US2948444A - Garment pressing and finishing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

1960 I A. F. PARIS 2,948,444

GARMENT PRESSING AND FINISHINGQAPPRA'VIUS 7 4 shaets sneet 1 Filed June 1, 1956 INVENTOR. August E Paris H/S ATTORNEYS Aug. 9, 1 50 A. F. PA-R15, v 2,943,444

GARMENT PRESSING AND FINISHING APPARATUS Filed June 1, 1956 4 Shee ts-Sheet 2 I. 11 2e 25 24' 24 I :t

- I INVENTOR.

3 Augusf E Pan's I 8% g ALI/W "221 v Hi5 ATTORNEYS Aug. 9, 1960 A. F. PARIS GARMENT PRESSING AND FINISHING APPARATUS 4 SheetS-Sheet 3 Filed June 1, 1956 uvvsmog. August E Fans 3% HIS A T TORNE Y5 9, 1960 I 'KQFQ PARjs 2,948,444 GARMENT PBESS'IVNCTAND FINISHING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 1, 1956 mmv'rozg; August E Pans lflwfilsum fw HIS ATTORNEYS GARMENT PRESSING AND FINISHING APPARATUS August F. Paris, Oak St., Brockway, Pa. =Filed June 1, 1956, Ser. No. 588,876

Claims. (Cl. 223-67) This invention relates to garment pressing and finishing apparatus and particularly to apparatus which includes an adjustable form as a part thereof. As is usual, the form is made of fabric such as nylon and is adapted to be supported on structural parts which are included in the make-up of the so-called pressing and finishing machine. The form is so positioned on the machine that it receives air and/ or steam under pressure delivered from the base portion of the machine. With the form in place on the machine, a garment to be pressed or otherwise processed, is fitted over the form so that as the form is expanded by the pressure of the air and/ or steam delivered to the interior thereof, the garment is not only subjected to the expanding pressure of the form, but is also subjected to the conditioning effect of the fluid under pressure which escapes through the pores of the fabric of which the form is made.

Forms such as are involved by the present invention are usually made from fabrics such as a closely woven nylon cloth which is highly flexible and is permeable but at the same time is so closely woven that the form made therefrom balloons or expands in response to. fluid pressure delivered to the interior thereof. As is usual, the texture of the form is such that the pressure delivered to the interior of the form causes the form to expand under conditions such that the garment fitted over the form is subjected to a pressing or finishing tension throughout substantially the entire extent thereof and at the same time is subjected to the conditioning effect of the steam and/ or air which passes through the pores of the fabric form and in that way is applied to the material from which the garment located on the form, is made.

An object of this invention is to produce garment-press ing and finishing apparatus so constructed and arranged that the form which constitutes a part thereof, may be effectively employed in pressing and finishing garments of various sizes and shapes.

A further object of the invention is to produce apparatus such that the contour of the expanded form can be preliminarily adjusted to effectively press and finish garments of widely varying sizes without the danger of overstretching the garment or otherwise deforming any por-' tion of the material of which the garment is made.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a garment finishing form which is so constructed'that the fluid pressure delivered to the interior thereof, automatically adjusts itself throughout different portions of the form so as to avoid subjecting portions of the garment to excessive or distorting pressure during the operation of processing the garment.

These and other objects which will be made more apparent throughout the further description of the invention are attained by means of apparatus embodying the features herein described and illustrated.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a pressing and finishing machine embodying features of my invention and dis- 2 closed as supporting a form which embodies additional features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a corresponding view of the machine shown in Figure 1 with the form removed therefrom.

Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional view of the machine shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view the line IVIV of Figure 1 and disclosing the form as fully expanded. I

Figure 5'is a fragmental view taken along the line V-- V of Figure 4 and illustrating in side elevation a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 4 and other figures of the drawings.

Figure 6 is a fragmental side elevation of the form shown in Figure 1 and illustrates a special structural feature of the form.

Figure 7 is a fragmental side view of the portion of the form shown in Figure 6.

