Patent Abstract:
The present invention relates to a pressing machine to be used for pressing the upper portion of a pair of wrinkled pants. The pressing machine has the contour shape of the upper portion of a pair of pants. The shape of the pressing machine makes it easier for an operator to drape a pair of pants over the machine for pressing. The shape of the pressing machine allows pants of all sizes to be pressed. The pressing machine is operated manually by pressing on two foot pedals.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/001,044, having a filing date 10 Dec. 2007 and is to be issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,006,416 having an issue date of Aug. 30, 2011. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     These inventions relate to pants pressing machines, specifically to such pressing machines, which are used on the pants upper portion, pant legs and for creased pants. 
     The puffer machine available for pressing the upper portion of a pair of pants on the market place today is limited on pressing the waist area. The biggest drawback of the puffer machine is its size, it is a small sized puffer machine with a round shape, if a pair of pants are relatively large an operator has to spend more time moving the fabric around and adjusting the pants to fit over the puffer to remove wrinkles, wasting more time just on pressing the upper portion of a pair of pants. The pants still have to be brought to a second station, to complete pressing the waist. 
     A newer version of the upper puffer pressing machine is electrical and a high cost machine. Since the machine is operated automatically, a switch is pressed and a lot of steam releases from the machine, steam is wasted on pressing just a small area of the pants. 
     Another great drawback is the upper portion puffer pressing machine also removes the creases from the leg. For an operator it is difficult to spend time searching for the original crease, so as not to make a double crease. Time is wasted looking for the original crease. And still the operator must go to another station to finish pressing the upper portion of the pants. The pocket, back seam and the waist belt area have to be touched up with a hand held flat iron. So it&#39;s a two step operation, only to press the upper portion of a pair of pants completely. 
     Accordingly in order to press the upper portion of a pair of pants correctly, it is conventionally necessary to move to different stations and use several different pressing machines. This as it should be apparent in addition to making it a difficult and time consuming pressing operation, also requires a large space in a pressing shop. 
     On the market there are pants pressing machines, but there is no equipment that exists that focuses on pressing the inseams and out seams on the legs of a pair of pants. A general pressing machine is used when pressing a pair of pants. 
     The greatest problem when using a general pressing machine is when the pressing plate is brought down on the legs of the pants. The pressing plate makes contact with the inseams and out seams on the pants. Therefore, impressions of the inseams and out seams are left on the fabric of the pants. Pants are also left with shiny marks along the inseams and out seams on the pant fabric and the fabric is left looking dull. If a pair of pants are to be pressed without creases, an operator must press the pants with a hand held iron, making it time consuming and costly. 
     Prior pressing machines that are used for pressing all garments have been around for decades. An operator brings the pressing plate down on the pants 2 times per leg. Therefore the pressing plate is brought down on the pants a total of 4 times for the entire pants. 
     A new pant pressing machine on the market today has been designed to have a contour crotch shape on one end and a narrow shape on the other end. Allowing small size pants to be pressed but because of the small size it is more time consuming to press larger size pants. 
     One drawback of the pressing machine is the narrow end, if the bottom of a pair of pants are wide, the pressing plate has to be brought down 2 times per pant leg, making it a total of 4 times the pressing plate has to be brought down to press the entire pants. The finished pressed and creased pants turn out to be more time consuming and costly. 
     The greatest drawback is when the pressing plates are brought down on the pants, the seams on legs of the pants are left with impression marks and the fabric is left looking shiny. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other pressing device designed for pants. While these pressing devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they where designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     It is, therefore an object of the present invention in  FIG. 1B , to provide an improved pants pressing machine that can be used for pressing the upper portion of a pair of pants, this machine completes the pressing of the waist area. 
     It is another object, of the present invention because of its specific designed size and shape feature it will permit relatively small and large pants to be accommodated. Small and large pants will be pressed in the same amount of time. 
     Accordingly, the present invention due to its manual operation will provide a quick and economic method of pressing and completing the upper portion of the pants. 
     Yet another object of the present invention due to its manual mechanism, it will be a smaller pressing machine than prior automatic pressing machines, making the present invention a space savor in a small shop. 
     The operation construction, in particular is designed to connect to a hot heated steam boiler and vacuum duct. Operated manually which can easily be made and which moreover is very competitive from a mere economic stand point. 
     Accordingly the aim of the present invention in reference to  FIG. 2B , is to over come the above mentioned drawbacks. 
