of the garment. Desirably, the framework should project outwardly from the neck of the garment substantially similar to the outward projection of the shoulders of the human body. It is necessary, however, that the framework be of dimensions sufiiciently smaller than that of the garment to permit rapid draping of the garment on the machine and also to permit ready removal of the garment when the finishing operation has been completed. This is particularly true in large volume, commercial establishments where the cost of labor for maintaining capable operators is an important factor.

Heretofore, available garment-finishing machines have largely resulted from a compromise between the provision of suflicient outwardly projecting shoulder supports to support the garment, yet the supports have been relatively short to facilitate the garment-installing operation. Expander mechanisms have been uilized to enhance the shoulder-supporting function of the machines. However, the outwardly projecting shoulder supports and the necessity for operating the expander mechanisms of heretofore available machines have materially slowed the operation, resulting in less than optimum efiiciency on the part of the operators of these machines.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide framework having novel shoulder supports which project outwardly a suflicient distance for providing optimum support to the corresponding region of a garment, yet which are collapsible to provide the greatest possible clearance for the unhampered dressing of the form.

Another important object of this invention is to provide shoulder supports which generally conform to the outline of the human body and are thus able to correctly support the irregular contour of the garment without wrinkling. This results in a better finished neck or collar line for the garment.

A further object of the invention is to provide shoulder supports which are selectively extensible to accommodate garments of a variety of sizes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide garment-supporting framework for a finishing machine which may be readily adjusted vertically to adapt the machine for operators of different heights and for garments of a variety of lengths.

Other important objects of the instant invention reside in the features of the improved construction which permit readyadaptation of the invention into existing garment finishing machines, power operation of the vertical adjustment of the form, and ready access through the form to critical components of the machine for adjustment and repair of the latter. These and other important objects of the invention will be further explained or will become apparent from the following specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a garment finishing machine embodying one form of the instant invention, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the garment support, parts being broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the garment support of FIG. 1 with the shoulder support elements illustrated in their garment-supporting positions, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating a modified form of garment support;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, longitudinal, vertical cross-sectional view of one shoulder support element, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a steam outlet for a garment finishing machine, the nozzle thereof being shown in vertical cross section to reveal details of construction.

Referring initially to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the finishing machine broadly numerated 10 includes a base 12 and an upright garment-supporting frame or support 14 rotatably mounted on base 12. Frame 14 is adapted to support a porous, bag-like air and steam deflector (not shown). Base 12 includes a housing 16 for blower means 18, housing 16 being in fluid communication with a closed vessel 20 having an annular opening 22 (FIG. 4) in the top thereof. A steam receiver 24 in vessel 20 is in fluid communication with an upright manifold 26 having a plurality of outlet ports 28 provided therein for conducting steam from the receiver 24 through manifold 26, and to a garment supported on frame 14.

A plug 30 in the upper end of manifold 26 serves to close the latter and has an upwardly extending portion 32 integral therewith. The lower recessed end of an upright support member 34 is telescoped over portion 32 and the latter serves to center frame 14 over opening 22.

A neckpiece 36 is mounted at the upper end of support member 34 and front and rear elongated, generally upright backing members 38 and 40 respectively are secured to neckpiece 36 and depend therefrom as illustrated in FIG. 1. Members 38 and 40 are of channel construction and serve as backing members for garment clamps 42 and 44. Clamps 42 and 44 are of conventional construction, form no part of the instant invention per se, and need not be further described. The lowermost ends of members 38 and 40 are telescoped over upright channel members 46 and 48 respectively, as illustrated best in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Members 46 and 48 are secured to an annular rim 50, the lower edge of which is secured to an annular, outwardly extending flange 52 disposed around opening 22 in vessel 20. Suitable gasket means (not shown) may be interposed between flange 52 and the upper surface of vessel 20 to provide a fluid-tight seal between vessel 20 and frame 14. It will be understood that clamps 42 and 44 are carried by rim 50 and the bag or air deflector is installed over frame 14 and is preferably tied around rim 50 so that air and steam emanating from vessel 20 is directed over the entire inner surface of a garment to be finished by machine 10. Flange 52 supports the weight of frame 14 on base 12 and is held with rim 50 in concentric relationship to opening 22 by the upright portion 32 of plug 30.

Each of the upright members 46 and 48 is provided with a pair of parallel, longitudinally extending slots 54,

and nut and bolt means 56 in the lower ends of frame members 38 and 40 extend through slots 54 for securing the members 46 and 48 to members 38 and 40 respectively. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7, a coil spring 58 is received over each bolt 56 and its corresponding nut with one end of each spring 58 engaging member 46 or 48. Thus, springs 58 serve to frictionally clamp members 46 and 48 to members 38 and 40 respectively, yet permit sliding of the corresponding members with respect to each other as bolts 56 are moved along slots 54. The compression of springs 58 serve to hold the frame members in any predetermined telescoped relationship. A cross member 60, having opposed ends thereof secured to the members 38 and 40 respectively, embraces support member 34 for imparting structural rigidity to frame 14.

