Patent GB-1414041-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for treating laundry articles
IPC: D06F58/14
Filed: 1973-03-06
Abstract: 1414041 Drying N S PARLOUR 6 Feb 1974 [6 March 1973] 10715/73 Heading F4G Apparatus for treating previously washed laundry articles according to a programmed cycle comprises a cabinet 10, an externally accessible enclosure 34 in the cabinet for receiving laundry articles, at least one removable, resilient support member 79 providing predetermined stretching throughout the cycle, means in the cabinet for damping the stretched laundry articles and for heating the articles to evaporate the moisture and programme control means for actuating the damping means and the heating means in a programmed cycle. The cabinet comprises a lid 16, a base 14 and collapsible side sections 15. The sections 15 comprise foldable members 25 which are supported by telescoping bars 23 which are latched when extended. For entry into the enclosure 34 one section 15 has a flap closable by a zip fasteners 26. The lid has transverse supporting bars 24, a pivoted flap 76b, side handles 31 and an opening 29 closed by a plurality of flaps inclined on to another and which separate to exhaust steam under pressure from the chamber. The base has a closure plate 33 with a programme control unit 61 beneath and supporting a float mechanism 48 for controlling the level of water in a boiler 41. The boiler has two heating elements 40 and the float mechanism allows water to flow from the enclosure 34 through gaps in an upper part 52 into a part 51 and between the end of the part 51 and a sealing gasket 59 above a hollow float body 49 into the boiler. When the water reaches a predetermined level the float body rises and cuts off the supply of water. A fan heater 62 is in a chamber 63 normally closed by a door 64 but openable by operating a solenoid 67 which has a ratchet plunger to rotate the door pivot. A skirt hanger 79 comprises side rods 83 adjustably spaced by rods 88, 89 and for the collar, adjustably positioned shaped rods 101, 102 with wire portions 112, 113. The hangers are secured to interconnected spaced racks 76 supported on bars 24 in the lid. Various other adjustable clothes supports are described, a cuff stretcher in Fig. 9 (not shown) and for men's underwear, Fig. 10 (not shown). In operation, the lid 16 is raised, the pivoted part 16b is shifted to undo the fastener 26 to allow insertion of the laundered articles on hangers into the cabinet. Water is poured into the enclosure 34 to a predetermined height in the boiler and a switch 18 is depressed to commence the cycle. The water is heated and steam passes into the enclosure guided by a baffle plate 56 and damps the laundered articles. The boiler is switched off and the fan heater 62 switched on to pass heated air through openings 60 in the base closure plate 33 to drive out excess steam and to dry the articles. At a predetermined temperature an air freshener block volatilizes the scent the circulating air. The heater for the fan is switched off and the fan blows cooling air into the enclosure to reduce the temperature for handling the articles. An indicator on a switch panel 17 informs when the articles are ready for removal.