US3583610A — Garment finishing apparatus with sleeve expanders

Claim 1

Independent Claim 244 words

Garment finishing apparatus comprising: a frame, fluidpervious inflatable bag supported on said frame and adapted to have at least a part of the body portion of a garment dressed thereon with a pair of open-enDed appendage portions of said garment extending from said body portion, first means for supplying hot, wet vapor, to the interior of said bag thereby to dampen and heat said body and appendage portions, second means for supplying dry vapor under pressure, to the interior of said bag thereby to inflate said bag and to dry said body and appendage portions, and a pair of means for respectively expanding said appendage portions thereby to shape the same at least during said drying of said garment, each of said expanding means including a pair of elongated expanding elements adapted to be inserted in the open end of a respective appendage portion, and means supported on said frame for mounting said expanding elements for movement between collapsed and expanded positions each of said mounting means including means for further longitudinally moving the respective pair of expanding elements between a retracted position in which said elements are at least partially withdrawn from the respective appendage portions, and an extended position in which a substantial length of said elements is received within the respective appendage portion, and means for moving the respective pair of elements from its collapsed to its expanded position in response to movement thereof from its retracted to its extended position.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 244 words

Garment finishing apparatus comprising: a frame, fluidpervious inflatable bag supported on said frame and adapted to have at least a part of the body portion of a garment dressed thereon with a pair of open-enDed appendage portions of said garment extending from said body portion, first means for supplying hot, wet vapor, to the interior of said bag thereby to dampen and heat said body and appendage portions, second means for supplying dry vapor under pressure, to the interior of said bag thereby to inflate said bag and to dry said body and appendage portions, and a pair of means for respectively expanding said appendage portions thereby to shape the same at least during said drying of said garment, each of said expanding means including a pair of elongated expanding elements adapted to be inserted in the open end of a respective appendage portion, and means supported on said frame for mounting said expanding elements for movement between collapsed and expanded positions each of said mounting means including means for further longitudinally moving the respective pair of expanding elements between a retracted position in which said elements are at least partially withdrawn from the respective appendage portions, and an extended position in which a substantial length of said elements is received within the respective appendage portion, and means for moving the respective pair of elements from its collapsed to its expanded position in response to movement thereof from its retracted to its extended position.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus claim 1 wherein each of said mounting means further includes means for pivotally moving the respective pair of expanding elements laterally with respect to said bag in response to movement of the pair of expanding elements from its retracted to its extended position.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 252 words

Garment finishing apparatus comprising: a frame, a fluid-pervious inflatable bag supported on said frame and adapted to have at least a part of the body portion of a garment dressed thereon with a pair of open-ended appendage portions of said garment extending from said body portion, first means for supplying hot, wet vapor, to the interior of said bag thereby to dampen and heat said body and appendage portions, second means for supplying dry vapor under pressure, to the interior of said bag thereby to inflate said bag and to dry said body and appendage portions, and a pair of means for respectively expanding said appendage portions thereby to shape the same at least during said drying of said garment, each of said expanding means including a pair of elongated expanding elements adapted to be inserted in the open end of a respective appendage portions, means supported on said frame for mounting said expanding elements for movement between collapsed and expanded positions, at least one stationary press plate supported on said frame within said bag, at least one movable press plate supported on said frame exteriorly of said bag, and cooperating with said stationary press plate, means for moving said movable press plate between an inactive position and a pressing position engaging said stationary press plate with portions of said bag and said garment body portion therebetween, and means for simultaneously actuating said movable press plate to its pressing position and each of said pair of expanding elements to its expanded position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 252 words

Garment finishing apparatus comprising: a frame, a fluid-pervious inflatable bag supported on said frame and adapted to have at least a part of the body portion of a garment dressed thereon with a pair of open-ended appendage portions of said garment extending from said body portion, first means for supplying hot, wet vapor, to the interior of said bag thereby to dampen and heat said body and appendage portions, second means for supplying dry vapor under pressure, to the interior of said bag thereby to inflate said bag and to dry said body and appendage portions, and a pair of means for respectively expanding said appendage portions thereby to shape the same at least during said drying of said garment, each of said expanding means including a pair of elongated expanding elements adapted to be inserted in the open end of a respective appendage portions, means supported on said frame for mounting said expanding elements for movement between collapsed and expanded positions, at least one stationary press plate supported on said frame within said bag, at least one movable press plate supported on said frame exteriorly of said bag, and cooperating with said stationary press plate, means for moving said movable press plate between an inactive position and a pressing position engaging said stationary press plate with portions of said bag and said garment body portion therebetween, and means for simultaneously actuating said movable press plate to its pressing position and each of said pair of expanding elements to its expanded position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 283 words

Garment finishing apparatus comprising: a frame, a fluid-pervious inflatable bag supported on said frame and adapted to have at least a part of the body portion of a garment dressed thereon with a pair of open-ended appendage portions of said garment extending from said body portion, first means for supplying hot, wet vapor, to the interior of said bag thereby to dampen and heat said body and appendage portions, second means for supplying dry vapor under pressure, to the interior of said bag thereby to inflate said bag and to dry said body and appendage portions, and a pair of means for respectively expanding said appendage portions thereby to shape the same at least during said drying of said garment, each of said expanding means including a pair of elongated expanding elements adapted to be inserted in the open end of a respective appendage portion, means supported on said frame for mounting said expanding elements for movement between collapsed and expanded positions, each of said mounting means including a fluid power cylinder, means for attaching said cylinder to said frame, said cylinder having a piston rod longitudinally movable between retracted and extended positions, means for connecting the respective pair of elements to said piston rod for longitudinal movement therewith, said elements being at least partially withdrawn from the respective appendage when said piston rod is in said retracted position and having a substantial length thereof received within the respective appendage in the extended position of said piston rod, and means connected to the respective pair of elements for moving the same from its collapsed to its expanded position in response to movement of said piston rod from its retracted to its extended position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 283 words

