Patent Publication Number: US-6910291-B2

Title: Garment pressing station for pressing a finished garment

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a garment pressing station for pressing a finished garment. The invention is especially applicable for use in conjunction with any commercial tunnel finisher used in the garment processing industry. An operator transfers the garment on a hanger directly from the tunnel finisher to the invention where wrinkles in the garment are manually removed by pressing with an iron. The invention reduces pressing time and labor while improving operator ergonomics. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a garment pressing station which allows an operator to quickly and conveniently touch-up finished garments while still on the hanger. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a garment pressing station which improves operator efficiency. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a garment pressing station which is ergonomically designed. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a garment pressing station which utilizes a self-contained vacuum system. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a garment pressing station which has a relatively small, space-saving footprint. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a garment pressing station which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a garment pressing station which is relatively easy to install and operate. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a garment pressing station which can accommodate a wide variety of garment sizes. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide an improved method of pressing a finished garment. 
   These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a garment pressing station for pressing a finished garment. The pressing station includes a supporting frame and a vertical press board carried by the frame. A hand-held iron is suspended from the frame, and is adapted for engaging and pressing the garment on the vertical press board. 
   According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the vertical press board includes a vacuum buck with a perforated front wall, a rear wall, and opposing side and end walls cooperating to define an interior vacuum chamber. 
   According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the vertical press board further includes an air permeable pad overlying the perforated front wall of the vacuum buck. 
   According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the vertical press board further includes a fabric cover applied to the vacuum buck and covering the perforated front wall and pad. 
   According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the garment pressing station includes a vacuum source with an elongated hose connected to the rear wall of the vacuum buck. The hose communicates with the vacuum chamber for drawing air inwardly through the perforated front wall. 
   According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a foot pedal is operatively connected to the vacuum source for controlling operation of the vacuum source. 
   According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame includes an overhead rail, and the pressing station further includes a sliding trolley attached to the overhead rail. The trolley is adapted for sliding movement from one end of the rail to the other. An elongated iron cord connects the hand-held iron to the trolley. 
   According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a tool balancing device is connected to the iron cord for providing controlled extension and retraction of the cord upon manipulation of the hand-held iron by a user. 
   According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a sleeve board is carried by a mounting arm attached to the frame and adapted for receiving a portion of the garment for pressing. 
   According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the sleeve board is pivot attached to the mounting arm for pivoting movement between a horizontal in-use position and a vertical non-use position. 
   According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a water spray device is provided for applying water to the garment during pressing. 
   According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a garment hanger chain is suspended from the frame for supporting a hanger carrying the garment to be pressed. 
   According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the chain includes a series of links each adapted for receiving the hanger to locate the garment at a desired height relative to the vacuum board. 
   According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the vertical press board is pivot attached at its upper end to the frame. 
   According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a tilt angle adjustment plate is attached to the frame and adapted for engaging a lower end of the vertical press board to adjust the angle of the vertical press board relative to the frame. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Some of the objects of the invention have been set forth above. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the garment pressing station according to one preferred embodiment, and showing a garment carried by a hanger and positioned relative to the vertical press board for finish pressing; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the garment pressing station with a portion of the garment press board removed to illustrate the perforated front press pan of the vacuum buck; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the garment press board taken substantially along lines  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of the metal sheet forming the front press pan; 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of the metal sheet forming the rear press pan; 
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary rear view of the garment pressing station showing the vacuum hose connected to the rear press pan of the vacuum buck; 
       FIG. 7  is a fragmentary, enlarged elevational view showing the tilt angle adjustment plate in a vertical position to orient the garment press board at a slight angle relative to the user; and 
       FIG. 8  is a fragmentary, enlarged elevational view showing the tilt angle adjustment plate in a horizontal position to orient the garment press board at an increased angle relative to the user. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE 
   Referring now specifically to the drawings, a garment pressing station according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG.  1  and shown generally at reference numeral  10 . The pressing station  10  is especially applicable for finish pressing garments “G” taken directly from a commercial tunnel finisher. An example of a tunnel finisher is described in Applicant&#39;s prior issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,526. The complete disclosure of this patent is incorporated herein by reference. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pressing station  10  includes a square-tube steel frame  11  comprising spaced-apart base members  12 ,  14 , a pair of vertical frame members  15 ,  16  mounted on respective base members  12 ,  14 , a pair of spaced horizontal frame members  17 ,  18  attached to respective vertical frame members  15 ,  16 , and a cross-brace  19 . The frame members are preferably assembled together using bolt-together construction for increased strength and easy installation. Manual leveling pads  21  are located on opposite ends of the base members  12 ,  14  to allow convenient leveling adjustment, and to keep the frame  11  off the plant floor. 
