U.S. patent application number 11/139249 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-01 for clamping device for hem ends and device for drying and/or smoothing an item of clothing.
This patent application is currently assigned to BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH. Invention is credited to Redlin, Kathrin.
Application Number | 20050262671 11/139249 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34939796 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050262671 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Redlin, Kathrin |
December 1, 2005 |
Clamping device for hem ends and device for drying and/or smoothing
an item of clothing
Abstract
A clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric
sections at the hem of an item of clothing during smoothing of the
item of clothing on an inflatable member, wherein the clamping
device (1) has a common receiving area for receiving the two ends
of the fabric sections and the receiving area is surrounded by an
inner (21) and an outer plate (31), wherein the plates (21, 31) are
parts of flaps (2, 3), the inner flap (2) is connected to the outer
flap (3) by a connecting element (5), and the connecting element
(5) produces a clamping force between the inner and the outer plate
(21, 31). The invention further relates to a device for smoothing
and/or drying an item of clothing, wherein the device (100) has a
housing (110) via which an inflatable member (120) for tensioning
the item of clothing (H) is held.
Inventors: |
Redlin, Kathrin; (Berlin,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN T. WINBURN
100 BOSCH BOULEVARD
NEW BERN
NC
28562
US
|
Assignee: |
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate
GmbH
Muenich
DE
|
Family ID: |
34939796 |
Appl. No.: |
11/139249 |
Filed: |
May 26, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/489 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 73/00 20130101;
Y10T 24/44291 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
024/489 |
International
Class: |
A44B 021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 27, 2004 |
DE |
10 2004 025 914.3 |
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. A clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric
sections at the hem of an item of clothing during smoothing of the
item of clothing on an inflatable member, the device comprising a
common receiving area for receiving the two ends of the fabric
sections and the receiving area is surrounded by an inner and an
outer plate, wherein the plates are parts of flaps, the inner flap
is connected to the outer flap (3) by a connecting element, and the
connecting element produces a clamping force between the inner and
the outer plate.
17. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the outer
flap includes two part flaps.
18. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the
connecting element includes a spring element.
19. The clamping device according to claim 18, wherein the spring
element includes a torsion spring.
20. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the clamping
device has an engaging device for fixing the relative position of
the flaps with respect to one another.
21. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the outer
flap has an actuating lever which extends from the connecting
element to the end of the flap which lies opposite to the plate of
the flap, and which is arranged at an angle to the plate of the
flap.
22. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the
dimensions of the inner plate correspond to the dimensions of outer
plate.
23. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the bending
resistance of the plates in the longitudinal direction is greater
than that in their width direction.
24. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the flaps in
the area of the plates include an air-permeable material.
25. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the inner
flap and the outer flap each have a coating in the area of the
plates on the side facing the respectively other plate.
26. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the clamping
device is provided with a weight.
27. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the clamping
device has a fixing device for fixing the clamping device to a
device for at least one of smoothing and drying an item of
clothing.
28. The clamping device according to claim 27, wherein the fixing
device includes a tensioning device.
29. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the fixing
device is provided on the end of the inner flap facing away from
the plate.
30. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the fixing
device has a strap via which the clamping device can be tensioned
with respect to the device for drying and/or smoothing.
31. A device for at least one of smoothing and drying an item of
clothing, wherein the device has a housing via which an inflatable
member for tensioning the item of clothing is held, the device
comprising a clamping device for holding together the ends of two
fabric sections, wherein the clamping device is connected by means
of a fixing device to the housing of the device for at least one of
smoothing and drying the item of clothing and has a common
receiving area for the ends of the two fabric sections.
32. The device according to claim 30, wherein the fixing device is
a strap tensioner by means of which the clamping device can be
braced with respect to the housing.
33. A clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric
sections at the hem of an item of clothing during smoothing of the
item of clothing on a clothes smoothing device having an inflatable
member, the clamping device comprising: an inner flap having an
inner plate and an inner lever; an outer flap having an outer plate
and an outer lever; a connecting element connecting the outer flap
to the inner flap for pivotal movement with respect to the inner
flap between an open condition, in which the inner and outer plates
are separated from one another, and a closed condition, in which
the inner and outer plates are adjacent one another, the connecting
element biasing the outer flap toward the closed condition; and a
receiving area defined between the inner and outer plates for
receiving the two ends of the fabric sections.
