Abstract:
A device for washing and drying garments or other items in a single unit. The garments or other items are placed in the device on conventional plastic hangers leaving space in between each item. A manifold with arms extends between the items. The manifold moves up and down so that the arms move up and down the length of the items to be treated. The arms have one set of pipes that spray wash water, rinse water and other washing liquids on the items. The arms have another set of pipes that carry air to the items, drying the items. After the cycle is complete the clothes or other items may be left in the device until needed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/417,045, filed on Apr. 15, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,060,106 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FEDERAL SPONSORSHIP 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND 
   A variety of machines in which clothes may be hung and processed in a single unit have been proposed. There are a series of patents that require the use of solvents for dry cleaning garments, for example U.S. Pat. No. 2,845,786, issued to E. L. Chrisman on Aug. 5, 1958; U.S. Pat. No. 3,166,923 issued to Zacks on Jan. 26, 1965; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,741,113, issued to Norkus on Apr. 10, 1056. The use of solvents, especially in the home, can create health and safety issues. 
   There are additional patents that claim a machine in which the clothes are “finished” only. These patents are directed toward de-wrinkling and smoothing the clothes, typically by using steam. However, these machines do not clean the clothes, these machines are used after the clothes are already clean. Some examples of these devices are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,707,855 issued to Buckley on Jan. 2, 1973; U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,602 issued to Stichnoth et al. on Jul. 5, 1983; U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,496 issued to Buckly et al. on Jun. 19, 1973; U.S. Pat. No. 3,732,628 issued to Bleven et al. on May 15, 1973; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,305 issued to Ochiai on Aug. 2, 1988. U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,346 issued to Chen et al. on Feb. 20, 2001 discloses a clothes treating apparatus that uses a “conditioning mist” as an alternative to dry-cleaning clothes. This patent does not provide for washing clothes with water or rinsing the clothes. 
   In addition, some patents claim machines that only dry clothes, and do not wash or finish the clothes: for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,257,739 issued to Wentz on Jun. 28, 1966; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,102,796 issued to Erickson on Sep. 3, 1963. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,114,919 issued to Kenreich on Dec. 24, 1963 discloses a machine that can wash and dry using conventional laundry soap, however, this apparatus can only wash one shirt, or the like, and one pair of pants, or the like, at a time. In addition, this patent discloses an apparatus that has fixed outlets for dispensing wash and rinse water. This patent, like U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,159 issued to Mazza on May 23, 1972, utilizes a shaking of the garments to remove dirt and debris from the garments. However, shaking the garments can cause the garments to fall during the washing cycle, and can impart wrinkles to the garments. In addition, these patents teach that the wash water is applied from the top and bottom of the clothing, and not along the length of the clothing. 
   Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,188 issued to Geschka et al. on Jun. 27, 1972 discloses an apparatus that uses conventional laundry soap water, and hot air to wash and dry clothes. However, in this patent the soap and water are applied to the garments from top and bottom nozzles. Likewise, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,835 issued to Todd-Reeve on Mar. 4, 1975, the water and soap are applied from nozzles located near the top and bottom of the apparatus. In neither of these apparatuses is the soap and water applied over the entire length of the garments. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is generally designed to wash and dry garments or other items in a single machine. The invention is for use in residences or in hotel rooms, hospitals, laundromates, and other commercial applications. In a conventional clothes washing machine it is best to transfer the clothes soon after they are washed to the dryer in order to prevent wrinkling. In addition, it is even more important to rapidly remove dried clothes from the dryer shortly after completion of the drying process to further prevent wrinkling. When using the invention, there is no need to rapidly move clothes from the washing machine to the dryer, or to rapidly remove clothes from the dryer. The clothes are washed and dried on hangers in a single machine. Once the cycle is complete, the clothes may remain in the invention indefinitely, until ready to be worn, suspended from the hangers. 
   The device is used by placing garments on conventional hangers, and hanging the garments on bar within the machine cabinet. The inventor prefers to use plastic hangers, however any hanger that will support the garments without imparting stains to the wet garments may be used. A manifold supplies wash water, rinse water and finally hot air to the clothes. The manifold contains a series of arms, with one arm between each garment. The arms contain nozzles directed downward and toward the garments. The manifold, arms, and nozzles contain a dual internal system of pipes. One set of internal pipes allows wash water and rinse water to be directed toward the clothes. The other set of internal pipes allows hot air to be directed toward the clothes. 
   During operation, the wash water containing soap travels up the first set of internal pipes in the manifold, through the arms, out the nozzles, and onto the clothes. The entire manifold traverses up and down the length of the hanging clothes, spraying the clothes with soapy water. 
   After the wash cycle is complete, rinse water travels through the same first set of internal pipes in the manifold, and arms, and out the same nozzle. The manifold again traverses up and down the length of the hanging clothes, spraying the clothes with rinse water. 
   In the drying cycle hot or cool air travels through the second set of internal pipes in the manifold, through the arms, and out a separate set of nozzles and toward the clothes. The hot air may exit the apparatus through vents, or may be re-circulated through a compressor. The compressor will remove the moisture from the hot air and direct the hot toward the garments. 
