US2542918A - Garment stretching and pressing device - Google Patents

Description

4 543 I. 8 1 729., w m, a WM M w. w 7 W r n fl r 2 w a r fl & H M m H. D. FORSE GARMENT STRETCHING AND PRESSING DEVICE Feb. 20, 1951 Filed NOV. 29, 1945 Feb. 20, 1951 H. D. FORSE 2,542,918

GARMENT STRETCHING AND PRESSING DEVICE Filed No). 29, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 2 P1.3 ""FI.5

Feb. 20, 1951 sE 2,542,918

GARMENT STRETCHING AND PRESSING DEVICE Filed NOV. 29, 1945 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. flfikk/ D. 277x55.

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Patented Feb. 20, 1951 OFFICE GARMENT STRETCHING AND PRESSING DEVICE Harry B. Forse, Anderson, Ind. Application November 29, 1945, Serial No. 631,818

i This invention relates to a press structure for shirts and other garments and, by way of illustratien, it may be adapted for trouser pressing,

et'c. Herein, however, it is illustrated, by way of example only, as embodied in a shirt or like press.

The ch ef object is to provide a back or the like upon which a shirt be pieced and when placed, it is stretched or smoothed and when devoid of wrinkles it is pressed or ironed both front and back, as well as creased for folding, and between cooperating, heated, cavity providing heads.

Qne chief feature of the present invention resides in applying ironing pressure to the garment by book expansion in the head cavity;

A further chief feature of the invention resides in the automatic sequence of operations and the interlocking relationship therebetween.

Another feature of the present invention resides applying transverse pressure to a garment to stretch same.

Qther objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The toll nature of the invention will be understood frorn theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

in the drawings 1 Fig. l is a front elevation of the buck with a shirt omitted therefrom. v

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of such buck.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the major portions of the press in a partially open position.

Fig. i is a 's'nnilar view with parts in the closed or "pressing position, parts being broken away to Show same and other parts in "section.

Fig. '5 is a diagrammatic elevationalview illustrating the several parts and the interlocks associated therewith, the envelope being omitted.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line G--6 of Fig; and in the direction of the arrows.

is a schematic or diagrammatic eleva tie'n'al 'view of the press controls.

Fig. 8 is a schematic or diagrammatic view of the three valve mechanisms in the normal pest ti'on where-in the press is locked closed;

Fig. 9 is a similar View of the same valve system and corresponding to when the buck is in exposed or elevated position for garment application and removal.

In Fig. l of the drawings It indicates an elohgated fairly thin bar member with rounded corners its; Extending upwardly therefrom are two parallel tubes or cylinders H which are 24 Claims. (01. eat-57) closed at their up er ends at fl la. Within each tube I 1 and positioned near the upper end is a centrally ported piston l2 carried by tubular rod I 3 which extends throu h and is "sli'daloly associated with bearing It in theb'ar member It! or more specifically in the cylinder 11 at the lower end thereof.

Extending upwardly from plate I111 are ears.

l5 which pivotally support the names angular ends it of tubular rods l3, Same having a coin"- mon conne'ction to a pressure supply and release line I1. It will be obvious that when pressure is applied to the two cylinders which are crossconnected at I8, the bar member to raised relative to plate 110 and when the pressure is released the plate is positioned as shown in Fig.1.. This corresponds to the pressing position while the buck elevated position corresponds to the garment laying in applying and removing posiion.

Pivoted at I9 on the cylinders fire me nuts 2!! directed outwardly. Pivoted at 21 on the cylind'ers are two links 22 which have their; adjacent inner ends pivoted together at 23 and to a slide member 24. To the outer ends of links 20 and .22

at 25 and 26, respectively, are pivotally connected the members 28 and carried thereby are the l'o'flgated Wire me b'ifs 21 with inturrred curved ends A spring 29 is interposed between each of the links 20 and the bar mem er ID and these springs accordingly tend to draw the wire members 21 in wardly towards one another. When plate 24 ratene'cted to links 22 is depressed the members 2] are caused to separate laterally in opposition to springs 2.5L I

