Patent Abstract:
A personal dry cleaning apparatus having housing, a wetting means, and sources of heat to form steam to be generated.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a method and device for cleaning or pressing articles of clothing. The device of the invention incases a heat source, which then evaporates moisture from the clothing using a range of low to high heat depending on the article of clothing being processed and thereby causes a cleaning and pressing of the clothing. 
     BACKGROUND—DISCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     My invention is not directed at the inconvenience of wrinkled clothing but on the contrary directed at the inconvenience addressing ironing. Originally the prior approach was taking articles of clothing to the cleaners and paying an extensive price. The inconveniences included wasting ones own time, gasoline, and patience of taking an article of clothing to a designated launder when people already have busy lives. Another form of getting the wrinkles out is to do it your-self. To complete this job correctly you would need two items an ironing board and iron. Not only would you need both items but, you would also mentally have to prepare yourself to do something in which is very tedious and time consuming. 
     We need to face the fact that everyone dreads ironing and most of the time when we iron we do not get the job done correctly not only do we get frustrated and stressed but the articles of clothing still have wrinkles. A solution is definitely needed for the fact that we are all very busy people. My invention is a great means for traveling for the fact that it will be compact and fit in an individual&#39;s suitcase. Therefore when the time comes the invention will come in very handy for the fact that he individual will just hang the suit in the bag, and spray fluid on the article of clothing to use the invention. My idea is such a completely unique product, that there is no prior art directly germane to my invention. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, besides objects and advantages described in my above Patent, several objects and advantages of my invention are: 
     (a) To provide people the ability to save time and money allowing people to keep their sanity from the scrutinizing pain of ironing. 
     (b) To provide people an alternative who do not have the ability to spend extensive amounts of money a week on dry-cleaning therefore are obliged to iron themselves or not iron at all resulting in wearing wrinkled clothing. 
     The object in which my invention accomplishes is an easy way of delegating stressful activity whether it be going to the launder or ironing it your self. Just put the item in the machine and within minutes your clothing is wrinkle free. 
     Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawing and ensuing description. 
     SUMMARY 
     My invention constitutes  2  different embodiments of the same invention. The first embodiment is a version of a personal traveling dry cleaning machine. The bag surrounds wrinkled articles of clothing and using a heat source takes the wrinkles out along with a liquid forming steam and moisture to accomplish cleaning. The second embodiment compromises a personal home dry cleaning machine, which surrounds wrinkled articles of clothing, using a heat source is dispersed along with a set amount of steam within the machine and wrinkled items are rendered wrinkle free. Both embodiments are unique for the fact that moisture is introduced into the clothing and a heat source is applied to generate steam. 
    
    
     DRAWING FIGURES 
     In the drawings, closely related figures have reference numbers but different alphabetic suffixes. FIGS. 1 through 11 show the first embodiement consisting of the traveling dry cleaning machine; 
     FIG. 1 shows a front elevation view of the bag; 
     FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view of the bag; 
     FIG. 3 shows a cross section from FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 shows cut away of the bag showing the articles of clothing inside; 
     FIG. 5 shows base view of the bag cross-sectioned from FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 shows cross section of the heating unit from FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 shows side view of the heater unit with light on and heat being dispersed; 
     FIG. 8 shows a cross section of FIG. # 1  as you can see there is a very wrinkled clothing the holes in the bottom indicate the vents where heat will be dispersed; 
     FIG. 9 shows cross section of FIG. # 1  with light on indicating air flow expanding bag and circulating and escaping through holes on bottom; 
     FIG. 10 shows cross section of FIG. # 1  you can see that after the heat has circulated throughout the garment bag The light turns off and the articles of clothing are left wrinkle free; 
     FIG. 11 shows view of compacted module; 
     The 2 nd  embodiment constitutes drawings of a personal home dry cleaning apparatus, which can be seen in FIGS. 12 through 16; 
     FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the machine from a front and top view; 
     FIG. 13 shows a perspective top open view showing the items hanging on the inside retaining bar FIG. 13 also shows the heating ducts; 
     FIG. 14 shows a side elevation view of the machine showing the vents, latches and showing an electrical connection. The cord is truncated, which means it can be as long or as short as we want; 
     FIG. 15 shows a front elevation view of the machine which is a cutaway showing the wrinkled items and the illuminating red light; 
     FIG. 16 shows cross section of FIG. 15 including the internal elements. The articles of clothing are wrinkle free clothes and the light is off; 
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
     Embodiment #1 
       1  hook 
       2  ring 
       3  zipper 
       4  cord 
       5  bag 
       6  teeth of zipper 
       7  control box 
       8  vent # 1   
       9  vent # 2   
       10  setting button 
       11  red light 
       12  on/off button 
       13  heater/ engine/ fan (using a equipment similar to a manufactured hairdryer) 
       14  cord pouch 
       15  rechargeable battery 
       16  switch/ battery outlet 
       17  electrical circuit 
     Embodiment #2 
       1  heater/engine/fan (using equipment similar to a already existing hair dryer) 
       2  control panel 
       3  machine/ container 
       4  retaining bar 
       5  setting knob 
       6  red light 
       7  on/off button 
       8  vent  1   
       9  vent  2   
       10  cord 
       11  latch # 1   
       12  latch # 2   
       13  screw # 1   
       14  screw # 2   
       15  lid of machine 
       16  water level 
       17  steam settings 
       18  water pan 
       19  steam regulator 
       20  air ducts 
       21  electronic circuit board 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While we have shown but a few embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied still otherwise without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. 
     Embodiment #1 (Shows a Version of the Personal Traveling dry Cleaning Machine) 
     Hang the bag  5  to an accessible object (such as in a closet or on a door handle). Then using the zipper  3  unzip the bag  5  by running the zipper  3  along the teeth of the bag  6  in a downward motion. This will allow an open bag  5  in which articles of clothing are placed. Hang articles of clothing inside of the bag  5  on the designated ring  2 . Then zip up the zipper  3  using an upward motion against the teeth of the bag  6  forming a seal on the bag  5 , which will form a barrier around the articles of clothing and the exterior of the bag. Next choose the desired temperature on the setting button  10  located on the control box  7 . When desired setting is acquired a choice will be made to plug in the cord  4  or activate the rechargeable battery  15 . The rechargeable battery can be used or bypassed by flipping the switch  16  to battery or outlet located on the control box  7 . FIG. 6 shows a picture illustrating the bag  5 , heater  13 , the rechargeable battery  15 , the on/off button  12 , and the red light  11 . The illustration shows the machine in the off position. Switch the on/off button  12  to on. When machine is on a red light  11  will illuminate acknowledging that the machine is in use. Heat is created and dispersed from the heater  13  and flows throughout the bag  5 . FIG. 7 illustrates the heater  13  in the working position with the red light  11  illuminated along with the on/off button  12  pressed to the on position, causing heat to be produced from the heat source  13 . The air will circulate throughout the bag and throughout the clothing in the bag as we can see in FIG.  9 . The air will be released through the vents  8  and  9  to pressurize the bag  5 . When the process is complete the light  11  will turn off and wrinkled free clothing will result as in FIG.  10 . The heater  13  will stop before the light goes off for safety purposes indicating a cool down period. FIG. 11 shows a condensed version of the traveling machine. Before entering the articles of clothing into the bag  5  wet the articles of clothing using a spray bottle. 
     Made out of a durable bag  5  that surrounds the articles of clothing. The bag has a compartment  7  where the heater will reside. Heat will circulate throughout the bag  5  and be released through vents  8  and  9 . The cord  4  will hang down from the heater  13  and plug into a wall outlet. When not in use the cord  4  fits into a designated pouch  14  next to the heat source  13 . The heater will have temperature settings  10 , with settings of low, medium, and high, and a red light  11  indicating when product is finished. The traveling machine has a rechargeable battery  15 , which enables the consumer, the ability to not have to use a cord  4 . A novelty to the invention is the timer, which controls a dwell period after the heating allowing a cool down period. The timer is located on the electrical circuit board  17 . 