34. The clamping according to claim 33, wherein the inner plate and
the inner level are substantially co-planar.
35. The clamping according to claim 33, wherein the outer lever and
the outer plate intersect near the connecting element and the outer
lever extends at an angle from the outer plate, the outer plate and
the outer level are not co-planar.
36. The clamping according to claim 33, wherein the inner flap
faces toward the inflatable member and the outer flap faces away
from the inflatable member during operation of the device.
37. The clamping device according to claim 33, wherein the outer
flap include a first section and a second section, each section
being independently movable with respect to the inner flap.
38. The clamping device according to claim 33, wherein the
connecting element (5) includes a torsion spring.
39. The clamping device according to claim 33, wherein the bending
resistance of the plates in the longitudinal direction extending
away from the connecting element is greater than the bending
resistance in their width direction extending along the connecting
element.
40. The clamping device according to claim 33, wherein the inner
and outer plates are air-permeable.
41. The clamping device according to claim 33, wherein the inner
and outer plates each have a coating in the receiving area on an
internal side of the respective plate facing the other plate.
42. The clamping device according to claim 33, further comprising a
tensioning device, for connecting the clamping device to a clothes
smoothing device and retaining the clamping device in a desired
position.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a clamping device for
holding together the ends of two fabric sections at the hem of an
item of clothing during the smoothing of said item of clothing and
a device for smoothing and/or drying an item of clothing.
[0002] It is known to stretch items of clothing for drying and
smoothing from inside using an inflatable member to remove creases
in the item of clothing and dry this. It is advantageous in this
case if the item of clothing is spread out in its intrinsic shape
and free from creases. This can be achieved in particular if the
inflatable member has the same shape as the item of clothing to be
smoothed. In the case of shirt-shaped items of clothing, a
shirt-shaped inflatable member or an inflatable member having the
shape of the upper part of the human body is used for this purpose.
This inflatable member has a trunk section and two sleeve sections
connected laterally thereto. All items of clothing for the upper
part of the body can be smoothed using such an inflatable member.
This can especially be shirts, blouses and jackets.
[0003] At the lower end of the side seam of shirts and blouses a
slit is usually provided in the area of the hem. Since the
inflatable member onto which the item of clothing to be dried or
smoothed is pulled, inflates during the smoothing process, said
member presses from inside against the item of clothing. In order
to achieve a particularly good smoothing result, the inflatable
member is usually designed so that its size is greater than the
size of the item of clothing with regard to its cross-section.
Thus, the inflatable member expands further into areas where the
item of clothing does not oppose this with any tension. In the area
of the side seam slit this means that this slit is pressed apart by
the inflatable member which can result in distortion and creasing
at the front and back section of the shirt, which causes a
deterioration in the smoothing result. In addition, the item of
clothing is not joined to the inflatable member in the area of the
side seam and can slip upwards in this area as a result of the
inflation of the inflatable member, whereby the smoothing result
deteriorates further.
[0004] It is thus the object of the invention to provide a device
which can avoid such creasing and furthermore, this device should
be simple to operate.
[0005] The object is solved according to the invention by a
clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric
sections at the hem of an item of clothing during smoothing of the
item of clothing. The clamping device has the features of claim 1.
In particular, the clamping device according to the invention is
characterised in that this has a common receiving area for
receiving the two ends of the fabric sections and the receiving
area is surrounded by an inner and an outer plate, wherein the
plates are parts of flaps, the inner flap is connected to the outer
flap by a connecting element, and the connecting element produces a
clamping force between the inner and the outer plate.
[0006] By providing a common receiving area for the ends of the two
sections of fabric to be held together, simple application of the
clamping device to an item of clothing can be ensured. In
particular, at the hem of an item of clothing where a hem slit is
usually provided, the clamping device according to the invention
can simply avoid any drifting apart of the fabric sections of the
front and back parts of the item of clothing. Since the receiving
area is used for both ends of the fabric sections, the fabric
sections forming the slit can be brought into the receiving area in
one working step.
[0007] The inner flap in the sense of this invention is designated
as the flap which, after application of the clamping device to the
item of clothing, rests on the inside thereof. The outer flap in
the sense of this invention is designated as the flap which, after
application of the clamping device to the item of clothing, rests
on the outside thereof.
[0008] The clamping device according to the invention is especially
suitable for holding together side slits in blouses or shirts
whilst these are tensioned from inside by means of an inflatable
member, and dried. The clamping device is also called a hem
tensioner. The function of the clamping device is to fix the hem
ends of all kinds of shirts or blouses which are worn over trousers
or skirts, during the drying process. However, the uniform drying
and smoothing of the item of clothing must not be impaired. With
the clamping device according to the invention the ironing result
is improved in the side seam area and especially in the case of
folded seams as a result of the hem ends being held together.
However, the clamping device according to the invention is not
restricted to holding together hem slits at the side seam. Rather,
this can be used for example for slits at the front or the back of
the shirt in the area of the hem.
[0009] The number of parts is preferably kept as small as possible.
However, according to one embodiment, for example, the outer flap
can consist of two parts, i.e. it can comprise two part flaps
arranged adjacent to one another. By this means, the hem ends can
be inserted into the clamping device one after the other and
nevertheless, a reliable alignment of the hem ends after insertion
into the clamping device can be ensured.
[0010] Both in one embodiment with an outer and an inner flap and
in an embodiment with one inner and two outer part flaps, the
clamping device can be operated with one hand. This is advantageous
since the two fabric sections, especially the hem ends between
which the slit is formed, can be guided into the clamping device
with the other hand.
[0011] The clamping force which is transmitted by the connecting
element to the plates and prevents slippage of the fabric sections
with respect to one another and sliding of the clamping device away
from the fabric sections is selected according to these
requirements. However, the connecting element is designed so that
the clamping force can simply be lifted by manually actuating the
clamping device. For this reason, the connecting element is
preferably a spring element, especially a torsion spring. In this
case, the spring force is adjusted according to said requirements
or suitable material is selected for the suitable springs. The
pressure on the surfaces between the flaps which is applied to the
plates by the connecting element can, for example, lie in the range
between 0.2 and 0.3 N/cm.sup.2. In order to simplify operation, the
spring preferably has a constant spring force over its spring path
or this force increases slightly. The clamping device can
preferably be opened so far that an angle of 45.degree. exists
between the flaps. This angle is sufficiently large to be able to
receive a thicker fabric. On the other hand, actuation with one
hand is still ensured.
[0012] Furthermore, the clamping device can have an engaging device
for fixing the relative position of the flaps relative to one
another. The engaging device can hold the clamping device according
to its embodiment in the closed or in the opened state. The force
for releasing the engaging device is designed to be low however to
make operation easy. The engaging device can be formed by a notch
and a corresponding notch recess. Alternatively, a leaf spring with
a corresponding rolling element which rolls over the spring can be
formed. Depending on the choice of engaging device, a further
spring element such as a helical spring can possibly be dispensed
with and the engaging device then forms the connecting element.
[0013] In order to simplify the opening of the clamping device,
i.e., especially the tilting of the flaps towards one another, for
the user, the outer flap can have an actuating lever. Said
actuating lever extends from the area of the flap where the
connecting element is located as far as the end of the flap which
lies opposite to the plate of the flap, and which is arranged at an
angle to the plate of the flap. A lever arm is hereby provided for
the user which facilitates the operating of the clamping device.
According to the invention, an actuating lever can also be provided
on the inner flap, which however, preferably forms one plane with
the plate of the inner flap.
[0014] According to one embodiment, the dimensions of the inner
plate correspond to the dimensions of the outer plate. By this
means a clamping force can be exerted over the entire surface of
the plates on fabric sections located therebetween. In addition,
distortion by projecting parts of the plates can be avoided.
[0015] Furthermore, the smoothing and drying result can be improved
by the flaps consisting of an air-permeable material in the area of
the plates. By this means an air flow between the fabric sections
held together between the plates can be ensured and the overall
drying and/or smoothing result is improved. The air permeability
can be achieved for example by using a porous material in these
area or by incorporating openings in these areas.
[0016] The flaps of the clamping device are preferably constructed
in one piece and the plates and actuating levers, if provided, form
areas of the flaps.