N'arthe ripper end of this buck structdre are two outwardly and downwardly iholined members 3,9 broadly similar to members 21-48. Extending across the upper portions of cylinders H and secured thereto is the plate 3|, see Figs. 1, 2 and s. secur d to plate 3| s the collar form member 32, see Figs. 1, 5 and 6, which is hollow or chambered as at 33, see Fig. 5. 4}

Extending forwardly iroi'r'i in'einbersflil are arms 35, see Fig. 5, which have angular extensions 35 mounting pins 3'6 in their lower inner ends. Carried. by foiin member 32; and if desired by plate 31 as Well, is a shaft 38.15% Figs. 4 and 6; rigid with which; in chamber 33-, is a cam xterm ber 39. A crossbar 49, see Fig. 5, has tangential contact with cam 39.

The crossbar at has an oppositely directed spring centering projection 41 seating in one end of a compression spring .42. The collar form 32 at 43 has a, similar projection seating in the opposite end of said spring 42. This spring normally tends to force crossbar 40 upwardly and is com pressed when the shaft 38 is rotated and the crossbar is forced downwardly by the cam 39.

The lower adjacent ends of arms 35 mount pins 36 that ride in longitudinally directed slots 45 in the ends of the said mechanism is aforesaid. Shaft 38 wheel 46, see Figs.

crossbar 48. All of the aforeenclosed in the collar form is tubular and mounts hand- 5 and 6. As the hand-wheel is turned from the cam lowered position, the.

spring forces crossbar 46 upwardly for outward and upward projection of members 30. Obviously a reverse power application may be employed when desired, that is, spring means may be used to retract members 38 while cam 39 would I be utilized to force said members 36 upwardly.

Extending through tubular shaft 38 and into the buck is a shaft 41Whi0h on its outer end mounts a hand-wheel 48 which shaft on its inner end mounts a cam member 49. This cam engages roller or follower 55 carried by slideor plate 24. This is the side extension control plate. The latter may be slotted longitudinally as at 5I and a follower 52, carried by said plate 3 I, rides in said slot 5|.

As noted, .see Fig. 1, two longitudinally aligned slots are provided and two pin followers 52 are provided. For convenience, same are disposed upon plates 24 and 3| respectively, as illustrated, but they may be reversed. This dual connection prevents lateral displacement of the control plate when cam actuated. 7

When the hand-wheel 48 is turned, the cam 49, engaging follower 58, forcesplate 24 downwardly which through the links 22, pivoted at 23 to said plate 24, forces the members 21-28 outwardly since same with links 26 and cylinders I I form a pair of parallel motion devices with an included dual toggle mechanism. Springs 29 also as described tend to draw members 21-28 together and thus tend to oppose cam extension of said members.

Obviously the cam-spring action maybe oppositely operable by a suitable reversal of parts. Herein the side members are cam extensible and spring retractible and the shoulder members are spring extensible and cam retractible. Both, however, may be of like type, etc.

Surrounding the. side members Z'I-28 and shoulder members 38 and the side member actuating means, the cylinders II and the plate 3! is 'a comparatively light thin rubber-like envelope that is very flexible. This is a sealed bag, I52 and a conduit 53, see Fig. 1, to the base I8 is arranged to supply air pressure to the bag to blow up same. When the pressure is released the bag collapses.

In operation, so far as the foregoing structure is concerned, a shirt is slipped upon the buck and the collar buttoned or the neck band is clipped together. Also, the front adjacent edges are suitably secured. Both of these means are omitted for clearness.

Herein-the buck has shoulder extensions 54 to project slightly into the sleeves of the shirt at the shoulder. When theshirt'is thus mounted the hand-wheels '48 and 46 are actuated to stretch the shirt sidewardly and vertically so that the shirt then is substantially devoid of wrinkles and creases.