- cap and shoulder portion which is carried by a center post forming a part'of the machine and supported by the As shown in Figure 2, the neck Figure 8 is a diagrammatic front view of the pressing machine shown in Figure 2 and having a specially constructed form supported thereon; and Figure 9 is a fragmental enlarged view of a portion of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a fragmental view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the fabric form shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9A is a fragmental sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of a fabric sleeve form.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of a modified fabric form which may be employed with the machine, and Figure 11 is a fragmental sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the pressing machine forming a part of the present invention includes a base portion 10 which is shown as of cylindrical form and which houses equipment for delivering a flow of air under pressure and also a flow of steam upwardly and into a form supported on a neck base portion thereof. cap 11 is supported at the upper end of an upright rod or central post 12 which is shown as formed in two parts, 12 and 12' and which is supported by the base portion 10 by meansof a frame-like structure 13. Adjustable shoulder portions 14 are supported by the cap 11 and cooperate with the cap in supporting a flexible form 15 above the base portion 10 and in such positional relationship thereto'that steam and/or air pressure delivered from the base portion, enter the interior of the form under conditions such as to subject the interior of the form to sufficient pressure to expand or balloon outwardly and to maintain it under pressure while steam or air under pressure passes outwardly through the pores of th fabric of which the form is made. a

It will be understood that prehminary to pressing or otherwise processing a garment, the pressing machine is fitted with a selected form in such a way that the neck 7 and shoulder portions of the form are supported by the the effective size of the waist portion of the form so as to make it available for the effective pressing or other processing of garments of widely different sizes.

One of the features of the improved form constituting an embodiment of the present invention, is that the skirt portion of the form is equipped with selected number of of the machine taken along the form envelopes the rod 121'2 withencircling and secured to the vertically extending spaced rods 17. The rods normally extend in parallel relationship from a point adjacent the lower edge of the skirt portion to a point located approximately at the waist portion of the form. The rods are secured tothe inner face of the form and for this purpose each rod is preferably enclosed Within a tube of fabric which is sewed to the inside of the skirt portion of the form.

*In the drawings, nine rods 17 are illustrated as secured to the form 15, but any desired number of rods may be employed with each such form. A base ring 155 is supported on the base portion at a point adjacent to but spaced from the upper edge of the base portion. That is to say, the base ring 18 is so positioned that it is enclosed by the skirt portion of the illustrated form 15, is located above the lower edge of the form and in a position to engage the lower ends of the rods 17 when the rods are moved inwardly toward the central post 12-12. The rods 17 form a part of the means for adjusting the size of the waist portion of the form and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention the rods 17 are associated in groups of three by an arrangement of draw cords 21. As shown in Figure 4, the central rod of each group is equipped with a guide ring 19 and each of the other two rods of the group is equipped with a hook 20. A separate draw cord 21 is secured to each hook and each such cord passes through the guide ring 19 secured to the central rod of the group and extends approximately radially from the guide ring and is secured to a pulley 22.

As more or less diagrammatically shown in Figures 4 and 5, the pulley 22 is mounted on a rod 22, the lower end of which is journaled in a bearing 23 carried by a plate 23'. The plate is secured to the central post 1212' and the rod 22' extends vertically upward and through the cap portion 11. As shown in Figure 3 the upper end of the rod 22 projects through the central aperture of a gear wheel 24 mounted on and rigidly secured to the neck cap 11. A handle 25 is secured to the upper end of rod 22'. The hub portion 24 of the handle is supported on the sprocket 24. The handle 25 is pivotally mounted on the hub portion and is provided with a duck-bill 25, the lower end of which is adapted to engage separate teeth of the wheel 24 depending on the position of the handle, the rod 22 and the pulley 22. A coil spring 26 is shown located between the duck-bill 25 and the handle portion 25 for the purpose of holding the end of the bill 25' in engagement with one or another of the teeth of the gear wheel 24.