[0017] According to one embodiment, the plates of the clamping
device have a higher bending resistance in their longitudinal
direction, especially from the connecting element to the end of the
plate, than in their width direction. This embodiment can be
achieved by stiffening on the plates, especially on the outside of
the outer plate or by different material thicknesses over the width
of the plates. The advantage of this plate design is that the shape
of the plates can adapt to the curvature of the circumference of
the trunk section of the inflatable member onto which the item of
clothing is pulled for smoothing. Nevertheless, this embodiment
avoids bending of the clamping device relative to its longitudinal
direction which could result in opening of the slit which is to be
kept closed by the clamping device.
[0018] The material of the flaps can, for example, be a plastic or
a coated metal.
[0019] The shape of the flaps, especially in the area of the
plates, can for example be square, rectangular, round, oval or
semicircular.
[0020] The size of the plates is preferably selected to be as small
as possible so as not to impair the drying process of the fabric in
the area of the slit. However, the length is designed so that this
covers the slit that the clamping device is to hold together. The
device according to the invention can for example have a width of
80 mm, a length of 100 mm and a height of 20 mm, the height
including a bent actuating lever.
[0021] The inner flap and the outer flap preferably each have a
coating in the area of the plates on the side facing the
respectively other plate. This coating, which can be a layer of
foam material for example, can avoid imprints on the item of
clothing to be smoothed.
[0022] In one embodiment, the clamping device is provided with a
weight. This weight can be integrated in one of the parts of the
clamping device, for example, one of the flaps or it can be
provided by the choice of material. However, it is also possible to
connect a weight separate from the clamping device to the clamping
device. The weight provided on the clamping device on the one hand
aligns the side seam having the side slit provided at its lower
end. On the other hand, the entire smoothing result is improved
since the weight results in a tautening of the entire item of
clothing in its side areas. The smoothing result can be further
improved by weighting the end of the side seam by the clamping
device according to the invention. The weight can be imparted to
the device according to the invention by a weighting at the inner
flap of 200 g, for example.
[0023] Alternatively or additionally to the weight, the clamping
device can have a fixing device for fixing the clamping device to a
device for smoothing and/or drying an item of clothing. This fixing
device can, for example, ensure that the clamping device is not
lost. On the one hand, the position of the clamping device can be
specified with respect to the device for smoothing and/or drying.
Furthermore, especially if the fixing device is a tensioning
device, the clamping device can be braced with the drying and
smoothing device. By this means, for example, a tensioning force
can be applied to the side seam of the item of clothing which
improves the smoothing result.
[0024] The fixing device is preferably provided at the end of the
inner flap facing away from the plate. This can prevent any
distortion and the alignment of the clamping device to the device
for smoothing and/or drying the item of clothing can be specified.
For this purpose, the fixing device preferably has a strap via
which the clamping device can be tensioned with respect to the
device for drying and/or smoothing. In particular, the clamping
device is tensioned with respect to a housing of the device for
drying and/or smoothing since this has the required stiffness to be
able to apply the desired tension to the item of clothing via the
clamping device and the fixing device.
[0025] According to a further aspect, the invention therefore
relates to a device for smoothing and/or drying an item of
clothing, especially a shirt or a blouse, wherein the device has a
housing via which an inflatable member for tensioning the item of
clothing is held. The device for drying and/or smoothing the item
of clothing is characterised in that the device comprises a
clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric
sections, wherein the clamping device is connected by means of a
fixing device to the housing of the device for smoothing and/or
drying the item of clothing and has a common receiving area for the
ends of the two fabric sections.
[0026] In this case, the fixing device can be a strap tensioner by
means of which the clamping device can be braced with respect to
the housing. By this means different positions of a hem slit on the
item of clothing can be taken into account.
[0027] The clamping device according to the invention is preferably
used when using a device for smoothing and/or drying an item of
clothing where an item of clothing is tensioned from inside using
an inflatable member.
[0028] Advantages and features of the clamping device according to
the invention apply accordingly and, as applicable, also to the
drying and smoothing device according to the invention and
conversely.
[0029] The invention is explained in detail subsequently with
reference to the appended figures.