     The present invention has been specifically designed for pressing the inseams and out seams on the legs of a pair of pants. If the pants have a crease, the pressing machine will press the pants but it will not remove the creases. Hence, when pants do not need creases, the pressing of the pants are completed at this one pressing station. 
     The main object of the present invention is to provide a pants pressing machine that will leave no impression marks of the inseams and out seams on the fabric of the pants. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a pants pressing machine that presses relatively small and large pants. The rear side of the invention is 6 to 10 inches wide, the length is 32 to 37 inches and the hem side is 4 to 6 inches wide. The size and shape of the pressing machine will allow pants of all sizes to be pressed. 
     Due to the design of the present invention the seams are also pressed. No marks are left on the seams and if pants are lined, the lining will be pressed at the same time. 
     The object of the present invention in reference to  FIG. 3C , is to provide an improved pants pressing machine that will be used for pressing wrinkled and creased pants. 
     It is the primary object of this invention to provide a pants pressing machine that will not leave the inseams and out seams on a pair of pants with any impression marks or leave the fabric looking shiny. The invention has been designed with the top pressing plate to have an indention 1 to 5½ inches wide and 1 to 3 inches deep. An operator will align the pant leg seams with the indention. When the top pressing plate is brought down, the seams fit directly into the indention. The pressing plate will not hit the seams. The inseams and out seams are left untouched and unmark. Leaving the pants creased and well pressed. 
     The present invention has been specifically designed to have the top and bottom pressing plates to have a contour crotch shape. The contour crotch shape will make it easy for an operator to line up the pants for pressing. The other end of the top and bottom pressing plates are wide, the present invention may be used in any size situation where some pants are relatively small or relatively large. An operator pressing a large pair of pants will only need to bring the pressing top plate down 1 time per leg. To complete the pressing it will only take bringing the pressing plate down 2 times. Thus an operator will bring the pressing plate down fewer times and spend less time to complete pressing a pair of pants. The crotch side and the hem side are the same size. So if a pair of pants is wider at the leg, the pants will still be pressed bringing the pressing plate down only once on the pants. 
     Yet another object of the present invention solves the problem of the fabric being left flat and looking faded. The pants pressing machines top plate has an indention, the indention area does not release steam, so the inseams and out seams on the pants are never touched, therefore the fabric of the pants are left fluffy and in its original state. 
     The present invention provides a pants pressing machine which will make the job of an operator quicker and easier. The invention is a manually operated machine, thus making it an economically lower cost operating pants pressing machine. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a longitudinal framework pressing plate having a triangular shape with a transverse curvilinear surface. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a longitudinally tapered rectangular steam and vacuum framework pressing plate having a substantially co-planar top and bottom surface. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a longitudinal trough within the top plate preferably 1 to 5½ wide and 1 to 3 inches in depth so that when the top plate is moved into engagement with the bottom plate the seam will be with the trough thereby eliminating the seam having pressing marks thereon. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a laser projecting a line along the bottom plate as an alignment tool for the operator to place the seam of the pants leg thereover so that when the top plate having the longitudinal trough therein is moved into engagement with the bottom plate the seam will reside within said trough thereby eliminating and pressing marks on the pants leg seam. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing three pressing steam apparatuses wherein one of the steam apparatus is used in pressing an upper portion of a pants, another steam apparatus is used in pressing the legs of a pair of pants and the other steam apparatus is used to form a crease in the legs of the pants. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
       In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes. Further characteristics and advantages of the present inventions will become more apparent from the following detailed disclosure of the pants pressing machines to be used for pressing the upper portion, the legs and the creases of a pair of pants. 
         FIG. 1A  is a front view of the upper portion pressing machine, illustrating a plurality of tiny steam outlet holes. 
         FIG. 1B  is a further perspective rear view of the upper portion pressing machine, illustrating in particular the steam, drain and vacuum valve connections. 
         FIG. 2A  is a front side view of the pressing machine, illustrating the pants size range means for pressing the legs of a pair of pants. 
         FIG. 2B  is a further perspective rear view, illustrating the steam, vacuum connections and the manual foot pedals. 
         FIG. 3A  is a front side view of the creasing pants pressing machine, illustrating the opening and closing means on the pressing machine. 
         FIG. 3B  is a further perspective front view, illustrating the pressing plates and clearly showing the seam indention on the top pressing plate. 