As shown in Figure 4, each of the cords 21 is secured to the pulley 22, the arrangement being such that as the pulley is turned by the handle 25 in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Figure 4, the cords 21 are drawn inwardly and, therefore, move the rods 17 inwardly toward the central post 1212'. The extent of the inward motion of the rods will depend upon the extent of the angular movement of the pulley 22 as it is turned by the handle 25 from the initial position shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 4, each pair of cords 21 may pass through a guiding aperture formed in a stationary part of the apparatus illustrated, before being secured to the pulley 22. Thus the aperture 27 formed in the plate 16 forms a guide for the cords 21 secured to the righthand group of rods 17. A similar aperture formed in a guide rod 27 forms a guide for the cords 21 secured to the lefthand group. Likewise, the cords secured to the third group of rods may pass through a similar aperture located in a stationary part of the apparatus but as shown are secured to the central portion of the pulley 22. A stop pin 28 is carried by the pulley 22 and is adapted to engage the portion 12 of the central post for the purpose of limiting the movement of the pulley as it is turned from one extreme angular position to the other.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cords 21 are secured to the rods 17 of the difierent groups at a point inter- 4 mediate the ends of the rods. For example, the cords may be secured to the rods'about 14 inches above the lower ends of the rods or at a point about /3 of the length of each rod above the lower end thereof. As the cords 21 are drawn inwardly by the turning movement of the pulley 22, the rods 17, in moving inwardly, engage the base ring 18, with the result that the inward movement of the lower ends of the rods is checked and, consequently, the upper portions of the rods move toward each other as the turning movement of the pulley 22 continues to draw the cords 21 inwardly. This inward movement of the individual rods functions to gather the fabric of which the form 15 is made, into vertical folds so as to reduce the circumference of the cylindrical portion of the form to the desired size. It will, of course, be apparent that because of the controlling effect of the base ring 18 on the movement of the rods 17, the greatest reduction in circumference of the form 15 will occur at the waist portion of the form as the rods 17 are drawn inwardly. In the form illustrated, the rods 17 may be drawn inwardly to the point where the waist portion of the form 15 approximate the size of the coat of a three year old chi-1d.

With the arrangement illustrated, it will be apparent that as the effective waist portion of the form is reduced in circumference, the portion of the form located below the waist portion and above the base ring 18, is also reduced. This is necessary or highly desirable, since if the bottom hem of a garment fitted over the form, is of less diameter than that of the portion of the expanded form engaged by it, the hem would tend to move upwardly along the form and occasion wrinkles around the bottom of the garment. Under such conditions the lower portion of a sheer garment might also be stretched or otherwise distorted out of shape.

It will also be apparent that other portions of a sheer garment fitted over the form, might be stretched and permanently distorted if the expanded form applied too great a pressure to them. For this reason I have specially formed the portion of the form 15 located above the waist portion and below the sleeve portion of the form. As shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7, the form above the waist portion and below the sleeve portions, is, in effect, made in two parts, one of which is of reduced circumference and in direct communication with the skirt portion of the form. The other part consists of two lateral extensions each located immediately below a sleeve portion of the form. That is to say, the central portion 29 of the form is of reduced circumference as shown in Figure 6. This portion of the form is, however, supplemented by two oppositely located, lateral extensions 30. As shown in Figure 7, the central portion 2? is separated from each extension 30 by what may be termed a bafile E which is formed of nylon or other fabric of lesser porosity than the cloth from which the other portions of the form are made. These baffles are, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, of a selected width and each extends from the waist portion upwardly to a point adjacent the sleeve portion of the form 15.

Each extension 34 includes in its make-up one of the baffles E, and gussets C and D together with other fabric walls which enclose the space within the extension. With such an arrangement the baffles E of lesser porosity tend to direct the major portion of the air and steam flow upwardly toward the neck portion of the form and to thereby deliver the flow of fluid pressure within the form, more or less directly into the sleeve portions of the form. Such fluid under pressure, i.e., the steam or compressed air entering each extension, passes through one of the baffles E. The fluid flow into each extension 30, is therefore, restricted and this occasions a reduction in the pressure maintained within each such extension. In order to obtain the desired reductionof pressure, the porosity and extent of each baflie E is so proportioned as .to the porosity and extent of the fabric constituting the other walls of each extension 30 that the fluid pressure each such extension is maintained at a determined pressure below the fluid pressure existing within the body portion of the form 15. In this way the expansion pressure delivered to the interior of the form is so controlled as to prevent over-stretching or other distortion of garments formed of sheer material, which may be fitted over the form 15.

I also prefer to provide each form with separate bust extensions 31 such as are illustrated in Figure 8. Each bust portion is fabricated from selected materials such that the expansion pressure existing therein is controlled and is maintained at a determined-pressure below the expansion pressure within the body portion of the form 15. As indicated in connection with the extensions 30, the expansion pressure within each bust portion 31 is controlled by proportioning the rate of fluid flow into each such portion with relation to the rate of fluid flow from that portion. This may be accomplished by including in the make-up of each bust portion 3-1 an inner portion or wall 32 which is of less porosity than thatof the material included in the make-up of the major portion of the form 15. This inner wall or baffle 3 2 is covered by an outer portion of greater area than the inner portion and of a selected or determined porosity. Then too, the inner portion 32, which corresponds in function to each of the bafiies E, may be formed of non-porous material and provided with a plurality of small perforations 33 such as shown in Figure 8. r