As shown in Fig. 2, each of the side edges, defined 'by wires 2'! and each of the shoulder edges, definedby bars 20, has a comparatively type or fiat, see also a tension spring sharp formation, so that the. shirt when pressed is precreased for folding when removed from the 'buck following the pressing operation. The sleeves, collar and cuffs may be ironed or pressed in the usual manner.

Reference will now be had more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 and the lower portion of Fig. 1. Therein I I Ii indicates the main plate and extending upwardly therefrom are two confronting head members and 6 I. The former is of cavity type, see 66a in Fig. 4. The latter may be of the same Fig.4. However, it is notched a at62 to freelyv nest and expose the collar form 32. Such notching permits the handwheels 46 and 48 to be positioned outwardly of the head 6| for adjustment and clearance purposes.

Each of the heads is chambered and supplied with steam for heating same. and this is continuously supplied during normal pressing operation. These heads, if desired, may be electrically heated.

Head 66 is shown rigid with plate I III a at 63, see Figs. 3 and 4. Head 6| includes ears 64, pivoted at 65 to cars 66 carried by plate III]. It will be remembered that the buck is slidably associated with piston rods I3 and the lateral ends I are pivoted on plate III by the ears I5. Herein there extends rearwardly from the buck, see Figs. 3and 4, and more particularly portions I6 thereof, the arm I66. A spring 61 normally constrains the buck to clockwise tilted position, the extreme tilt being determined by plate carried stop'68. This position is shown in Fig. 3.

Head M has ear 69 projecting forwardly and 16 between it and the base III) tends to tilt said head clockwise to the press open position, see Fig. 3. No additional stop is required since the following described structure serves as same.

Plate II 0 includes an ear 1| which at I2 pivotally supports the head I3 of cylinder 14. Therein is piston I5 carried by upwardly and rearwardly directed rod I6. This rod extends through the other cylinder head 73a clampingly connected to the other end of said cylinder.

Pivoted at 1! on each side of lever I8 having one end pivoted at I8 to a cross member 19a, see'Figs. 3 and 4, carried by the upper end of the piston rod I6. Each lever I8 extends rearwardly from pivot I1 and includes a catch portion and a cam free end portion 8I. Head 60 at each side includes a locking roller 82. Springs 83 connected between levers I8 and cylinder head 13a or the plate IIU if desired, serve to tiltlevers I8, 88 and BI upon pivots I1 when pressure is released from said cylinder. viously, two cylinders I4, etc., may be employed when desired.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the heads are separated and the buck can 'be elevated by air pressure supplied to cylinders II. A shirt then is buck mounted as previously described and stretched as described.- Then buck elevating cylinder pressure is released whereupon the buck lowers by gravity until the buck is positioned between the two heads 6!) and BI. Then, and only then, is air pressure cylinder I4 and rod I6 elevated from the position 1n Flg. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4 to close the heads about the buck.

In such elevation the two cam locks, one. at each side and straddling head 60, cause portion 88 to seat roller 82. At this time the'buck is nested within the heads the head 6! is a and near the end thereof character that while lever 90 is in holding or pressure applying position levers 9| f and 92 can not be actuated to open their respective intake valves. 1

It will be apparent that if plate III] is at floor level, the buck, when elevated, will be about chest height so a' shirt can be readily-lifted upwardly therefrom and another pulled downwardly thereon. Whenever desired or necessary there may be provided a suitable clamp not shown and the same would be carried by the buck and would be used with a shoulder stretching means herein disclosed.

It is equally obvious that the stretching and creasing members 2T-28 and 30 each may be divided. One part then can be positioned exteriorly of the bag or envelope and the other part can be positioned within same or both without or within the same. Also, if desired, all of member 38, as herein illustrated, may be positioned exteriorly of the bag. When such is the case no part of member 39 passes through the bag. I When positioned interiorly, however, portion 34 passes through the bag, as described.

The connections at the point where portion 34 passes through the bag and where the shaft 47 enters the bag are rendered leakproof. These stretching members are preferably thin flexible members so that they can conform to the garment as well as crease the same in the pressing operation.

