Abstract:
The invention concerns an ironing accessory and an ironing method. The ironing accessory comprises a roughly V-shaped insert for a pants leg. The ironing accessory is further comprised of an area that serves as a handle, is enabled for theft-deterrence, and has a visual guide for alignment with the pants seam or the middle of the pants leg. The front and back of the device is disposed for promotional, advertising or identification information. The methods are for ironing pants using the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to an device for ironing garments, namely the legs of trousers, pants, shorts and the like, and to iron methods using the present invention. Additionally, the present invention relates to advertising and promotional items.  
         [0002]     Traditionally, there have been large, small and miniature ironing boards. Items, such as khaki pants worn in the military, are generally ironed on these types of boards by placing said khaki pants either on the top of the ironing board or inserting the smaller end of the ironing board into the waist of the khaki pants. When it is desired to efficiently and effectively create a crisp crease in said khaki pants, novice users of traditional ironing boards are frustrated in their attempts. It is only after considerable trial and error that an experienced user of traditional ironing boards perfects his/her technique for creating crisp creases quickly and with minimal effort  
         [0003]     Since the result of this traditional method is frustration and unacceptable creases, the need exists for a device that can be used to quickly and accurately iron pants while creating acceptable creases. Additionally the need exists for a versatile device that can accelerate the ironing of pants with the option of having no creases. Also, the need exists for a device that can be used for advertising and promotional purposes.  
         [0004]     Previous attempts to provide for creating creases in articles of clothing such as pants include the following. U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,235, issued to Chanek, teaches a garment creaser which may be used both to apply new creases to an item of clothing and to freshen preexisting creases. It consists of a wide blade fabricated from metal or a similarly rigid and heat-resistant material with a very slender thickness, and a plurality of semi-circular clips which fit closely over the edges of the blade. An item of clothing is creased therewith by folding it over one of the longitudinal edges of the blade, clipping it in place, and ironing over the edge of the blade. One of the longitudinal edges is equipped with a measuring scale which enables precise measurement of the length of the creases, as well as of their placement relative to other features on the item of clothing. Pat. No. 562,276, issued to Boyd, teaches a trousers-creaser made of a board or plate that passes in between the legs of the trousers and a board or plate at each outer side of the trousers and sprint-clamps for pressing the boards or plates toward the center board or plate, thereby smoothing the trousers and forming or maintaining the creases at the front and back of such trousers. The commercially available Corby® Pants Presser devices are examples of high-end mechanical solutions to the pressing of pants.  
         [0005]     While these patents and other previous methods have attempted to solve the problem of efficiently and effectively ironing pants with crisp creases, none have employed an insertable device with a handle, a visible guide for aligning with the pants leg seam, and that is disposed for advertising or promotional purposes. Additionally, prior inventions such as the Corby® Pants Presser, do not allow for the rapid ironing of multiple pants.  
         [0006]     Therefore, a need exists for an improved, versatile ironing accessory that can decrease the time for ironing of pants.  
         [0007]     The foregoing patent and other information reflect the state of the art of which the inventor is aware and are tendered with a view toward discharging the inventor&#39;s acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be pertinent to the patentability of the present invention. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that the foregoing patent and other information do not teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, the inventor&#39;s claimed invention.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new device and methods for effectively and efficiently ironing pants, and the like, while also providing a platform for promotional purposes. The present invention is intended to be used when pants are to be ironed manually, at a residence, a lodging establishment, such as a hotel/motel, and the like.  
         [0009]     One objective of the present invention is to provide a device that can be used in the ironing process that decreases the time required to correctly iron pants and the like.  
         [0010]     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a device that can be used in the ironing process that is inexpensive.  
         [0011]     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a device that can be used in the ironing process that is easy to use.  
         [0012]     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a device that can be used in the ironing process that can be reused many times.  
         [0013]     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a device that can be used in the ironing process that is enabled for convenient storage.  
         [0014]     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a device that can be used in the ironing process that is disposed for displaying promotional or other identification type of information.  
         [0015]     Another object of this invention is to provide a device that can be used in the ironing process which uses simple materials and components.  
         [0016]     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method for the ironing of pants and the like that takes the guesswork out of creating creases correctly.  
         [0017]     Another objective of the present invention is to provide for securing the invention to an ironing board or other object.  
         [0018]     The basis for the present invention is centered on a generally V-shaped part suitable for insertion into the leg of a pair of pants, having an area available for advertising, decoration or promotion on the front and back, and that is operable for the ironing of pants and the like.  
         [0019]     The present invention is comprised of a roughly V-shaped part made of a material that can be used in the ironing of pants and the like. This V-shaped part can be made in a variety of sizes, such as, but not limited to, small, medium and large. The present invention is further comprised of an oblong hole near the top of the invention that can serve as a handle for insertion and removal of the invention into and out of a pants leg. The present invention is further comprised of a visible marking on the front side of the invention that is centered vertically on the invention and extends the entire length of the front side of the invention. The thickness of the present invention is between 1/32th inch and ⅛ th  inch. The present invention is further comprised of a foldable area that is located at the mid-point of the invention and extends horizontally the entire width of that portion of the invention. The present invention is further comprised of a roughly circular hole in the upper left corner of the front of the invention. The present invention is further comprised of a securing attachment that engages this circular hole and is enabled for securing the invention to an ironing board or other suitable object. The present invention can be made in different colors, with different patterns and with promotional, advertising or identification information on the front side, the back side, or both sides.  
