US3732628A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Garment finishing tunnel
Assignee: CISSELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY A CORP OF RI
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Filing: 1971-05-26
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Granted: 1973-05-15
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Expires: 1991-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A garment finishing apparatus and method wherein suspended garments are conveyed through a thermally insulated chamber and subjected to a moisture treatment to remove wrinkles. The moisturizing treatment cycle is synchronized with the operation of the conveyor and the opening and closing of the chamber doors. A moisturizing atmosphere is created in the chamber by a novel steam-water mixing nozzle which injects moisture into the chamber at a high water-to-steam ratio while the chamber is maintained at a negative pressure. The chamber includes a drip-free inner ceiling and means to re-evaporate the moisture condensate, and exhaust and recirculating fans which operate during timed moisturizing, conditioning, and drying cycles.
Inventors
- 👤 B Blevens
- 👤 M Wallace
- 👤 W Goodman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:39
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F73/00; D06F73/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A garment dewrinkling device having a cabinet enclosing a garment treating chamber, and means for conditioning the atmosphere within said chamber comprising: a pressurized steam source; a liquid water source; and a nozzle having a. an outer housing defining first and second cavities therein, b. a steam input port communicating with said first cavity and connected to said steam source, c. a liquid water input port communicating with said second cavity and connected to said water source, d. a water discharge opening communicating with said second cavity and oriented to discharge a pattern of water into said chamber, and e. a steam discharge opening communicating with said first cavity and oriented to discharge steam into said chamber in a pattern intersecting the pattern of said water across the extent of said water pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A garment dewrinkling device having a cabinet enclosing a garment treating chamber, and means for conditioning the atmosphere within said chamber comprising: a pressurized steam source; a liquid water source; and a nozzle having a. an outer housing defining first and second cavities therein, b. a steam input port communicating with said first cavity and connected to said steam source, c. a liquid water input port communicating with said second cavity and connected to said water source, d. a water discharge opening communicating with said second cavity and oriented to discharge a pattern of water into said chamber, and e. a steam discharge opening communicating with said first cavity and oriented to discharge steam into said chamber in a pattern intersecting the pattern of said water across the extent of said water pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein: said first chamber defines an axis within said housing; said second cavity is annular in shape and surrounds said first chamber; said liquid water discharge opening defines a circular array oriented to discharge said pattern in a path generally parallel to said axis; and said steam discharge opening defining a circular array internal of the array of said water discharge opening and oriented to discharge steam in a pattern generally radially outward from said axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
A garment dewrinkling device having a cabinet enclosing a garment treating chamber, and means for conditioning the atmosphere within said chamber comprising: means for injecting a fog-like mist into said chamber, said injecting means including means for spraying water in liquid form into said chamber in a given pattern and means for injecting steam into said chamber in a different pattern which intersects the pattern of said sprayed water so as to substantially disperse said sprayed water along the path of said steam going into said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
A garment dewrinkling device having a cabinet enclosing a garment treating chamber, and means for conditioning the atmosphere within said chamber comprising: means for injecting a fog-like mist into said chamber, said injecting means including means for spraying water in liquid form into said chamber in a given pattern and means for injecting steam into said chamber in a different pattern which intersects the pattern of said sprayed water so as to substantially disperse said sprayed water along the path of said steam going into said chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 3 further comprising: means for recirculating the atmosphere of said chamber by withdrawing it from said chamber and returning it past said mist injecting means into said chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein: a greater amount of water is injected by said water spraying means than by said steam injecting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein: the ratio of the amounT of water sprayed to that injected by steam is approximately 3 to 1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
A garment dewrinkling device having a cabinet enclosing a garment treating chamber, and means for conditioning the atmosphere within said chamber comprising: a source of water in liquid form, a source of water in steam form, means for injecting a fog-like mist into said chamber by combining water from both said sources with a greater proportion from said liquid source than from said steam source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A garment dewrinkling device having a cabinet enclosing a garment treating chamber, and means for conditioning the atmosphere within said chamber comprising: a source of water in liquid form, a source of water in steam form, means for injecting a fog-like mist into said chamber by combining water from both said sources with a greater proportion from said liquid source than from said steam source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein: the ratio of the amount of water from said liquid source to that from said steam source is approximately 3 to 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
A garment dewrinkling device having a cabinet enclosing a garment treating chamber, and means for conditioning the atmosphere within said chamber comprising: means for collecting condensate forming within said chamber; means for re-evaporating the collected condensate; means for recirculating the atmosphere in said chamber by withdrawing it from said chamber and returning it to said chamber; means for warming said returning air; and series connected heating means for said re-evaporating means and said air warming means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
A garment dewrinkling device having a cabinet enclosing a garment treating chamber, and means for conditioning the atmosphere within said chamber comprising: means for collecting condensate forming within said chamber; means for re-evaporating the collected condensate; means for recirculating the atmosphere in said chamber by withdrawing it from said chamber and returning it to said chamber; means for warming said returning air; and series connected heating means for said re-evaporating means and said air warming means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 9 further comprising: a source of high pressure steam connected to the series connected heating means for said re-evaporating means and air warming means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 10 further comprising: a nozzle connected to said high pressure steam source for injecting steam into said chamber for moisturizing the garments.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of finishing garments comprising the steps of: placing the garments in a substantially closed chamber; then subjecting the garments while in said chamber to moisture in the form of a mixture of liquid water and steam in which the amount of water in liquid form is substantially greater than the amount of water in the form of steam; and then drying the garments with hot air.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of finishing garments comprising the steps of: placing the garments in a substantially closed chamber; then subjecting the garments while in said chamber to moisture in the form of a mixture of liquid water and steam in which the amount of water in liquid form is substantially greater than the amount of water in the form of steam; and then drying the garments with hot air.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 12 further comprising the steps of: collecting condensate forming inside the chamber; and re-evaporating the collected condensate into the chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-14 | 1976-11-13 | 1977-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-14 | 1980-11-13 | 1981-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-14 | 1984-11-13 | 1985-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |