Stain-removing machine

• US 8,312,746 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carlos Miguel Perez-Toril Gracia, Francisco Javier Perez-Toril Gracia
• Original Assignee: Francisco Javier Perez-Toril Galan
• Inventors: Perez-Toril Galan, Francisco Javier
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US12/664,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20100139332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 682/13, 682/00
• US Class Current: 68/200
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/002 Spotting apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a stain-removing machine consisting of two tubes (2 and 3) which are joined to one another by a conventional closure and adjustment mechanism (6) including at least one rubber sealing section (7), the fabric (4) to be cleaned being clamped taut between said tubes with a fluid (5) flowing therebetween. The invention can also include a fill/discharge valve (8) for supplying/releasing the fluid (5) and said valve is moved by propulsion mechanisms or systems, such as mechanically or manually operated pistons (9, 9′). When the machine includes only one piston (9) the other tube (3) is provided with an elastic membrane (10) or a moving part. Optionally, the ends at which the tubes (2, 3) are joined are provided with securing and friction membranes or screens (13) or moving plates. The machine can be coupled to a professional stain-removing table (14) or to a domestic propulsion and suction source.

Claims

1. A stain-removing machine, comprising:

two tubes which are joined and communicated to one another at one of the ends thereof, an area of fabric to be cleaned being clamped between them, so that a fluid can flow from one to the other;

wherein the joining between the tubes comprises a closure and adjustment mechanism, which can hold up the fabric;

wherein at least one of said tubes has a fill and/or discharge opening or valve for supplying or releasing the fluid directly from the outside or from another container; and

perforated elastic membranes or screens securing said fabric, at the ends of each tube, such that they are on both sides of the fabric, said membranes or screens being arranged for gently rubbing the fabric due to shifting caused by pressure or negative pressure of the fluid, wherein the stain-removing machine comprises at least one of the features of;

(i) one of the tubes of the machine being incorporated in one part of a stain-removing table on a screen therein, to which spray guns for spraying cleaning products are coupled by leak-tight adaptors, and the other tube being incorporated in an opposite part of the table and arranged for coupling to a waste suction device, and

(ii) comprising a suction source coupled at the distal end of one of the tubes to provide propulsion to the fluid in operation of the machine, and a propulsion source coupled to the distal end of the other tube to provide propulsion to the fluid in operation of the machine, the direction thereof being able to be varied, as desired, depending on if the suction source and the propulsion source are coupled at one end of the stain-removing machine or the other end of the stain-removing machine.

2. The stain-removing machine according to claim 1, comprising a mechanism, machine or system for the pressure propulsion and/or suction of fluids, to effect movement of the fluid between the tubes, and operable by mechanical means, pneumatic means or other automatisms or manually operable, to form a closed or open circuit.

3. The stain-removing machine according to claim 2, wherein a propulsion system or piston is disposed in one of the tubes, and wherein an elastic membrane or a moving part is disposed at the distal end of the other tube, and shifts to adapt itself and exert resistance to a volume of the fluid displaced by the propulsion system or piston.

4. The stain-removing machine according to claim 2, comprising a piston or propulsion system in each tube having opposite and synchronous movements in relation to one another.

5. The stain-removing machine according to claim 1, comprising pistons in each of said tubes, wherein the pistons are arranged to rub the fabric, providing a massaging action thereon assisting cleaning of the fabric, and wherein the pistons are arranged for regulation of their shifting inside the respective tubes.

6. The stain-removing machine according to claim 1, comprising an air-drying system to perform fast drying of the fabric once it has been washed.

7. The stain-removing machine according to claim 6, wherein said air-drying system comprises a dryer or suction device connected to an electric system of the machine.

8. The stain-removing machine according to claim 1, comprising a closure including a permeable bag or basket in an area of adjustment between both tubes, allowing an entire garment to be fully washed in the machine.

9. The stain-removing machine according to claim 8, wherein said permeable bag is elastic.

10. The stain-removing machine according to claim 1, wherein one of the tubes of the machine is incorporated in one part of the table on a screen therein, to which spray guns for spraying cleaning products are coupled by leak-tight adapters, and wherein the other tube is incorporated in an opposite part of the table and arranged for coupling to a waste suction device.

11. The stain-removing machine according to claim 1, comprising a suction source coupled at the distal end of one of the tubes to provide propulsion to the fluid in operation of the machine, and a propulsion source coupled to the distal end of the other tube to provide propulsion to the fluid in operation of the machine, the direction thereof being able to be varied, as desired, depending on if the suction source and the propulsion source are coupled at one end of the stain-removing machine or the other end of the stain-removing machine.

12. The stain-removing machine according to claim 11, wherein the suction source comprises a vacuum cleaner.

13. The stain-removing machine according to claim 11, wherein the propulsion source comprises a steam cleaning machine.

14. The stain-removing machine according to claim 1, comprising vibratory plates in an area of adjustment between the tubes or containers to assist in the removal and cleaning of stains.

15. The stain-removing machine according to claim 14, wherein said vibratory plates comprise ultrasonic vibratory plates.

16. The stain-removing machine according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism, machine or system comprises a bidirectionally moveable piston.

17. A stain-removing machine, comprising:

two containers which are joined and communicated to one another at one of the ends thereof, an area of fabric to be cleaned being clamped between them, so that a fluid can flow from one to the other;

wherein the joining between the containers comprises a closure and adjustment mechanism, which can hold up the fabric;

wherein at least one of said containers has a fill and/or discharge opening or valve for supplying or releasing the fluid directly from the outside or from another container; and

perforated elastic membranes or screens securing said fabric, at the ends of each container, such that they are on both sides of the fabric, said membranes or screens being arranged for gently rubbing the fabric due to shifting caused by the pressure or negative pressure of the fluid, wherein the stain-removing machine comprises at least one of the features of;

(i) one of the tubes of the machine being incorporated in one part of a stain-removing table on a screen therein, to which spray guns for spraying cleaning products are coupled by leak-tight adaptors, and the other tube being incorporated in an opposite part of the table and arranged for coupling to a waste suction device, and

(ii) comprising a suction source coupled at the distal end of one of the tubes to provide propulsion to the fluid in operation of the machine, and a propulsion source coupled to the distal end of the other tube to provide propulsion to the fluid in operation of the machine, the direction thereof being able to be varied, as desired, depending on if the suction source and the propulsion source are coupled at one end of the stain-removing machine or the other end of the stain-removing machine.