         [0020]     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0021]     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0022]     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.  
         [0023]     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0024]     Other advantages and features of the invention are described with reference to exemplary embodiments, which are intended to explain and not to limit the invention, and are illustrated in the drawings in which:  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a back view of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]     Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.  
         [0028]     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is comprised of the following. The ironing accessory,  010 , has a top side,  080 , a bottom side,  090 , a left side,  100 , a right side,  110 , a front side,  120  and a back side,  130 , with the front side,  120  and the back side,  130 , being roughly co-planar with each other. The ironing accessory,  010 , is made of a material that is suitable for the manual ironing of pants, such as, but not limited to heat resistant plastic. The ironing accessory,  010 , is further comprised of a hand-hold area,  020 , which is a roughly oblong hole positioned close to the top center of the ironing accessory,  010 . The shape of the hand-hole area,  020 , can vary and may have depressions that correspond to the fingers of a person&#39;s hand, or the exposed edges of the hand-hold area,  020 , may be covered with an additional substance or material. The ironing accessory,  010 , is further comprised of a seam guide,  030 , that is vertically positioned in the center of the front side,  120 , of the ironing accessory,  010  and extends from the top side,  080 , to the bottom side,  090  of the ironing accessory,  010 . The alignment marking can be a dashed line, a solid line, a series of symbols or patterns, or other suitable markings. The ironing accessory is further comprised of a folding area,  140 , that is positioned roughly half way between the top side,  080  and the bottom side,  090 , and extends horizontally from the left side,  100 , to the right side,  110 , and is enabled for folding such that the ironing accessory,  010 , can be folded for convenient storage or placement into a suitcase. The ironing accessory is further comprised of a security hole,  040 , that is positioned near the top left corner of the ironing accessory,  010 . The ironing accessory is further comprised of a security line,  050 , that goes through the security hole,  040 , wherein the security line,  050  has a top theft-resistant attaching means,  060 , and a bottom theft-resistant attaching means,  070 . Said security line can be a lanyard attachment made of a durable nylon cord, with zip-tie style connectors.  
         [0029]     The preferred embodiment of the invention is made as follows. A roughly V-shaped form is fashioned out of a suitable material, such as flexible, heat-resistant plastic. The top side,  080 , is approximately 16 inches long, the bottom side is approximately 8 inches long, the left side,  100 , and the right side,  110 , are approximately 48 inches long. The top of the hand-hold area,  020 , is approximately 1 inch from the center of the top side,  080 . The size of the hand-hold area,  020 , is roughly 2 inches in height and 4 inches in length. The size of the security hole,  040 , is roughly ½ inch in diameter. The seam guide,  030 , for the preferred embodiment is a dotted line that goes from the center of the top side,  080 , vertically to the center of the bottom side,  090 , and is preferably placed on the front side,  120 , of the ironing accessory,  010 , by the mold creating the form. The thickness of the ironing accessory material is preferably 1/16 th  inch and the material is flexible enough that the ironing accessory can be folded with the bottom side,  090 , touching the top side,  080 , for storage or placement within a suitcase for traveling.  
         [0030]     The preferred method of using the invention for ironing and creasing pants is comprised of the following steps. 
        1. Lay the pants, trousers, or shorts on an ironing board or any flat surface.     2. Grab the invention in one hand by the hand-hold area,  020 , and the waist of the pants in the other hand.     3. Align the outside seam of the pants with the dotted seam guide,  030 .     4. Slide the invention down the pants leg until the pants leg becomes taunt. (This automatically aligns the edges of the invention with the creases in the pants).     5. Iron both sides of the pant leg. (The individual has the choice of whether or not to use starch).     6. Once the leg is sufficiently ironed, grab the invention in one hand by the hand-hold area,  020 , and pull it out of the pants leg.        
 
         [0037]     The preferred method of using the invention for ironing and not creasing pants is comprised of the following steps. 
        1. Lay the pants, trousers, or shorts on an ironing board or any flat surface.     2. Grab the invention in one hand by the hand-hold area,  020 , and the waist of the pants in the other hand.     3. Align the outside seam of the pants with the left side,  100 , of the invention. (The dotted seam guide,  030 , will be aligned with the center of the pants leg).     4. Slide the invention down the pants leg until the pants leg becomes taunt. (This automatically aligns the edges of the invention with the creases in the pants).     5. Iron both sides of the pant leg. (The individual has the choice of whether or not to use starch).     6. Once the leg is sufficiently ironed, grab the invention in one hand by the hand-hold area,  020 , and pull it out of the pants leg.