In this way the flow of expansion fluid into each bust extension can be so proportioned to the rate of fluid delivery from each bust portion as to maintain what may be referred to as a soft pressure within the bust portions and thus avoid overstretching or otherwise distorting the bosom portions of garments fitted over the form 15. To be more explicit in connection with the description of the bust portions 31, it is noted that the inner portion or partition 32 may extend from the neck portion down across the chest portion to a point adjacent the waist portion of the form 15. This inner portion may replace a portion of the material from which the form 15 is made or it may be secured over a .part of the chest-portion of the form. It will also be understood that the outer wall of each breast portion may be formed of material which is of appreciably greater area than the inner portion 32, and which is initially formed so that the external contour thereof is convex.

While the sleeve portions 34 of the form here illustrated are not in themselves a part. of the present invention, it is, however, noted that for the purpose of controlling the expansion pressure delivered'to the sleeve portions, each such portion is shown as provided with an adjustable fluid delivery slit or slot located at a point adjacent to the shoulder portion of the form and shown as extending lengthwise of the sleeve. Each such slit is provided with a closing device shown as a zipper 35 which preferably is open from the shoulder portion of the sleeve downwardly along the extent of the sleeve. This makes it possible to control the amount of expansion pressure exhausted from each sleeve portion and in this way to control the expansion pressure maintained within each sleeve portion. It is desirable or at least practical to so for-m thesleeve portions 34 that each is of the full size of the kimono style of coat or about 17 inches in diameter at points along the length of the sleeve and 18 inches in diameter adjacent the shoulder portions. By regulating the expansion pressure maintained in each sleeve portion, these large sleeve forms may be employed in much smaller sleeves of garments without the danger of over-stretching the garment sleeves.

As indicated in Figure 7, the material of which the form 15 is made is cut away above the extensions 30 on each side of the form. In this way a sleeve aperture 36 is provided on each side of the form 15 adjacent the shoulder portion thereof and the sleeve portions34 are so secured to the form as to close these apertures 36,

Another feature of the present invention involving the sleeve portions 34 is that each its extreme closed end with a draw cord 37 which is provided at its end with a hand ring 38. The draw cord is preferably longer than the length of the sleeve form to which it is attached. As shown in Figure 8, each sleeve portion is provided with a second shorter cord 39 which is secured to the closed end of the arm portion adjacent to the point at which the cord 37 is secured. A weighted element 40 is secured to the second cord. The element 40 is shown in Figure 8 in the form'of an over-size and weighted safety pin.

In the pressing, finishing or processing of garments having short sleeves or of garments which have no sleeves, it is desirable to reverse each sleeve portion and place it, or a portion of it in the interior of the form 15 but in such a way that the portion of the sleeve form adjacent the shoulder portion,'has the effect of closing the armor sleeve aperture 36. discloses the way the sleeve form is reversed during the operation of placing the major portion thereof within 1 in the position illustrated in only the closed end portions are pushed back into the eifectively employed the form 15 so that the weighted element 40 is located within the reversed sleeve portion and within the form 15 and so located within the inwardly looped portion of the sleeve form 34- that it aids in holding the sleeve form Figure 9, against the fluid pressure within the body of the form 15. As there shown, it is desirable to retain the end of the cord 37 in an accessible position such that the sleeve form canbe readily withdrawn from the interior of the form 15 and be available for used in the processing of garments having short sleeves or sleeves of full length.

Where the garment to be processed on the form 15 is provided with short sleeves, the sleeve forms 3-4 are reversed as described but they are so manipulated that form and held in place therein by the weighted element 40. :That is to say, a portion of each sleeve form 34 projects through one of the sleeve apertures 36 shown.

in Figure 7 and aids in the pressing and other processing of one of the short sleeves of the garment placed on the form. The portions of the sleeve forms 34 which project through the apertures 36 are expanded by the fluid pressure delivered to the interior of the form 15 and, therefore, subject the garment sleeves in which they are located, to tension and deliver the pressure fluid pass-v ing through the material of which the sleeve forms are made, to and through the material of which the garment sleeves are made and in essing of the short sleeve portions of the garment.