A slide 62 is telescoped over member 34 for longitudinal sliding movement with respect to the latter. A pin 64, extending outwardly from slide 62, pivotally couples the latter to a pair of links 66 which, in turn, are pivotally coupled to a pair of elongated arms 68. One end of each arm 68 is pivotally secured to a bracket 70 and the latter is rigidly secured to member 34 intermediate the ends of the latter.

An elongated, tubular support element 72 is provided for each side of neckpiece 36 and each element 72 is pivotally coupled to the latter for swinging movement on opposed sides of the upright support member 34 through vertical arcs and about spaced, parallel, horizontal axes. Elongated, longitudinally extending slots 74 in each of the elements 72 receive therethrough pin means 76 which serve to pivotally couple the upper ends of arms 68 to elongated, tubular sections or extensions 78 which are received in telescoped relationship within elements 72, as illustrated best in FIG. 5.

A manually operable lever 81) is coupled with slide 62 for shifting the latter longitudinally along member 34. The construction and operation of lever 80 and the connecting structure coupling the latter to slide 62 may be of the type illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,805,009, issued to N. C. Jackson, on September 3, 1957. Reference may be had to this patcut for a full and complete description of such manually operable structure and the same need not be fully and completely described herein in the interest of brevity. It sufiices to say that slide 62 is coupled to lever 80 in such manner that shifting of the latter along slot 82 in neckpiece 36 moves slide 62 longitudinally along member 34. This, in turn, causes arms 68 to be moved from positions lying substantially along member 34 to the position thereof illustrated best in FIG. 3 with the arms 68 extending outwardly from member 34 at an angle. When arms 68 are lying alongside member 34 as illustrated in FIG. 2, the elements 72 are swung to positions as shown, with the elements hanging substantially vertically and in general alignment with the upright axis of frame 14.

When lever 80 is moved to the position thereof shown in FIG. 3, the outward swinging of arms 68 cause the elements 7 2 to be swung through respective arcs to the positions of angularity with respect to the upright axis of frame 14 as illustrated in FIG. 3. It will be noted that the upper ends of the arms 68 shift the pin means 76 for each element 72 outwardly along the respective slots 74. Such shifting movement not only swing the elements 72 to the positions thereof as illustrated, but also causes the extensions 78 to be shifted outwardly beyond the outermost ends of the elements 72, whereby the shoulder-supporting portions offrame 14 are substantially extended. The lengths of the arms 68 and the positions of the slots 74 are chosen so that the position of the elements 72 and the corresponding extensions '78, when extended, assume a contour approximating the contour of the shoulder portion of the human body for properly supporting the shoulder portions of the garment during the finishing operation.

In operation, frame 14 is normally draped with a porous bag-like member as previously explained. Lever is shifted to the position as illustrated in FIG. 2 which causes the shoulder support element 72 to collapse as indicated. The form can then be quickly and easily dressed with the garment to be finished and there is substantially no outwardly projecting shoulder support structure to retard the dressing operation. Lever 80 is then moved to cause the shoulder support elements to swing outwardly for receiving and supporting the garment thereon.

The dressing operation can be enhanced if the form 14 is adjusted to a vertical height compatible with the comfortable working height of the operator. This can be simply and easily achieved by the operator merely grasping the upper section of frame 14 (that portion above the members 46 and 48) and lifting the upper frame section. The springs 58 maintain the frame section in any selected position and hold the latter in such position during the finishing operation. Obviously, if frame 14 is initially taller than desired, the operator can merely press down on the frame to telescope the upper section on members 46 and 48. Clamps 42 and 44 are manipulated to clamp the garment as is well known, and steam and air is directed through opening 22 and into the garment.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that heating means 84, including a steam line 86, is disposed in the air passage between blower 18 and vessel 20 for heating the air which is directed through opening 22. During periods of hot weather or the like, the air may not need to be heated. It is often desirable that cool at be discharged through machine 10 in order to provide for maximum operator comfort throughout the finishing operation. Accordingly, a solenoid actuated valve 88 is interposed in steam line 86 and is operably coupled through electrical circuitry (not shown) to a temperature-responsive transducer 90 for operating valve 88 when the ambient temperature reaches a predetermined degree. This operates to inactivate heating means 184 during such periods of high ambient temperature so that the air blown by blower 18 through opening 22 is not further heated.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a modified frame 114 is fragmentarily illustrated in position on base 12. Frame 114 includes a first section 115- and a second section -117 secured in telescoped relationship on first section 115 in much the same manner as the two sections of frame 14 which have been previously described. It should be noted, however, that outwardly extending flange 152 is provided with a plurality of depending, vertical shafts 153 spaced around the circumference of flange 152, and each shaft 153 journals a roller 155 thereon. The rollers 155 engage the inner annular rim of opening 22 and serve to center frame 114 over the opening 22.

