Garment refreshing apparatus and method

• US 20050120757A1
• Filed: 12/03/2003
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jackson W. Shaun
• Original Assignee: Jackson W. Shaun
• Inventors: Jackson, W. Shaun
• Application Number:
  US10/726,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20050120757A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/5.C
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 73/02 having one or more treatment chambers

Abstract

A garment refreshing system includes an enclosure having a top, a bottom, a sidewall, an air inlet and an air outlet, and a hook or other element on the top to facilitate hanging in a closet or other location. An electrical fan at the air inlet is operative to bring air into the enclosure and past the clothing to the air outlet, and a filter supported at the air outlet for collecting odors removed from the clothing: The preferred configuration further includes a support within the enclosure to receive clothing on hangers, and the sidewall includes a closable opening to place clothing into, and remove clothing from the enclosure. The use of a low-voltage D.C. fan, such as a 12-VDC fan, facilitates use in a vehicle. As a further option, a material associated with the air inlet to introduce a deodorizer or fragrance into the enclosure. For example, an absorbent material may be provided to receive a deodorizer or fragrance in liquid form.

Claims

1. Garment refreshing apparatus, comprising:

an enclosure having a top, a bottom, a sidewall, an air inlet and an air outlet, the enclosure being dimensioned to receive one or more articles of clothing;

a hook or other element on the top of the enclosure to facilitate hanging;

an electrical fan at the air inlet for bringing air into the enclosure and past the clothing to the air outlet; and

a filter supported at the air outlet for collecting odors removed from the clothing.

2. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 1, further including a support within the enclosure to receive clothing on hangers.

3. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan is disposed on the top and the filter is disposed on the bottom of the enclosure.

4. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter includes activated charcoal.

5. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter is removable.

6. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter includes a hinge to temporarily remove the filter from the air outlet.

7. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom of the enclosure are rigid or semi-rigid.

8. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sidewall is substantially flexible.

9. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the top and bottom of the enclosure are rigid or semi-rigid;

the sidewall is substantially flexible; and

one or more fasteners allowing the top and bottom to be brought together and fastened with the sidewall contained therein for transport.

10. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sidewall is substantially transparent.

11. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sidewall includes a closable opening to place clothing into, and remove clothing from the enclosure.

12. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 1, including:

a low-voltage D.C. fan; and

a power converter to transform A.C. line voltage to the low-voltage D.C.

13. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 1, including:

a low-voltage D.C. fan; and

a connector to operate the fan from an auxiliary power receptacle in a vehicle.

14. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 1, including an air-distribution plenum from the air inlet within the enclosure to direct the air past the clothing.

15. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the air-distribution plenum includes one or more perforated flexible tubes.

16. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 1, including a material associated with the air inlet to introduce a deodorizer or fragrance into the enclosure.

17. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 16, including an absorbent material to receive a deodorizer or fragrance in liquid form.

18. Garment refreshing apparatus, comprising:

an enclosure having a top, a bottom, a sidewall, an air inlet and an air outlet, the enclosure being dimensioned to receive one or more articles of clothing;

a hook or other element on the top of the enclosure to facilitate hanging;

an electrical fan at the air inlet for bringing air into the enclosure and past the clothing to the air outlet; and

a material associated with the air inlet to introduce a deodorizer or fragrance into the enclosure.

19. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the material is an absorbent material to receive a deodorizer or fragrance in liquid form.

20. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 18, further including a support within the enclosure to receive clothing on hangers.

21. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 18, further including a filter supported at the air outlet for collecting odors removed from the clothing.

22. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the fan is disposed on the top and the filter is disposed on the bottom of the enclosure.

23. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the filter includes activated charcoal.

24. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the filter is removable.

25. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the filter includes a hinge to temporarily remove the filter from the air outlet.

26. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the top and bottom of the enclosure are rigid or semi-rigid.

27. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the sidewall is substantially flexible.

28. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the top and bottom of the enclosure are rigid or semi-rigid;

the sidewall is substantially flexible; and

one or more fasteners allowing the top and bottom to be brought together and fastened with the sidewall contained therein for transport.

29. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the sidewall is substantially transparent.

30. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the sidewall includes a closable opening to place clothing into, and remove clothing from the enclosure.

31. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 18, including:

a low-voltage D.C. fan; and

a power converter to transform A.C. line voltage to the low-voltage D.C.

32. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 18, including:

a low-voltage D.C. fan; and

a connector to operate the fan from an auxiliary power receptacle in a vehicle.

33. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 18, including an air-distribution plenum from the air inlet within the enclosure to direct the air past the clothing.

34. The garment refreshing apparatus of claim 33, wherein the air-distribution plenum includes one or more perforated flexible tubes.