Patent Publication Number: US-7721923-B2

Title: Apparatus and method for textile maintenance

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus for textile maintenance and a method for using the same. 
   BACKGROUND 
   In-home maintenance of various textiles, including hand-crafted textiles such as doilies and the like, has not changed for many years. Typically, a textile owner is forced to place the article to be cleaned or maintained on any available flat surface for cleaning, treatment, or maintenance. For example, a hand-crafted article might be placed on a floor or table in the user&#39;s home and then treated as necessary. Such make-shift methods make it difficult to stabilize the article or keep the article from becoming soiled with dirt or dust that has collected on the surface being used. 
   There is a need in the art, therefore, for a new apparatus and method for textile maintenance. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one embodiment, the present invention is an apparatus for textile maintenance comprising at least one base component having a plurality of holes configured to receive a retention member and at least one coupling member on an outer portion of the base component configured to be coupleable with a coupling member of another base component. 
   The present invention, in accordance with another embodiment, is a method for textile maintenance including providing a first apparatus for textile maintenance, positioning at least one textile piece adjacent to at least one base component and securing the textile piece adjacent the base component by inserting at least one retention member through the textile piece into any one of the plurality of holes of the base component. 
   In an alternative embodiment, a second apparatus for textile maintenance is positioned parallel the first apparatus by inserting a first end of at least one retention member into one of the first plurality of holes of a base component of the first apparatus and inserting a second end of the retention member into one of a second plurality of holes of a base component of the second apparatus. 
   While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top view of a single base component apparatus and perspective view of a retention member. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of a multi-base component apparatus. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a retention member. 
       FIG. 4  is top view of a textile piece supported by retention members on a multi-base component apparatus. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a single base component stacked on top of a second single base component. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of an apparatus having markings on its face, according to certain embodiments. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention is a method and apparatus for textile maintenance having at least one coupleable base component and a plurality of retention members that each fit snugly into any of a plurality of holes contained on the base component. The invention allows users to perform textile maintenance, such as drying or starching, on one or more textile pieces by supporting one or more textile pieces with the retention members adjacent the base component. Additionally, the retention members may be used to stack a base component onto another base component or combination of base components. 
     FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of the apparatus  100  of the present invention, in which the base component  102  contains a plurality of holes  104  and has four interlocking coupling members  106  and  108 , one on each side of the base  102 . Two of the coupling members  106  are male while the other two coupling members  108  are female.  FIG. 1  further illustrates one embodiment of a retention member  110  of the present invention. The retention member  110  fits snugly into any of the plurality of holes  104  contained on the base component  102 . The square shape of the base component  102  shown in the figure is exemplary and does not limit the invention in any way. Other shapes, such as an octagon or trapezoid, may comprise their own advantages. 
   The coupling members  106  and  108  allow for the ability to connect more than one base component  102  together as shown in  FIG. 2 . In this particular embodiment, certain male coupling members  106  couple with a female coupling member  108 , thus interlocking four base components  102 . Coupling members  106  and  108  are exemplary and not intended to be limiting. According to an alternative embodiment, each side of the base  102  has more than one coupling member  106  or  108 . In a further alternative embodiment, any known coupling component can be used, such as snap-fit components, threaded coupling components or any other known components for attachment. 
   The resulting multi-base apparatus  200  can be used for maintenance of larger textiles. The multi-base apparatus  200  may have two coupled base components  102 . Alternatively, the multi-base apparatus  200  can have as many coupled base components  102  as needed in relation to the size of the textile piece. 
     FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of the retention member  110  of the present invention. The retention member  110  has two ends  302  which are manufactured to snugly fit into any of the holes  104  of any base  102 . Between the two ends  302 , the retention member  110  has an enlarged body  304  manufactured to have an external diameter that is greater than an internal diameter of the holes  104 . The shape of the retention member  110  is not limited to cylindrical nor is it necessary for there to be an enlarged body  304 . 
   The retention member  110  of the present invention serves as a peg to support textiles on the apparatus  100 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , a textile piece  402  is positioned in contact with the appropriate number of base components  102 . In another embodiment, further textile pieces may be positioned over the first textile piece  402  adjacent the base components  102 . Then, one of the ends  302  of the retention member  110  is inserted through the textile piece  402  and into any of the holes  104  of a base component  102 . The enlarged body  304  of the retention member  110  holds the textile piece firmly to the base  102 . The textile piece  402  in  FIG. 4  is supported on the multi-base apparatus  200  with four retention members  110 . Any number of retention members  110  may be used. Each base  102  or multi-base apparatus  200  may support one textile piece  402 . Alternatively, each base  102  or multi-base apparatus  200  can support any number of textile pieces  402  as needed. In the latter case, the length  306  of the ends  302  of the retention members  110  will necessarily be increased or decreased to adapt for the number of textile pieces  402  being supported. 
   According to one aspect of the invention, each retention member  110  also serves the dual purpose of supporting a second base component  102 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , a first end  302  of a retention member  304  is inserted into one of the holes of a first base component  102 . A second base component  102  is then stacked on the first base component  102  by inserting a second end  302  of the retention member  110  into one of the holes of the second base component  102 . In  FIG. 5 , the upper base component  102 , is supported by four retention members  110 . 
   The apparatus  500  shown in  FIG. 5 , consisting of two single base components, can easily be expanded to apply to multi-base apparatuses  200  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Furthermore, the resulting apparatus  500  is not limited to two levels as shown in  FIG. 5 . The resulting apparatus  500  can have as many levels of base components  102  as needed. Each level can be used for supporting textiles as previously described. 
     FIG. 6  depicts a textile maintenance apparatus  600 , according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  600  has markings  602  on the face of the apparatus  600 . According to one embodiment, the markings  602  provide the user guidance for positioning the textile to be treated on the apparatus  600 . In one aspect of the invention, the markings  602  include numbers to indicate sizes. For example, each marking  602  might have a number associated with the marking  602  to indicate the size of the circular textile article and to guide the user in positioning the article on the apparatus  600 . For example, one of the markings  602  might have “9 inches” or “9″” associated with it, indicating that a 9-inch circular article, which could be a doily, for example, can be positioned within the marking  602 . Alternatively, the markings  602  are square to assist with positioning square articles. In a further alternative, any markings that might assist with positioning of the article or use of the invention can be placed on the apparatus  600 . 
   In use, the present invention can be used for maintenance of textile pieces such as crocheted pieces, embroidered pieces, linen, fabric, cloth, or other similar work. After washing, a textile piece can be dried using an apparatus of the present invention by supporting the textile piece on one or more base components  102  with one or more retention members  110 . Alternatively, the textile piece can be sprayed with a chemical, such as starch, while being supported adjacent to a base component  102  with one or more retention members  110 . Furthermore, one skilled in the art could see that the present invention is useful for textile maintenance other than drying or spraying with chemicals. 
   Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.