The members 9|,f and 92 may be maintained in pressure supplying position only so long as the lever member 90 is in exhaust open position. If the lever 99 is moved to pressure supplying position wherein the right end of that member is depressed, the cable is drawn taut to overpower the biasing springs of the members 93 and 94 and they are rotated out of operating position, whereupon the valve biasing springs Big and 929' function to close the pressure supplying side and open the exhaust side of valves B and C.

In order that the operation of the pivoted member 99f may be facilitated a treadle 98 is connected thereto by a link member 9'! so that operable movement of the treadle 98 causes like movement of the member 90 The treadle 98 and link member 91 are biased upwardly by a spring 99. Inasmuch as this upwardly biased position is the normal position of the treadle 98 it follows that a like position of the member 99f in which the exhaust valve is open and the inlet valve is closed is the normal position of valve A. Thus with the member 99 in its counterclockwise limit or normal position tension on the cables I and liil is reduced so that the biasing springs of the members 93 and 94 position those members to open the pressure supply side and close the exhaust side of the valves B and C with which they are associated. Consequently, then the normal position of the device when under pressure is its locked up position.

Assume now that the device is to be put into operation. The treadle 98 is depressed thereby rotating the member 99 clockwise, which tightens the cables I89 and [0| and rotates the members 93 and '98 into inelfective positions. Upon such rotation the biasing spring 92g causes the valve 0 to operate to deflate the buck; the biasing spring 9Ig causes the valve B to exhaust the pressure in cylinder 14, whereupon the heads are unlocked and head 6| moved to open position;

and the clockwise rotation of member 90f causes valve A to supply the cylinders H with pressure thereby moving the buck to extended position. 7

As long as the pedal 98 is maintained in its depressed position fluid pressure cannot be sup-,

plied to the buck through valve C or to the cylinder 14 through valve B. Even though the buck descends, through accident or leakage, to its retracted position between the heads, the rocking members 9 If and 92 will not be rotated to operate l their associated valves to supply pressure as long as the treadle 98 is depressed and the cables I90 and [BI hold the members 93 and 94 in inactive positions.

Now while the treadle 98 is maintained in depressed position, as by a detent not shown, and the buck is extended, a shirt is positioned thereon and adjusted for pressing. The adjustment of the shirt includes the arrangement of the neck band 'or collar on the collar form and a manipulation of the hand wheels 46 and 48 to position the members 28 and 39 so as to smooth and stretch it as desired. When the adjustment is completed the pedal 98 is released and the spring 99 promptly moves it to its upper limit position. The movement of the treadle is accompanied by like movement of the rocking arm 99 which closes the pressure supply side of valve A and opens the exhaust side thereof whereupon thecylinders II are exhausted and the buck descends to its retracted position between the heads 6!! and 6 I.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not-restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein, as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a garment press having a pair of con-v 1 fronting separable, heated,

garment pressing members, the combination of an expansible and reciprocable buck, means for moving the buck" into and out of registration with and from said members, means for locking the members together with the buck included therebetween, means for expanding the included buck into simultaneous engagement with both members for garment pressing, and means operable only when the members are locked together with the buck disposed therebetween for controlling the expanding means.

2. A press of the character defined byclaim 1 wherein the expansible buck includes a pressure expansible envelope and a non-conforming supporting, skeleton-type frame. 7

3. In a garmentpress having a pair of confronting heated, garment pressing heads relatively movable 'to open and closed positions, the com-,

bination of a inflatable, extensible buck disposed for reciprocation into and out of registration with and between the heads, means for moving said heads towards and away from each other, means for'extending the buck for initial stretching of a garment thereon, means for inflating the buck for garment pressing, and means controlling said inflating means and operable only when the deflated buck is disposed between the heads and confined thereby, which is when said heads are positioned immediately adjacent each other.

4. In a garment press having a pair of confronting heated, garment pressing heads, a buck support therebetween at all times, a buck slidable on the support and movable in one direction thereon between said heads and for registration therewith in an opposite direction from between said heads, mechanism effecting pressing pressure between the heads, and a control device for said mechanism for effecting pressing and governed by said buck when the buck is registered between the heads.