[0030] In the figures:
[0031] FIG. 1: is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the
clamping device according to the invention when closed;
[0032] FIG. 2: is a schematic side view of the embodiment according
to FIG. 1 when open;
[0033] FIG. 3: is a schematic rear view of the embodiment according
to FIG. 1 when closed;
[0034] FIG. 4: is a schematic plan view of the embodiment according
to FIG. 1 when closed;
[0035] FIG. 5: is a schematic plan view of a further embodiment
when closed;
[0036] FIG. 6: is a schematic partial view of a side seam of an
item of clothing with the clamping device applied; and
[0037] FIG. 7: is a schematic front view of a device according to
the invention for drying and/or smoothing an item of clothing.
[0038] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the clamping device 1
according to the invention. This comprises an inner flap 2 and an
outer flap 3. In the embodiment shown the two flaps 2, 3 each have
a plate 21 and 31 which each have a layer of foam material 4 on the
side facing respectively the other plate 31, 21. Adjacent to each
of the plates 21, 31 is a transition zone 22 and 32 adjacent to
each of which is a lever 23 and 33 in the embodiment shown. The
lever 33 of the outer flap 3 is arranged at an angle to the plate
31 of the outer flap 3. The lever 23 of the first flap 2 on the
other hand lies in the same plane as the plate 21 of the first flap
2. A torsion spring 5 in the form of a helical spring is provided
in the transition zone 22, 32. The torsion spring 5 which serves as
a connecting element allows the outer flap 3 to tilt towards the
inner flap 2. In the open state, the lever 33 rests on the lever
23. This state is shown schematically in FIG. 2.
[0039] As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the torsion spring 5
extends over the width of the flaps 2, 3 and ends at a distance
from the sides of the flaps 2, 3. The spring length should at least
be selected so that this corresponds to the width of the lever 33
or the lever 23, 33 and in addition, prevents any other movement of
the two flaps 2, 3 with respect to one another apart from tilting
about the longitudinal axis of the spring 5, for example, slippage
of the flaps 2,3 with respect to one another.
[0040] In the embodiment shown the levers 23, 33 have a width which
is smaller than the width of the plates 21, 31 of the flaps 2, 3.
However, it is also within the scope of the invention to design the
levers 23, 33 with the same width as the width of the plates 21,
31.
[0041] In the embodiment shown openings 6 are provided in the area
of the plates 21, 31 which produce the air permeability of the
plates.
[0042] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the clamping device
according to the invention. In this embodiment the clamping device
has two outer part flaps 311, 312 which are arranged laterally with
respect to one another and in the embodiment shown are connected to
the common inner flap 2 via two separate connecting elements 51,
and 52, shown here as springs.
[0043] The lower part of a side seam of an item of clothing, in
this case a shirt, is shown schematically in FIG. 6. A side seam SN
is provided between the front and back fabric section of the shirt
H. A hem S is provided in each case at the lower end of the fabric
sections. At the ends SE where the hems S are facing one another, a
hem slit is formed between said hems, extending as far as the lower
end of the side seam SN. The slit is covered by a clamping device 1
which is shown as transparent to give a better understanding. The
hem ends SE of the two fabric sections are received in the clamping
device 1 and the hem slit is covered thereby.
[0044] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a device according to the
invention for drying and/or smoothing items of clothing. The device
100 comprises a housing 110 and an inflatable member 120 connected
thereto which is shown only partly inflated in FIG. 7 so that it
can be identified more easily. An item of clothing, for example a
shirt H, which is only shown schematically, can be pulled onto this
inflatable member 120. Clamping devices 1 are provided on the
housing 110, on two opposing sides in each case. Said devices are
connected to the housing 110 by means of a fixing element 130, in
this case, a strap tensioner. After pulling the shirt H onto the
inflatable member 120, the hem slits on the right and left sides of
the shirt H can each be easily held together by means of the
clamping devices 1. The clamping devices 1 can then be pulled by
means of the strap tensioner 130 in the direction of the housing
110 until they exert a sufficient tension on the side seams i.e.,
stretch the shirt H in this area. If the inflatable member 120 is
now inflated, the slit at the hem ends cannot expand and in
addition the shirt H cannot slip upwards on the inflatable member
120.
* * * * *