Garment finishing apparatus comprising: a frame, a fluid-pervious inflatable bag supported on said frame and adapted to have at least a part of the body portion of a garment dressed thereon with a pair of open-ended appendage portions of said garment extending from said body portion, first means for supplying hot, wet vapor, to the interior of said bag thereby to dampen and heat said body and appendage portions, second means for supplying dry vapor under pressure, to the interior of said bag thereby to inflate said bag and to dry said body and appendage portions, and a pair of means for respectively expanding said appendage portions thereby to shape the same at least during said drying of said garment, each of said expanding means including a pair of elongated expanding elements adapted to be inserted in the open end of a respective appendage portion, means supported on said frame for mounting said expanding elements for movement between collapsed and expanded positions, each of said mounting means including a fluid power cylinder, means for attaching said cylinder to said frame, said cylinder having a piston rod longitudinally movable between retracted and extended positions, means for connecting the respective pair of elements to said piston rod for longitudinal movement therewith, said elements being at least partially withdrawn from the respective appendage when said piston rod is in said retracted position and having a substantial length thereof received within the respective appendage in the extended position of said piston rod, and means connected to the respective pair of elements for moving the same from its collapsed to its expanded position in response to movement of said piston rod from its retracted to its extended position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 117 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said connecting means comprises a pair of lever members respectively pivotally connected to said piston rod, each of said lever members being connected to a respective elongated element of a respective pair, and means for normally biasing said lever members toward each other thereby holding the respective pair of elongated members in their collapsed position, each of said moving means comprising linkage means respectively coupled to said lever member for pivotally moving the same laterally away from each other thereby moving the respective pair of elongated members to their expanded positions when said piston rod reaches a predetermined point in its movement from its retracted to its extended position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 168 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of said lever members is generally L-shaped and has relatively long and short legs, one end of each of said long legs being pivotally connected to the respective elongated element intermediate its ends, said biasing means comprising springs respectively connecting the short leg of one lever member and the long leg of the other lever member of each pair, said linkage means comprising a pair of lost-motion link elements respectively having one end connected to a short leg of a respective lever member, said link elements having a predetermined length, and means for restraining movement of the other ends of said link elements when said piston rod reaches said predetermined point determined by the length of said link elements whereby continued movement of said piston rod beyond said predetermined point toward its extended position causes said link elements respectively to exert force on said short legs of said lever members thereby pivotally to move said long legs apart against said springs.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 94 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said attaching means comprises a pivotal connection of said cylinder to said frame whereby said cylinder and the respective pair of elongated elements are pivotally movable laterally between a position in which said elements are spaced from said bag and a position in which said elements are adjacent said bag, and further comprising linkage means connected to said cylinder for moving said cylinder and elements from said spaced position to said adjacent position in response to movement of said piston rod from its retracted to its extended position.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 150 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cylinder and elements are normally in said spaced position when said piston rod is in said retracted position, said linkage means comprising another lever member pivotally connected to said cylinder at a point thereon spaced from said pivotal connection on the side thereof remote from said piston rod, said other lever member being movable between first and second positions, said other lever member having a portion engaging said frame and pivotally moving said cylinder to said adjacent position in response to movement of said other lever member from said first to said second position, said other lever member being in said first position when said piston rod is in its retracted position, and means for connecting said other lever member to said piston rod thereby movement of said piston rod toward said extended position moves said other lever member to said second position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said last-named connecting means is a spring.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 262 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said link elements comprise elongated rods, said restraining means comprising members connected to said cylinder and having a lost-motion connection with said rods, said members engaging abutments on the other ends of said rods when said piston rod reaches said predetermined point, said attaching means comprising a pivotal connection of said cylinder to said frame whereby said cylinder piston rod, and the respective pair of elongated elements are pivotally movable laterally between a position in which said elements are spaced from said bag and a position in which said elements are adjacent said bag, said cylinder and the respective pair of elements being normally in said spaded position when said piston rod is in said retracted position, and further comprising another lever member pivotally connected to said cylinder at a point thereon spaced from said pivotal connection on the side thereof remote from said piston rod, said other lever member being movable between first and second positions, said other lever member having a portion engaging said frame and pivotally moving said cylinder to said adjacent position in response to movement of said other lever member from said first to said second positions, said other lever member being in said first position when said piston rod is in its retracted position, and a spring connecting said lever member and said piston rod whereby movement of said piston rod toward said extended position moves said other lever member to said second position thereby pivotally moving said cylinder and the respective pair of elongated elements to said adjacent position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-06-07	1974-12-07	1975-06-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-06-07	1978-12-07	1979-06-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-06-07	1982-12-07	1983-06-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Garment finishing apparatus with sleeve expanders

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