APPARATUS FOR DRY CLEANING AND PRESSING

• US 3,721,026 A
• Filed: 08/02/1971
• Issued: 03/20/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David J. Mccallum
• Original Assignee: David J. Mccallum
• Inventors: McCallum, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lawson, Patrick D.
• Application Number:
  US05/167,898
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 38/75,76,77.1,77.5,77.83
• US Class Current: 38/75
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/002 Spotting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/08 Hand irons internally heated by electricity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/22 with means for supplying liquid to the article being ironed D06F75/10 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention provides an effective and practical method and apparatus of applying a series of commercially obtainable aerosol compounds for fabric improvement, as well as an efficient means for withdrawing deposited foreign matter in combination with normal pressing means by use of a portable dry-cleaning unit adaptable for home use which includes means to apply the drycleaning agent onto the surface to be cleaned, means for thereafter vacuum cleaning and agitating the fabric to remove particles therefrom and temperature control means for ironing it to provide a finished article that is both dry-cleaned and pressed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for domestic household use comprising A. housing means adapted to be hand held, B. pressing surface means adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned and mounted at substantially one end of said housing means, C. means for heating said pressing surface means, D. tensioning means positioned in front of said pressing surface means substantially along the plane of said pressing surface means for engagement with the surface to be cleaned, E. vacuum means for applying a suction force substantially along the plane of said pressing surface means for removal of material from the surface to be cleaned, and F. applicator means to apply a spray of fluid onto the surface to be cleaned and positioned forward of said pressing surface means.

2. means for rotatably mounting said rollers from said housing means in angular relation thereto,

3. conduit means extending from said valve at one end thereof, and

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further including a temperature regulating means for controlling temperature of said heating means.

5. Apparatus for domestic household use comprising A. housing means adapted to be hand held, B. pressing surface means adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned and mounted at substantially one end of said housing means, C. means for heating said pressing surface means, D. tensioning means positioned in front of said pressing surface means substantially along the plane of said pressing surface means for engagement with the surFace to be cleaned, E. vacuum means for applying a suction force substantially along the plane of said pressing surface means for removal of material from the surface to be cleaned, and F. vacuum spotting means mounted at the front of said housing means and including a. a porous member mounted in relatively fixed spaced relation to said housing, b. a vacuum port in said housing in alignment with said porous member, and c. means movable between said housing vacuum port and said porous member from an open position in which the vacuum passes through the porous member for engagement with the surface to be cleaned, to a closed position in which said vacuum is contained within said housing.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, and further including a brush member mounted in substantial surrounding relation to said porous member.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, a. wherein said pressing surface means includes a member having a planer surface for engagement with the surface to be cleaned and including a plurality of spaced apart apertures extending substantially vertically through said member, b. said vacuum means in said housing adapted to create a suction force through said apertures.

8. Apparatus for domestic household use comprising A. housing means adapted to be hand held, B. pressing surface means adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned and mounted at substantially one end of said housing means, C. means for heating said pressing surface means, D. tensioning means positioned in front of said pressing surface means substantially along the plane of said pressing surface means for engagement with the surface to be cleaned, E. vacuum means for applying a suction force substantially along the plane of said pressing surface means for removal of material from the surface to be cleaned, and F. agitating means mounted from said housing means to engage the surface to be cleaned.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein agitating means is operatively associated with said tensioning means to simultaneously engage the surface to be cleaned.

10. A cleaning apparatus for domestic household use comprising A. housing means adapted to be hand held, B. pressing surface means adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned and mounted at substantially one end of said housing means, C. means for heating said pressing surface means, D. tensioning means positioned in front of said pressing surface means substantially along the plane of said pressing surface means for engagement with the surface to be cleaned, said tensioning means including

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, and further including vacuum spotting means mounted at the front of said housing means and including a. a porous member mounted in relatively fixed spaced relation to said housing, b. a vacuum port in said housing alignment with said porous member, and c. means movable between said housing vacuum port and said porous member from an open position in which the vacuum passes through the porous Member for engagement with the surface to be cleaned, to a closed position in which said vacuum is contained within said housing.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, and further including a brush member mounted in substantial surrounding relation to said porous member.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, and further including agitating means mounted from said housing means to engage the surface to be cleaned.

14. A cleaning apparatus for domestic household use comprising A. housing means adapted to be hand held, B. pressing surface means adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned and mounted at substantially one end of said housing means, C. means for heating said pressing surface means, D. balancing means mounted on said housing means and having a substantially planer surface in substantial alignment with said pressing surface means, E. applicator means to apply a spray of fluid onto the surface to be cleaned, and positioned forward of said balancing means, F. agitator means mounted from said housing between said balancing means and said pressing surface means, and G. vacuum means mounted from said housing for applying a suction force along the plane of said pressing surface means for removal of material loosened by said agitator means.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said applicator means includes:

a. supply means containing a fluid and having a valve at one end therof, and b. actuating means mounted in said housing for engagement with said valve means for activating same and adapted to be manually engageable by the user for said purpose.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said applicator further includes a. conduit means extending from said valve at one end thereof, and, b. a spray head coupled to the other end of said conduit means and extending forward of said housing means to apply said fluid.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, and further including retaining means mounted on said housing means for supporting said supply means thereon.

18. Apparatus as in claim 14, and further including temperature control means to regulate the temperature of said pressing surface means.

19. Apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said agitator means includes a shaft rotatably mounted relative to said housing in a plane substantially parallel to said pressing surface means with a brush extending radially thereof and adapted for engagement with the surface to be cleaned.

20. Apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said brush extends in a spiral path originating at the center thereof to sweep surface elements outwardly from the confines of said pressing surface means.

21. Apparatus as in claim 15, wherein a. said housing means includes a handle adapted to held by the user, and b. said applicator means is manually controlled from said handle means,

22. Apparatus as in claim 15, a. wherein said vacuum means includes a motor and impeller mounted on said housing for creating said suction force, and b. further including a refuse tray removably mounted on said housing for cleaning of the material loosened from the surface in cleaning.

23. Apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said pressing surface means has diagonal grooves extending therein.

24. A cleaning apparatus for domestic household use comprising A. housing means adapted to be hand held, B. pressing surface means adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned and mounted at substantially one end of said housing means, C. means for heating said pressing surface means, D. balancing means mounted on said housing means and having a substantially planer surface in substantial alignment with said pressing surface means, E. applicator means to apply a spray of fluid onto the surface to be cleaned, and positioned forward of said balancing means, said applicator means including:

25. Apparatus as in claim 24, wherein said brush extends in a spiral path originating at the center thereof to sweep surface elements outwardly from the confines of said pressing surface means.

26. Apparatus as in claim 24, wherein said pressing surface means has diagonal grooves extending therein.

27. Apparatus as in claim 24, a. wherein said vacuum means includes a motor and impeller mounted on said housing for creating said suction force, and b. further including a refuse tray removably mounted on said housing for cleaning of the material loosened from the surface in cleaning.

28. Apparatus as defined in claim 24, and further including retaining means mounted on said housing means for supporting said supply means thereon.

29. Apparatus as in claim 20, wherein said brush extends in a spiral path originating at the center thereof to sweep surface elements outwardly from the confines of said pressing surface means.