The weighted element 4-0 is shown in Figures 9 and 9A in the form of an oversized safety pin. As such, it is capable of weighting down the end of a reversed and inwardly turned sleeve positioned as shown in Figure 9. In addition, the enlarged pin 40 when positioned over the cuff end of a garment sleeve, as shown in 'Figure 9A, will contribute to the creasing of the cuff end of the sleeve when it is desired to so crease the sleeve during a garment-processing operation. It is for this reason thatthe safety pin is preferably of a length-greater than the usual diameter or width of the cuff or end portion of garment sleeves. It will, of course, be apparent that weighted elements of different length may be secured to the cord 37 in order to properly complete the processing of garment sleeves of different widths or diameters.

In Figure 10 I have diagrammatically illustrated a fabric form 15' which may be employed with a machine such as is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings; The form 15' is similar to the form 15 except that it is provided with a flared skirt portion 41 capable of being in the pressing and finishing of ladies garments which include as a part thereof, a widely flared skirt. As shown in Figure 10, the lower portion of the form 15 is formed in two parts, viz., the .flared skint portion 41 and an annular portion 42. The skirt such portion is provided at.

The enlarged view of Figure 9 this way complete the proc-.

portion 41 is secured to the waist portion and is of such form that its lower edge has a circumference substantially greater than the circumference of the waist portion. As a matter of fact, in order to properly press and finish the widely flared skirt portions of some ladies garments, it is desirable to so form the portion 41 of the form 15 that the lower edge thereof has a circumference of a little larger than 100 inches.

As shown in Figure 10, the lower edge of the portion 41 is secured to the outer edge of the annular portion 42, the inner edge of which is provided with a circular hem 42a which encloses a spiral spring 43 of circular form. The spring 43 and the hem portion 42a are shown in Figure 11. 'The hem portion 42a is of a circumference such that it is capable of being fitted over the upper end of the base portion It) of the machine and the circular spring 43 is of a circumferential length such that it is capable of holding the hem portion of the form 15' in a groove 44 shown in Figures 10 and 11 as extending around the upper edge of the base portion of the machine.

The flared portion 41 of the form is fitted with rods 17 such as heretofore described in connection with the form 15. The rods 17 may be, and preferably are formed of light material such as aluminum or plastic. However, they are rigid enough to avoid flexing under pressures such as are delivered to the interior of the form 15'. The form 15 is preferably provided with at least nine rods 17 which are secured to and spaced around the flared portion 41, each such rod extending from a point adjacent the waist portion of the form to the lower edge of the flared portion 41. As previously described, each rod 17 is preferably enclosed in a fabric sheath and the sheath is secured to the form portion 41 so that when that portion of the form 15 is expanded the rods converge at substantially equal angles toward the waist portion of the form.

In order to prevent the flared portion 41 of the form 15' from moving upwardly when the form is subjected to internal fluid pressure, I provide it with the rods 17 as stated and a number of straps or cords 45, each of which extends from the hem port-ion 42a to points adjacent the waist portion of the form. For this purpose the hem portion is provided with a series of hooks 46 which are preferably equally spaced around the hem portion and each hook is adapted to receive the lower end of the straps or cords 45. The other end of each such cord is secured to the waist portion of the form 15 at a point such that each cord 45 extends substantially vertically from its securing hook 46 to the waist portion and limits the movement of said waist portion relatively to the base portion 10 of the machine.

It is desirable to employ at least nine rods 17 spaced around the flared portion 41 of the form 15. It is also desirable to employ at least five of the hold-down straps or cords 45. Where five such cords are employed, it is preferable to locate two of the cords in spaced relationship on each side of the form, each so positioned that it extends vertically from base 10 to the waist portion of the form and preferably in line with one of the rods 17. With such an arrangement of side cords, a cord 45 should preferably be located in the back portion of the form so that it extends upwardly in line with one of the rods 17, located at the back of the skirt portion 41. Such an arrangement of the rods 17 and the cords 45 prevents undesirable movement of the flared portion 41 of the form as it is subjected to air and/ or steam pressure during a garment processing operation.

It will, of course, be understood that the fonn 15' is placed on the pressing machine as a preliminary to processing garments having widely flared skirts. It will also be understood that the garment to be pressed is placed over the form before steam or air under pressure is delivered to the interior of the form. On the delivery of such fluid pressure to the interior of the form, the entire form as well as the flared portion 41 thereof, is expanded and in addition to placing the garment under tension, the form delivers steam or heated air to the garment under conditions such that the fluid so delivered passes through the material of which the form is made and also through the material of which the garment is made.