   The duration of the washing cycle, rinse cycle, and drying cycle is controlled through a control panel. 
   When the clothes washing and drying cycle is complete the clothes may remain in the machine until such time as is convenient to remove the clothes. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view, and shows the device from the front with the door open, and a cut-away section to see inside the sub-cabinet. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of the manifold. 
       FIG. 2   a  is cross-sectional view of the manifold. 
       FIG. 2   b  shows a partial sectional view of the area indicated in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view without a cut-away. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Apparatus  10  comprises a cabinet  12  with front wall  12   a , rear wall  12   b , two side walls  12   c  and  12   d , and a top and bottom wall  12   e  and  12   f . In the preferred embodiment said walls of cabinet  12  are insulated. Apparatus  10 , like conventional washers and dryers, is connected to a water supply by hose  16 , to an electrical supply by conductors  18 , and to a drain by hose  20 . 
   Bottom wall  12   f  contains drain  14 . Drain  14  is connected to drain hose  20 , and drains cabinet  12 . Cabinet  12 , which is sealed against the escape of water, is provided with a door  22  through which clothing to be processed can be inserted. In the preferred embodiment door  22  is transparent, and the garments may be viewed during the operating cycle. Alternatively, door  22  may be opaque and insulated. Door  22  is attached to cabinet  12  with one or more conventional hinges  6 . Door  22  is closed and watertight during operation of the device. Door  22  may, but does not have to, extend the entire length of the front wall  12   a  of cabinet  12 . 
   Cabinet  12  is adjacent to sub-cabinet  24 . Sub-cabinet  24  contains the mechanism by means of which the operating cycle of apparatus  10  is automatically carried out. The operating cycle may include any variation or combination of pre-washing, washing, rinsing and drying. For means of illustration only, and not as a limitation, the device control mechanism could allow the consumer to set the device for heavy or light washing; set the water temperature; add bleach, fabric softeners, or other laundry additives; set one or more rinse cycles; set a initial delay of the start of the washing cycle to allow for the action of spot-removers; set a delay of the start of the washing cycle to accommodate the convenience of the user; set a pre-wash cycle; and set varying drying temperatures and times. The various washing and drying requirements are set via control panel  28 . The electricity for running control panel  28 , and all other parts of the device, is supplied through conductor  18 . 
   The device requires the use of a control panel  28  to effectuate the different washing and drying needs of the user. Said control panel  28  includes a timer, a means for setting or programming the various washing and drying cycles, a means for dispensing laundry detergent, bleach, fabric softener, or other laundry additives, and a means for regulating the washing, rinsing, and dying times. 
   The clothes-receiving portion of cabinet  12  has, at its upper end, a hanging bar  30 . Hanging bar  30  is suspended horizontally and parallel to walls  12   a  and  12   b . Hanging bar  30  has one or more hanger spacers  32 . Clothes, towels, sheets or other items to be laundered are placed on a conventional, non-rusting, hanger. The hanger is inserted onto hanging bar  30 , and held at regularly spaced intervals by hanger spacers  32 . 
   Manifold  40  is comprised of a plurality of arms  42 . The arms  42  are in a single plane, and are parallel to each other, and perpendicular to hanging bar  30 . The arms extend between hanger-mounted garments  26 . The first arm in the parallel plane is  42   a , and the last arm in the parallel plane is  42   z.    
   Inside manifold  40  are two sets of internal pipes. One set is the liquid-carrying pipes  46 . The other set is the air-carrying pipes  47 . The liquid-carrying pipes  46  and air-carrying pipes  47  may be a separate set of internal pipes inside manifold  40 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 2   b , the manifold  40 , liquid-carrying pipes  46 , and air-carrying pipes  47  may be manufactured as a single unit with a divider  55  separating the air in the air-carrying pipes  47  from the water in the water-carrying pipes  46 . 
   Water enters sub-cabinet  24  through water supply hose  16 . Laundry detergent or other laundry additives may be added to the water, as requested by the user. For example, and for purposes of illustration and not limitation, laundry detergent may be added to the water. The water/detergent mixture then travels into manifold  40  and arms  42  through liquid-supply hose  48 , and into manifold  40 . Once inside manifold  40 , the water/detergent mixture travels through liquid-carrying pipes  46 . The water/detergent mixture exits arms  42  through liquid-exits  44  and sprays the hanger-mounted garments  26 . Liquid-exits  44  may be either nozzles or holes. The inventor currently prefers to use nozzles for liquid-exits  44 . Manifold  40  moves up and down the length of the hanger-mounted garments  26  spraying both sides of garments  26  with the water/detergent mixture. The water/detergent mixture will run off the garments  26 , down to bottom wall  12   f , through drain  14 , and out drain nose  20 . In the preferred embodiment bottom wall  12   f  will be sloped in such a manner that drain  14  is at the lowest point in bottom wall  12   f , causing the water to run out drain  14 , and exit the device through drain hose  20 . 