     Embodiment #2 (A Version of the Personal Home dry Cleaning Machine) 
     As we can see in FIGS. 12 through 16. The machine  3  enables us to perform an apparatus for heating clothes. Place the machine in desired location and plug the cord  10  into a power outlet. Then place the clothes into  3  by lifting the lid  15  and hang the articles of clothing on the retaining bar  4 . Next, close the lid of the machine  15 . It may be desired to incorporate latches  11 , 12  to secure the machine. Once we have closed the machine we will choose the proper settings  5 . We will choose heat settings between high, medium, and low depending on material. Once we have choosen the proper setting we will have the option to choose a separate setting for steam  17 . The steam can be dispersed at a chosen level using the steam regulator  19 . The water level  7  will indicate the amount of water in the machine. The heat produced from the heat source will flow out of the air ducts  20  over the water pan  18  creating steam. The steam regulator  19  will allow different steam variances to be produced and released into the machine from a level of  1  being the lowest to a level of  5  being the highest. Once decision making is complete the on/off button  7  should be turned on. When pressing  7  a red light will appear  6 . Once this light  6  goes on the process is underway. The heat source  1  produces set amplitude of heat and forms a heat wave, which is dispersed through the air ducts  20 . This heat wave travels throughout the upper portion of the machine over a water pan  18 . Steam is then formed and released into the machine  1 . The heat waves released from the air ducts  20  circulate over the water pan  18  then are filtered through the steam regulator  19 . Upon exiting the steam regulator  19  steam is exerted across every inch of clothing as we can see in FIG.  15 . Heat then will be released out the vents  8 , 9  therefore idealizing the pressure. After the process is completed we can see that in FIG. 16 the items are rendered wrinkle free. The heater  1  will turn off and upon a cool-down period items may be extracted from the machine  3 . A novelty to the machine is a timer, which will control a dwell period after the heating allowing a cool down period which is located on the electronic circuit board  21 . 
     The machine  3  is made out of lightweight sturdy material. Enabling my product to be compact and fit in designated spaces. The lid of the machine  15  will flip open enabling the articles of clothing to be placed on the retaining bar  4  which will connect to both sides of the interior of the machine  5  and will be sturdy enough to hold several articles of clothing. It may be desired to incorporate latches  11 , 12  to close the lid which will be air tight using rubber moldings (such that of a dryer.) A knob for heat settings  5  will disperse set amplitudes of heat depending on fabric and material. There is a setting for steaming  17 , which produces a set amount of steam depending on articles of clothing. The air produced from the heat source  1  is carried over the water pan  18 , which in turn forms steam. The amount of steam will be regulated using the steam regulator  19 . An electric cord  10  will be connected to the Home machine. The heat will be generated and circulated around the articles of clothing then released out the vents  8 , 9 . A water gauge  16  is next to the setting knob  5  to indicate the amount of water in the machine for the steaming process, when the line on the water gauge, hits the low level it is time to add more water. The articles of clothing will be upright and upon a timely heat disbursement rendered wrinkle free. The cycle may complete before the light  6  goes off allowing a cool-down period to occur. Consumers should wait until light  6  is off to open machine. 
     Thus the reader can see that the machine provides a highly reliable, lightweight, yet economical device that can be used by persons of almost any age. While my above description contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of two preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example: 
     The size of the machine can be: 
     Changed in size (made smaller or larger) 
     Made of a different material 
     Made of a different shape 
     Made of a different color 
     The heater or heaters on the machine can be: 
     Located on the top/bottom/ back portion of the machine 
     May vary in size 
     May vary in temperature 
     The control panel/settings/steam/ can be: 
     Placed wherever is convenient to the controller 
     The electronic circuit board can be: 
     Placed wherever is convenient to the controller 
     The cord can be: 
     Located wherever is convenient to the controller 
     Have its own storage compartment when not in use. 
     The rechargeable battery can be: 
     Located wherever is convenient to the controller 
     The vents can be: 
     Located on the back/side/top/ or front of the machine.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3