A fluid piston and cylinder assembly broadly designated 157 has the cylinder 159 thereof mounted on plug 130 at the upper end of manifold 26. The piston 161 of assembly 157 is secured to the lowermost end of an upright central frame member 134 which may otherwise be identical with member 34. Ports 163 in cylinder 159 are adapted to be coupled with pressurized fluid conduit means (not shown) which communicate with a source of pressurized fluid for operating assembly 157. Valve means 165 may be operably associated with the conduits which supply fluid to assembly 157 and valve 165 is adapted to be positioned on the floor adjacent form 114 so that the operator can cause the piston 161 to be extended or retracted by operation of valve 165. Thus, the operator can adjust the vertical height of frame 114 by operation of assembly 157. It will be noted in FIG. 4 that springs 58 have been omitted from the bolt 156 to permit free sliding movement of section 117 with respect to section 115 as assembly 157 is operated.

It has been desirable to provide a frame 167 including a pair of upright standards 169 rigidly secured to a cross member 171 carried by first section 115. Standards 169 project upwardly above cylinder 159 and support a pair of cross members 173 disposed to be engaged by cross member 160 when the upper section 117 of frame 114 reaches the lowermost end of its vertical path of travel. Thus, the weight of the upper section 117 of frame 114 can be supported by frame 167 during periods of nonuse of the finishing machine to prevent undue strain on assembly 157. It will be understood that the upper portions of frame 114 (not shown) may be identical with those portions of frame 14.

In FIG. 4, a permeable form 175 is partially illustrated in dashed line position on frame 114. It is contemplated that the vertical adjustment feature of either frame 14 or 114 will be compensated for by the provision of an annular, semi-rigid hoop 177 which may be of wire, featherbone, whalebone, or the like. Hoop 177 is secured to form 175 by means of stitching or the like. A plurality of cords or wires 179 are secured to hoop 177 at spaced intervals therearound, pass through pulleys 181 carried by the inner surface of rim 150, and are secured to springs 183 which are fastened to a rigid frame cross member 185 extending between upright members 146 and 148. Thus, form 175 is kept taut by springs 185 at any selected vertical adjustment of the respective forms 14 and 114.

Referring now to FIG. 8, an alternate steam discharging apparatus, broadly designated 125, is illustrated. It has been found that satisfactory results can be obtained in the operation of machine and the latter can be substantially simplified if a closed, tubular manifold 126 is utilized in place of manifold 26 hereinabove described. A lateral pipe 127 communicates with manifold 126 and terminates in a T-shaped discharge nozzle 129. The latter has upwardly and downwardly directed ports 128. A solenoid valve 131 is interposed in pipe 127 and serves to control the flow of steam therethr-ough. Apparatus 125 eliminates the necessity for steam flow control structure associated with receiver 24 and permits ready access to the interior of vessel for service and maintenance operations as may be necessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a garment finishing machine, a garment support comprising:

an upright member;

a pair of elongated, rigid arms pivotally coupled to the member intermediate to the ends thereof;

a pair of elongated shoulder support elements;

means pivotally coupling one end of the respective elements to opposite sides of the member for swinging through arcs from respective first positions with the elements extending in general alignment with the longitudinal axis of the member to garment-supporting positions with each element extending outwardly at an angle from said axis, the arms being pivotally coupled to the elements intermediate the ends of the latter and at points on the member spaced longitudinally thereof from the point of coupling of the elements to said member;

a slide carried by the member for manual shifting movement longitudinally therealong; and

a link for each arm respectively, each link being pivotally coupled with the slide and with the corresponding arm between the points of pivotal coupling of the arm to the member and the corresponding element, whereby manual shifting of the slide swings said elements into and out of said garmentsupporting position, each element comprising an elongated, tubular first section pivotally coupled to said member, and an elongated second section telescoped into said first section, the latter being provided with a longitudinally extending slot, and pin means extending through the slot and secured to the second section and to the corresponding arm for shifting the second section longitudinally of the first section when the elements are swung through said arcs by said arms.

2. In a garment finishing machine: a base; an upright, garment-supporting frame, said frame including a first upright section mounted on the base, and a second section telescoped on said first section for vertical shifting movement with respect thereto;

means slidably securing said second section to the first section;

a fluid piston and cylinder assembly operably coupled to the second section; and

means mounting said assembly to the base for vertical shifting of the second section with respect to the base when the assembly is operated, said base including a vessel having a circular opening in the top thereof, the frame being disposed on the base over said opening, and a plurality of rollers mounted on the first section and extendinginto said opening, each roller being disposed for rotation on a vertical axis, the outer periphery of each roller being disposed to engage the edge of said opening for maintaining the frame in alignment over the opening when the frame is rotated with respect to the base.