         FIG. 3C  is a further perspective side rear view, illustrating the steam, drain and vacuum valves connections on the top and bottom pressing plates. 
         FIG. 3D  is a further perspective side rear view, illustrating the laser light alignment device for aligning a seam thereover. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Pants Pressing Machine of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures. 
       10  Pants Pressing Machine of the present invention 
       11  framework pressing plate 
       12  steam outlet holes 
       13  pin release 
       14  vacuum valve 
       15  drain valve 
       16  boiler valve 
       17  vacuum valve connection 
       18  wire spool 
       19  wheel 
       20  wheel 
       21  top base supporting structure 
       22  steam release valve 
       23  metal wired string 
       24  vertical side support base structure 
       25  wheel 
       26  wheel 
       27  cylinder 
       28  wheel 
       29  bottom base support structure 
       30  wheel 
       31  wheel 
       32  right foot pedal 
       33  left foot pedal 
       34  wheel 
       35  cylinder 
       36  metal wire string 
       37  steam pin release 
       41  steam outlet holes 
       42  framework pressing plate 
       43  wire spool 
       44  drain valve 
       45  boiler valve 
       46  vacuum valve 
       47  vacuum valve 
       48  pin release 
       49  wheel 
       50  side support base structure 
       51  metal wire string 
       52  wheel 
       53  wheel 
       54  cylinder 
       55  wheel 
       56  left foot pedal 
       57  right foot pedal 
       58  wheel 
       59  wheel 
       60  wheel 
       61  cylinder 
       62  metal wire string 
       63  wheel 
       64  steam pin release 
       65  top base support structure 
       66  steam valve 
       67  bottom base support structure 
       70  steam outlet holes 
       71  bottom framework pressing plate 
       72  back board 
       73  top framework pressing plate 
       74  longitudinal trough 
       75  steam outlet holes 
       76  open lever 
       77  steam release lever 
       78  close handle 
       79  top boiler valve connection 
       80  top drain valve connection 
       81  contour crotch shape 
       82  contour crotch shape 
       83  drain valve 
       84  boiler valve 
       85  vacuum valve connection 
       86  vacuum valve 
       87  vacuum pin release 
       88  metal wire string 
       89  wheel 
       90  left foot pedal 
       91  middle foot pedal 
       92  right foot pedal 
       93  bottom base support structure 
       94  table structure 
       95  laser device 
       96  laser generated alignment line 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
     One embodiment of the pressing machines rear view is illustrated in  FIG. 1B . The framework pressing plate  11  has a plurality of tiny steam outlet holes  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the rear of the framework pressing plate  11  consists of having several valve connections and two release pins. 
     Starting from the left side of the embodiment is the first connection, a drain valve  15 . The drain valve  15  connects to a drain pipe. The second valve is a boiler valve  16 ; the boiler valve  16  connects to a boiler. There is also a vacuum valve  14 , one end of the vacuum valve  14  has a vacuum valve connection  17  and the other end of the vacuum valve  14  has a pin release  13  that pulls the vacuum valve  14 . To the far right of the framework pressing plate  11  are the steam release valve  22  and the steam pin releaser  37 . 
     The framework pressing plate  11  connects to the top support base structure  21 . The top support base structure  21  has a wire spool  18 . Toward the edge of the top base support structure  21  are two wheels, wheel  19  and wheel  20 . The top base supporting structure  21  has a vertical side support base structure  24 . The vertical side support base structure  24  towards the far right near the bottom has two wheels, wheel  25  and wheel  26 . Directly underneath wheel  25  and wheel  26  are two holes. Metal wired string  23  and metal wired string  36  which will be passing through the two holes. Holding the vertical side supporting base structure  24  is the bottom base support structure  29 . 
     The bottom base support structure  29  has two cylinders. The cylinder  35  to the left has two wheels, wheel  34  and wheel  31 . Cylinder  27  to the right has two wheels, wheel  28  and wheel  30 . Attached to wheel  31  by a metal wired string  23  is left manual foot pedal  33 . Attached to wheel  30  by a metal wired string  36  is the right manually operated foot pedal  32 . 
     The manner of using the upper portion pressing machine is as such one, one places the waist side of a pair of pants draped over the framework pressing plate  11 . Due to the specifically designed size and shape of the framework pressing plate  11  relatively small and relatively large pants may be placed easily and pressed. The drain valve  15  is connected to a drain pipe; the boiler valve  16  is connected to the boiler. The vacuum valve  17  is connected to a vacuum. 