5. A press of the character defined by claim 4 wherein additional means is provided for locking the heads together, the said mechanism efiecting pressing pressure between the heads including an inflatable structure governed by said control device.

6. A press of the character defined by claim 5 wherein an interlock device is provided between the head locking means and the said mechanism.

7. A press of the character defined by claim 3, wherein locking means secures the heads together with the buck therebetween, and an interlock device is interposed between said looking means and the buck inflating means.

8. A press of the character defined by claim 4, wherein power means is provided to effect buck sliding and an interlock device is interposed between the buck sliding means and the pressing pressure effecting mechanism.

9. A press of the character defined by claim 8, wherein means is provided for locking the heads together, the pressing pressure being effected by inflation, the interlock device preventing locking means actuation until the buck is registered between the heads and preventing inflation until the heads are locked together.

10. A press of the character defined by claim 4, wherein means is provided for locking the heads together and the pressing pressure is effected by inflation, and buck carried members for stretching the garment on the buck prior to pressing.

11. A press of the character defined by claim 4, wherein means is provided for locking the heads together, the pressing pressure being effected by inflation, an interlock device interposed between the locking means and the pressing pressure efmeans for the buck, and

fecting mechanism, and buck carried members for stretching the garment on the buck prior to pressing.

12. A press of the characted defined by claim 8, wherein the buck movably supports members for stretching the garment on the buck prior to pressing.

13. A press of the character defined by claim 9 wherein the buck movably supports members for stretching the garment on the buck prior to press- 14. A press of the character defined by claim 4 wherein means is provided for locking the heads together and the pressing pressure is effected by inflation, and buck carrier members for stretching the garment on the buck prior to pressing, the buck being of inflatable character and connected to the pressure effecting mechanism for inflation for pressing.

15. A press of the character defined by claim 14, wherein an interlock device is interposed between the locking means and the pressing pressure effecting mechanism.

16. A press of the character defined by claim 8 wherein the buck movably supports members for stretching the garment on the buck prior to pressing, the buck being of inflatable character and connected to the pressure effecting mechanism for inflation for pressing.

1'7. A press of the character defined by claim 16 wherein means is provided for locking the heads together and the pressing pressure is effected by inflation.

18. In a garment press, the combination of opposed pressing heads and a pressing buck for positioning therebetween, said buck including at opposite sides outwardly and oppositely extensible members and at the shoulder portions of the buck outwardly and oppositely extensible members and manually operable, buck exposed means for actuating each of said members.

19. A garment press as defined by claim 18, wherein the buck includes a skeleton frame work and an inflatable envelope thereabout and stretchable with said extending means.

20. A garment press as defined by claim 18 wherein the buck includes an inflatable envelope, the opposite sides adjacent the side edges: being comparatively thin.

21. In a garment press buck structure the combination of a skeleton framework, including elongated cylinder means, a buck base, and an envelope secured thereto, piston rod support piston means carried by the support means and slidably associated with the base and cylinder means for sliding the buck relative to the support means.

22. A buck structure as defined by claim 21, wherein there is provided envelope stretching means, manually operable means carried by the framework, and means operable thereby for actuating the stretching means.

23. A buck structure as defined by claim 21, wherein there is provided envelope stretching means, manually operable means carried by the framework, and means operable thereby for actuating the stretching means, the last mentioned means including parallel motion mechanism operatively associated with the cylinder and stretching means for simultaneous stretching at opposite sides of the buck.

24. A buck structure as defined by claim 21, wherein there is provided envelope stretching means, manually operable means carried by the framework, and means operable thereby for actuating the stretching means, the last mentioned means including a cam and follower operable means actuable in one direction and spring means acting in opposition thereto.

HARRY D. FORSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,995,093 Clare Mar. 19, 1935 2,022,176 Baldwin Nov. 26, 1935 2,126,577 Rawlinson Aug. 9, 1938 2,241,373 Rawlinson May 6, 1941 2,378,565 Locke et al June 19, 1945

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