3. The invention of claim 2, the first section including a generally horizontally extending plate presenting a flat surface disposed in sliding engagement on the top of said vessel, said rollers being mounted on the bottom surface of said plate.

4. In a garment finishing machine, an upright frame member;

a pair of elongated shoulder support elements;

means pivotally coupling the elements to opposite sides of the member respectively, there being a first position for each element with the respective elements extending generally in longitudinal alignment with the upright axis of said frame member, each of said elements comprising an elongated first section pivotally coupled adjacent one end thereof to the member, and a second elongated section shiftably secured to the first section in telescoped relationship therewith for movement longitudinally of said first sections; and

manually operable actuating structure including a pair of elongated links and means pivotally interconnecting each link with the upright member and with the second section of a corresponding element for swinging the elements through said respective arcs and for shifting said second sections longitudinally with respect to the corresponding first section responsive to manual operation of said structure for extending the outermost ends of each second section outwardly beyond the outermost ends of the corresponding first sections when said elements are in said garment-supporting positions.

5. In a garment finishing machine, an upright garment support comprising:

an upright frame member;

a pair of elongated shoulder support elements;

means pivotally coupling the elements to opposite sides of the member respectively, there being a first position for each element with the respective elements extending generally in longitudinal alignment with the upright axis of said frame member, each of the elements comprising an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending slot therein pivotally coupled adjacent one end of the tube to the member, and a second elongated section shiftably secured to the tube in telescoped relationship therewith, the outermost end of the tube extending outwardly at least as far as the outermost end of the second section when the respective elements are in said first positions; and manually operable structure including a slide shiftably carried by said member for movement longitudinally therealong, and link means pivotally coupled to the slide and pin means extending through each slot respectively and secured to corresponding second sections for pivotally coupling the latter to said link means for shifting the second sections with respect to said tubes to extend the outermost ends of the second sections outwardly beyond the outermost ends of the corresponding tubes and for swinging the elements through respective arcs to garment-supporting positions thereof with each element extending outwardly in opposite directions and at an angle with respect to said upright axis of the frame member responsive to manual shifting of the slide along the member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Gygi 223--70 Lendle 22370 Richa et a] 22370 Brenner et al. 22370 X Ma-urer 223-70 Paris 22370 10 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A GARMENT FINISHING MACHINE, A GARMENT SUPPORT COMPRISING: AN UPRIGHT MEMBER; A PAIR OF ELONGATED, RIGID ARMS PIVOTALLY COUPLED TO THE MEMBER INTERMEDIATE TO THE ENDS THEREOF; A PAIR OF ELONGATED SHOULDER SUPPORT ELEMENTS; MEANS PIVOTALLY COUPLING ONE END OF THE RESPECTIVE ELEMENTS TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE MKEMBER FOR SWINGING THROUGH ARCS FROM RESPECTIVE FIRST POSITIONS WITH THE ELEMENTS EXTENDING IN GENERAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE MEMBER TO GARMENT-SUPPORTING POSITIONS WITH EACH ELEMENT EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AT AN ANGLE FROM SAID AXIS, THE ARMS BEING PIVOTALLY COUPLED TO THE ELEMENTS INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE LATTER AND AT POINTS ON THE MEMBER SPACED LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF FROM THE POINT OF COUPLING OF THE ELEMENTS TO SAID MEMBER; A SLIDE CARRIED BY THE MEMBER FOR MANUAL SHIFTING MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY THEREALONG; AND A LINK FOR EACH ARM RESPECTIVELY, EACH LINK BEING PIVOTALLY COUPLED WITH THE SLIDE AND WITH THE CORRESPONDING ARM BETWEEN THE POINTS OF PIVOTAL COUPLING OF THE ARM TO THE MEMBER AND THE CORRESPONDING ELEMENT, WHEREBY MANUAL SHIFTING OF THE SLIDE SWINGS SAID ELEMENTS INTO AND OUT OF SAID GARMENTSUPPORTING POSITION, EACH ELEMENT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED, TUBULAR FIRST SECTION PIVOTALLY COUPLED TO SAID MEMBER, AND AN ELONGATED SECOND SECTION TELESCOPED INTO SAID FIRST SECTION, THE LATTER BEING PROVIDED WITH A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLOT, AND PIN MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH THE SLOT AND SECURED TO THE SECOND SECTION AND TO THE CORRESPONDING ARM FOR SHIFTING THE SECOND SECTION LONGITUDINALLY OF THE FIRST SECTION WHEN THE ELEMENTS ARE SWUNG THROUGH SAID ARCS BY SAID ARMS.

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