     The upper portion pants pressing machine is operated manually, one steps on the left foot pedal  33 . When the left foot pedal  33  is stepped on, it pulls the metal wire string  36 . The metal wire string runs through four wheels, wheel  31 , wheel  34 , wheel  26  and wheel  20 . The metal wired string  36  pulls the steam pin release  37  which opens the steam valve  22 , which opens a plurality of tiny steam outlets holes  12 . Steam leaves the framework pressing plate  11  through the plurality of tiny steam outlet holes  12  through the fabric of the pants. 
     One then steps on the right foot pedal  32 , when the right foot pedal  32  is stepped on; it pulls the metal wire string  23 . The metal wired string  23  runs through four wheels, wheel  30 , wheel  28 , wheel  25  and wheel  19 . The metal wired string  23  pulls the vacuum pin release  13 , which opens the vacuum valve  14 . The vacuum valve  14  pulls the steam through the tiny steam outlet holes  12  and pulls the air through the pants, cooling down the fabric. Thus leaving the upper portion of a pair of pants pressed, if pleats are needed a hand held flat iron may be applied. 
     One embodiment of the leg pressing machine is illustrated in  FIG. 2B . The long framework pressing plate  42  rear side is wide and narrow on the end of the framework pressing plate  42 . The framework pressing plate  42  has a plurality of tiny steam outlet holes  41  all over the framework pressing plate  42 . On the rear view of the embodiment of the framework pressing plate  42  are the valve connections and the pin releases. 
     Starting from the left side of the embodiment is the first connection, a drain valve  44 . The drain valve  44  connects to a drain pipe. The second valve is a boiler valve  45 , the boiler valve  45  connects to a boiler. There is also a vacuum valve  47 , one end of the vacuum valve  47  has a vacuum valve connection  46  and the other end of the vacuum valve  47  has a pin release  48 . To the far right of the framework pressing plate  42  is the steam release valve  66  and on the end of the steam release valve  66  is the steam pin releaser  64 . 
     The framework pressing plate  42  connects to the top support base structure  65 . The top support base structure  65  has a wire spool  43 . Toward the right edge of the top base support structure  65  are two wheels, wheel  49  and wheel  63 . 
     The top base supporting structure  65  has a vertical side support base structure  50 . The vertical side support base structure  50  has two wheels near the bottom on the right side, wheel  52  and wheel  53 . Directly underneath wheel  52  and wheel  53  are two holes. Metal wired string  51  and metal wired string  62  both which run through the two holes when pulled. Holding the vertical side supporting base structure  50  is the bottom base support structure  67 . 
     The bottom base support structure  67  has two cylinders. The cylinder  54  to the left has two wheels, wheel  55  and wheel  58 . Cylinder  61  to the right has two wheels, wheel  60  and wheel  59 . Attached to wheel  58  by a metal wired string  62  is left manual foot pedal  56 . Attached to wheel  59  by a metal wired string  51  is right manual foot pedal  57 . 
     The manner of using the leg presser as shown in  FIG. 2B  is as such one places one leg of a pair of pants through the framework pressing plate  42 . Due to the specifically designed size and length of the framework pressing plate  42  relatively small and relatively large pants may be easily draped on the framework pressing plate  42  and pressed. 
     The drain valve  44  is connected to a drain pipe, the boiler valve  45  is connected to the boiler. The vacuum valve  46  is connected to a vacuum duct. One steps on the left foot pedal  56 . When the left foot pedal  56  is stepped on, it pulls the metal wire string  62 . The metal wire string  62  runs through four wheels, wheel  58 , wheel  55 , wheel  53  and wheel  63 . The metal wired string  62  pulls the steam pin release  64  which opens the steam valve  66  which opens the plurality of tiny steam outlet holes  41 . Steam leaves the framework pressing plate  42  through the plurality of tiny steam outlet holes  41  through the fabric of the pants, removing the wrinkles. 
     One then steps on the right foot pedal  57 , when the right foot pedal  57  is stepped on, it pulls the attached metal wire string  51 . The metal wired string  51  runs through four wheels, wheel  59 , wheel  60 , wheel  52  and wheel  49 . The metal wired string  51  pulls the vacuum pin release  48 , which opens the vacuum valve  47 . The vacuum valve  47  pulls the air through the plurality tiny steam outlet holes  41  and pulls the air through the pant leg, cooling down the fabric, leaving the pant leg pressed. If pants need to be creased a pants creasing pressing machine may be used. 