   The drying cycle may be started after completion of the washing cycle. In the drying cycle warm or cool air is forced from subcabinet  24  to manifold  40  via air-supply hose  49 , and then into manifold  40 . Once inside manifold  40 , the air travels through air-carrying pipes  47  and out air-exits  45 . Air-exits  45  may be either nozzles or holes. The inventor currently prefers to use holes for air-exits  45 . Manifold  40  again moves up and down the length of hanger-mounted garments  26  blowing air on both sides of garments  26 , and thereby drying the garments  26 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, each arm  42  has a plurality of liquid-exits  44  and air-exits  45 . Arm  42   a  has a plurality of exits  44   a  and  45   a  on only the side facing toward garment  26 , and arm  42   z  has a plurality of exits  44   z  and  45   z  on only the side facing toward garment  26 . The remainder of arms  42  have a plurality of exits  44  and  45  on both sides of each arm  42  so that hanger-mounted garments  26  may be sprayed from both sides. 
   Liquid-exits  44  and air-exits  45  are placed on arms  42  so that the liquid or air exits arms  42  in a downward direction. The shape of the arms may be any shape that allows the liquid- and air-exits to point downward. The inventor currently prefers to have the cross-sectional shape of the arms be an isosceles triangle with the two equal sides of the triangle facing downward, and to place the liquid- and air-exits on the two downward facing sides of the triangle. The downward angle of the liquid or air may be any angle necessary to prevent garments  26  from tangling and twisting, and to help smooth garments  26 . The inventor currently prefers to use a downward angle of between 40 degrees and 60 degrees on liquid-exits  44  and air-exits  45 . 
   There are no specific requirements regarding placement of liquid-exits  44  and air-exits  45  relative to each other. That is, liquid-exits  44  and air-exits  45  may be placed in a horizontal line, may be placed with either on top of the other, or may be placed in any arrangement that allows liquid to exits the liquid-exits  44 , and allows air to exit air-exits  45 . 
   Manifold  40  has one or more unthreaded guide holes  51 . Apparatus  10  contains one or more guide post  50 . In the preferred embodiment, the number of unthreaded guide holes  51  is equal to the number to guide posts  50 . Guide post  50  is a smooth post that runs in a vertical direction parallel to rear wall  12   b . Guide post  50  is inserted through unthreaded hole  51  in manifold  40 , and manifold  40  may freely move along the length of guide post  50 . 
   Manifold  40  has one or more threaded screw holes  53 . Apparatus  10  contains one or more screw posts  52 . In the preferred embodiment, the number of threaded screw holes  53  is equal to the number of screw posts  52 . Screw post  52  is a threaded post runs in a vertical direction parallel to rear wall  12   b . Screw post  52  and threaded screw hole  53  are threaded so that the threaded screw post  52  will turn inside threaded screw hole  53  and, in turning, move manifold  40  either up or down. 
   Screw post  52  is moveably attached to motor  54 . Motor  54  will turn screw post  52  in an alternating clockwise and counter-clockwise direction, thereby moving manifold  40  up and down screw post  52 . Motor  54  may be programmed via control panel  28  so that screw post  54  turns in one direction for varying lengths of time. The length of time that screw post  54  turns in any one direction is directly correlated to the length that the manifold travels in any one direction. Thus, screw post  54  may turn for such a length of time that manifold  40  travels only part of the height of cabinet  12 , or the entire length of cabinet  12 . Control panel  28  may also provide a means for setting or programming the speed of the upward/downward motion, as well as the distance manifold  40  travels in the upward/downward plane. 
   Manifold  40  will continue to spray garments  26  for the length of time as set by the user. After the wash cycle is completed, the rinse cycle will begin. In the rinse cycle, water alone travels through liquid-supply hose  48  to manifold  40  and into arms  42  through liquid-supplying pipes  46 . The water exits arms  42  through liquid-exits  44 , and sprays the garments  26  with rinse water. The rinse water exits the device through drain  14  and drain hose  20 . 
   The drying cycle will begin at the time requested by the user after the rinse cycle is complete. The inventor currently prefers to allow a length of time for passive dripping of water from the clothes before beginning the drying cycle. However, the drying cycle may be set to begin at any time, even immediately after completion of the rinse cycle. Ambient air will be drawn into sub-cabinet  24  through air-intake hose  61 . If requested by the user, the air will be heated. The air will travel through air-supply hose  49  to manifold  40  and then into arms  42  through air-carrying pipes  48 . The air exits through air-exits  45 . Manifold  40  moves up and down the length of the garments  26  spraying air onto the garments. The heated air may exit cabinet  12  passively through vent  60 . Alternatively, the heated air may be removed from cabinet  12  and processed through condenser  62 , removing the moisture from the air. The treated air will then be returned to recirculate in cabinet  12   
   In the preferred embodiment the apparatus will indicate the end of the washing and drying cycle by a light or suitable alarm. 
   Although not required, in the preferred embodiment one or more racks  70  may be attached to bottom wall  12   f . The rack  70  extends horizontally near the bottom of the cabinet  12 . Socks or other small items may be placed on the rack  70  and treated as described above.