It will also be apparent that some or all of the rods 17 secured to the flared portion 41 of the form may be drawn inwardly to reduce the effective size of the waist portion of the form, as described in connection with Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings. As disclosed in Figures 6, 9 and 9a of the drawings, each sleeve portion or a part thereof may be reversed and turned inwardly so that it is suspended within the chest and skirt portions of the form. Where the sleeve portions of the form or parts thereof are so reversed, the weighted member 40 is positioned in the reversed part of each sleeve portion and aids in holding such pant within the interior of the form. As shown in Figure 9, the ring 38 secured to each draw cord 37 is retained on the outside of the form so that the reversed sleeve portions can be readily and quickly withdrawn from the interior of the form. In Figure 6 I have shown the sleeve portions 34 of the form so positioned that each sleeve portion may be effectively employed in the pressing and other processing of the short sleeves of a garment located on the form. A reference to both Figure 6 and Figure 9 will disclose that when a sleeve portion or a part thereof is reversed so as to locate it within the chest portion 29 of the form, a part of the reversed sleeve portion will respond to fluid pressure delivered to the interior of the form and will either form a closure for the sleeve apertures 36, shown in Figure 7, or will expand under the pressure supplied to the form, and be effective in pressing and otherwise processing the short sleeves of a garment on the form. See for example the expanded part of the sleeve portions shown in Figure 6.

In the operation of reducing the effective waist portion of a form, the rods 17, which are secured to the skirt portion and extend from the bottom of that portion of the form to the waist portion, are simultaneously manipulated so that the upper ends of the rods move inwardly and thus form folds in the skirt portion of the form which extend vertically from the lower ends of the rods to and above the waist portion of the form and which increase in depth toward the upper ends of the rods. This manipulation of the rods may be accomplished either before or after form-expanding pressure has been delivered to the interior of the form. It, however, will be accomplished before a garment to be processed is located on the form and it is noted that in locating a garment on the form, the form preferably should be partially or wholly deflated.

- After a garment is in place on the form, form-expanding pressure is then delivered to the interior of the form while the rods 17 are held in the waist-reducing, adjusted positions. Under such conditions, all portions of the form, except the folds occasioned by the inward movement of the rods, will respond to the expanding force of the fluid pressure delivered to the interior of the form. It, however, will be apparent that if the sleeve portions of the form are either wholly or partially reversed as previously described, the parts thereof located within the interior of the form will not respond to the expanding force of the fluid pressure.

While I have described embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent that various changes, additions, omissions and substitutions may be made in the apparatus illustrated and in the procedure outlined without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a garment pressing machine including in its make-up a base portion, a centerpost secured to and extending vertically above saidbase portion; shoulder supports secured to said post and spaced from and located above said base portion; a base ring supported on said base portion surrounding said post and located adjacent to and above said base portion; a flexible fabric form suspended from saidtshoulder supports and surrounding said post and withthe lower open' edge thereof surrounding and secured to the upper edge of said base portion; a plurality ofspaced, flexure-resistant rods permanently secured to said form at points above the lower edge thereof and'extending substantially vertically toward the upper portion of said form; and means for moving each such rod so thatwthe lower end thereof engages said base ring and the upper end thereof moves inwardly toward the central axis of said form.

2. A garment pressing machine having a base portion, a center post secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom and shoulder supports secured to said center post and located in spaced relationship above said base portion, in combination with a fabric form of open ended bag shape supported on said shoulder portions and including in its make-up a chest portion, a waist portion and an open ended skirt portion with the lower open end encircling and secured to the upper edge of said base portion; a series of rods secured to said skirt portion between the lower end thereof and said waist portion and extending in spaced relationship longitudinally of said skirt portion; means for simultaneously actuating rods of said series to vary their angular relationship and the elfective contour of said skirt portion; said means including cords attached to rods of said series, a rotatable pulley located within the confines of said skirt port-ion for simultaneously actuating said cords to move rods of said series inwardly of said form; and adjustable means for rotating said pulley to different positions and for locking it in such positions.