     One embodiment of the pants pressing machine a side view is illustrated in  FIG. 3C . The pants pressing machine has two framework pressing plates. The top framework pressing plate  73  has a plurality of tiny steam outlet holes  75 . The top framework pressing plate also has a longitudinal trough  74  preferably 1 to 5½ inches wide and 1 to 3 inches deep without the aforementioned steam out holes. On the top framework pressing plate  73  towards the middle is a close handle  78 . Next to the close handle  78  are two levers. To the left is the steam release lever  77 , to the right is the open lever  76 . To the far left on the top framework pressing plate  73  are two valve connections. The top drain valve connection  80  and the top boiler valve connection  79 . The left side of the top framework pressing plate  73  has a contour crotch shape  81 . 
     The top framework pressing plate  73  is supported by a table structure  94 . On top of the table structure  94  is the bottom framework pressing plate  71 . The bottom framework pressing plate  71  also has a plurality of tiny steam outlet holes  70 . The far left of the bottom framework pressing plate  71  also has a contour crotch shape  82 . Behind the bottom framework pressing plate  71  is a back board  72 . 
     The table structure  94  is supported by the bottom base support structure  93 . To the side of the bottom support base structure  93  has three valves used for the bottom framework plate  71 . To the far left by the bottom framework pressing plate  71  is the first valve, the drain valve  83 . The second valve is the bottom framework pressing plate  71  boiler valve  84 . The third valve is the bottom framework pressing plate  71  vacuum valve  86 , the vacuum valve  86  has a vacuum valve connection  85 . On the other end of the vacuum valve  86  is the vacuum pin release  87 . To the far right is a wheel  89 , the wheel  89  has a metal wire string  88 , that attaches to the vacuum pin release  87 . Near the front bottom base support structure  93  are three foot pedals. The left foot pedal  90 , the middle and bigger manual foot pedal  91  and the right manual foot pedal  92 . 
     The manner of using the pants pressing machine as shown in  FIG. 3C  is as such. The pant leg is placed on the bottom framework pressing plate  71 . The crotch side of the pant leg is aligned with the contour crotch shape  82 . The seam of the pant leg is aligned with the indention  74  of the top framework pressing plate  73 . 
     To close the framework pressing plate  73  an operator must step on the close pedal  91  and bring down the close handle  78  at the same time. An operator then presses the steam release lever  77 . Steam releases through the top framework pressing plate  73 , via the plurality of tiny steam outlet holes  75  through the pant leg fabric removing wrinkles. One then steps on the left foot pedal  90 . When the left foot pedal  90  is stepped on it pulls the metal wire string  88 . The metal wired string  88  runs through wheel  89 , which is on the side of the bottom base support structure  93 . The metal wired string  88  pulls the vacuum pin release  87 , which then opens the vacuum valve  86 . The vacuum valve  86  opens the plurality of tiny steam outlet holes  75  on the top framework pressing plate  73  and it also opens the plurality of tiny steam outlet holes  70  on the bottom framework pressing plate  71 . 
     The vacuum  86  pulls the air from the top framework structure  73  and the bottom framework structure  71  through the pant leg and cools the fabric down. One then presses the open lever  76  down to open the pressing machine. 
     The pant leg is left well pressed and due to the indention  74  on the top framework pressing plate  73 . The seams on the pant leg are left unmarked and no impressions are left. 
     When a different garment is being pressed and extra steam is needed one would step on the right foot pedal  92 . When stepping on the right foot pedal  92 , steam is released into the bottom framework pressing plate  71  via the plurality tiny steam outlet holes  70 . The steam leaver  77  is pressed at the same time allowing steam to enter the top framework pressing plate  73  via the tiny steam out let holes  75  into the garment. Leaving a garment fluffy and steam pressed. 
     The manner of using the pants pressing machine as shown in  FIG. 3D  provides for the user of a laser  94  generating a seam alignment light  95  as a guide so that when the pants leg is placed is placed is placed on the bottom framework pressing plate  71  with the crotch side of the pant leg is aligned with the contour crotch shape  82 . The seam of the pant leg is placed over the alignment light and therefore in alignment with the longitudinal trough  74  of the top framework pressing plate  73  thereby eliminating any pressing marks on the pant seam. The rest of the pressing sequences is the same as described in  FIG. 3C .

Technology Classification (CPC): 3