   The horizontal frame members  17 ,  18  support a relatively large garment press board  25 . In one preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the press board are approximately 20″×44″×2″. The top of the press board  25  is pivotally attached to the upper frame member  17 , while the bottom of the board  25  rests against the lower frame member  18 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the press board  25  comprises a vacuum buck constructed of complementary front and rear press pans  26  and  27 . The press pans  26 ,  27  are formed, respectively, from galvanized metal sheets  28  and  29  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The sheet  28  is perforated with solid marginal edges folded outwardly to define respective top, bottom, and side walls of the front pan  26 . The sheet  29  is solid with solid marginal edges folded outwardly to define respective top, bottom, and side walls of the rear pan  27 . The rear pan  27  is slightly larger than the front pan  26 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , such that the pans  26 ,  27  nest together when assembled to form an interior vacuum chamber  30 . An air-permeable felt pad  31  and fabric cover  32  are applied over the perforated front of the assembled pans  26 ,  27 . As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , a conventional vacuum source  34 , such as that sold commercially under the brand name SHOP-VAC®, communicates with the vacuum chamber  30  through an elongated hose  35  connected to a central opening  36  formed with the rear pan  27 . The vacuum source  34  is operatively connected to a foot pedal  38  for convenient activation by a user. 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a hand-held, all steam iron  41  is attached to an iron cord  42  and suspended from an overhead support rail  44  located above the garment press board  25 . The iron cord  42  is connected to a tool balancing device  45  carried by a sliding trolley  46  designed for sliding movement, as indicated at  47 , from one side of garment pressing station  10  to the other. The tool balancing device  45  has an internal spring which operates to provide controlled extension and recoiling of the cord  42  upon manipulation of the iron  41  by the user. 
   The garment “G” is carried on a hanger “H” and suspended from the cross brace  19  of the frame  11  by a hanger chain  48 . The hanger chain  48  is formed of interconnected links designed for selectively receiving the hook portion of the hanger “H” to located the garment “G” at a desired height relative to the press board  25 . When the vacuum source  34  is activated by the user, air is drawn inwardly through the perforated front of the press board  25  to suction the garment “G” against the fabric cover  32  and felt pad  31 . The suction force evacuates moisture from the garment “G”, and provides positioning means for holding the garment “G” in place during manual pressing. The sliding trolley  46  and tool balancing device  45  cooperate to allow convenient movement of the iron  41  both vertically and horizontally to any location on the garment press board  25 . A water spray nozzle  51  may be used during pressing to apply a light mist to the garment “G”. For cuff and sleeve pressing, the garment pressing station  10  includes a fabric covered, felt-padded sleeve board  52  pivotally attached to a mounting arm  53  secured to the vertical frame member  16 . When not in use, the sleeve board  52  can be pivoted upwardly, as indicated by arrow  54 , to a non-use position out of the way of the user. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in an effort to further accommodate characteristics of the particular user, a tilt angle adjustment plate  55  is attached by bolts  56  to the lower horizontal frame member  18  of the support frame  11 . In the position shown in  FIG. 7 , the tilt angle adjustment plate  55  extends vertically downward relative to the garment press board  25 . The garment press board  25  is slightly angled relative to the vertical frame members  15 ,  16  in a first pressing position. The tilt angle of the garment press board  25  is increased by removing the bolts  56  and rotating the lower frame member  18  upwardly such that the tilt angle adjustment plate  55  extends horizontally outward, as shown in FIG.  8 . The bolts  56  are then reinserted through aligned openings formed through the frame members  15 ,  16 , and  18 . The garment press board  25  pivots further outwardly into a second pressing position. The alternate pressing positions promote the ergonomic design of the garment pressing station  10 , and serve to increase user efficiency and the overall quality of work. 
   A garment pressing station for pressing a finished garment is described above. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from its scope. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode of practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation—the invention being defined by the claims.