3. A pressing machine having a base portion and a shoulder support portion mounted on, located above and spaced from said base portion, in combination with a flexible and permeable form supported on said shoulder portion and having as parts thereof shoulder portions adapted to engage said shoulder support portion; a waist portion located below said shoulder portion and an open ended skirt portion connected to said waist portion, with the open end thereof adapted to encircle and engage said base portion; a series of flexure resistant rods permanently secured in spaced relationship to said skirt portion and extending longitudinally thereof from a point adjacent the lower end thereof to a point adjacent said waist portion; means for simultaneously moving rods of said series inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of said skirt portion; and means supported on said base portion and located adjacent the lower ends of said rods for engaging said rods as they move inwardly and thereby causing an inward tilting of the upper ends of said rods and an effective variation in the external contour of the skirt portion.

4. A flexible, permeable, open ended form for use in the pressing of garments and including in its make-up shoulder portions; a chest portion located adjacent said shoulder portions and formed bust extensions located on said chest portion, each such extension enclosing a pressure chamber having permeable walls, with one such wall located between such pressure chamber and the interior of said chestportion and of less permeability than other walls thereof.

5. A pressing machine having a base portion, a support structure secured to and extending vertically above said base portion, shoulder supports mounted on said support structure above and spaced from said base portion, in combination with a flexible, permeable fabric form supported in vertical suspended position on said shoulder supports with the lower open end thereof encircling and secured to said base portion; said form including in its, make-up shoulder portions and a skirt portion, and

6-. A garment pressing machine having a base portion,

a support structure supported by and extending above said base portion; shoulder supports mounted on said structure above and spaced from said base portion, in combi nation with a permeable flexible form supported'on said shoulder supports and enclosing said structure, and including in its make-up a shoulder portion, a skirt portion, and an intermediate portion in open communication with said shoulder portion and said skirt portion and having extensions formed thereon, eachenclosing a separate pressure chamber having one wall thereof of less permeability than the other walls thereof and located between the interior of. said form and such pressure chamber.

7. A flexible, permeable form for use in the processing of garments and including in its make-up a shoulder portion, an open ended skirt portion and an intermediate portion located between said shoulder portion and said skirt portion and in open communication with both of said portions, and having two oppositely disposed extensions located thereon with each such extension enclosing a separate pressure chamber having permeable walls, with one such Wall located between the enclosed pressure chamber and the interior of said intermediate portion and of less permeability than the other wall of such extion.

8. A pressing machine having a base portion, a support structure secured to and extending vertically above said base portion and shoulder supports secured to said support structure above and spaced from said base portion in combination with a flexible permeable fabric form supported in vertical suspended position on said shoulder supports with the open lower end thereof encircling and secured to the upper portion of said base portion, said form including in its make-up shoulder portions and a skirt portion and having extensions secured thereto below said shoulder portions, each such extension en closing a separate pressure chamber and having at least two oppositely located permeable walls with one such wall located between the interior of the form and such pressure chamber.

9. A garment pressing machine having a base portion,

a support structure secured to and extending vertically above said base portion, and shoulder supports secured to said support structure above and spaced from said base portion; in combination with a flexible permeable substantially tubular form supported on and depending below said shoulder supports with the lower end thereof open and encircling and secured to the upper portion of said base portion, said form having extensions included as a part-thereof and located intermediate the shoulder supports and the lower end thereof with each such extension enclosing a separate chamber and having at least two spaced permeable walls, with one such wall of each such extension being located between the interior of said form and such pressure chamber and of lesser permeability than the other Walls of such extension.

10. A garment pressing machine having a base portion, a support structure mounted on and extending above said base portion, shoulder supports mounted on said support structure above and spaced from said base portion; in combination with a flexible permeable form supported on said shoulder supports and depending therefrom, with the open lower end thereof encircling and engaging the upper portion of said base portion; a base rlng mounted on and surrounding said support structure at a point adjacent said base portion and intermediate r 1 1 said shoulder supports and said base portion; a plurality of flexure resistant rods permanently secured in spaced relationship to said form and each extending upwardly from a point adjacent the lower end of said form and toward said shoulder supports; and means located within said form and supported on said support structure for moving said rods inwardly relatively to said form and into engagement With said base ring and thereby causing an inward tilting of each such rod and effecting a variation in the external contour of said form below said shoulder supports.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS r 12 Gygi eb. 14, Wilson May 11, Fitzgerald Oct. 14, Frentzel Aug. 17, Bell et al Oct. 26, Locke et a1. June 19, Paris Mar. 25, Shaw et a.l Nov. 30, Brenner et a1 Feb. 1, Koth Feb. 27, Glover et al. May 1, Jackson Feb. 28, Wells Apr. 3,

FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Dec. 13,

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