Currently, devices for ironing or pressing shirts with an inflatable bag are known. The shirt is drawn over the bag, the bag consists of a steam permeable material, steam is allowed to enter into the bag, the bag is thereby inflated and the steam penetrates the material of the bag and thereby, the shirt. Since the bag is inflatable, during the introduction of steam into the bag, the bag stretches and thereby stretches the shirt on the bag.

This device is not suitable for ironing, for example, T-shirts or polo shirts. T-shirts and polo shirts are made of knitwear which is not particularly. stretch resistant and would therefore lose quality and form. Also known from the state of the art are devices which are used for ironing T-shirts and polo shirts on which the shirts are placed and ironed with a separate ironing device, preferably attached to a steam supply.

Therefore, the steam only touches the surface of the material and does not penetrate the material. Furthermore this device is labour intensive. it is an objective of the current invention to deliver a low cost, non labour-intensive, high quality device, which is adjustable to the size of the shirt to be ironed.

This objective is achieved by the invention according to the preamble of Claim 1, in that the frame comprises a flat middle part and at least one lateral moveable and adjustable blade.

The flat middle part of the frame over which the shirt is drawn, and the blades touch the shirt from the inside. The blades touch the shirt from opposite sides of the shirt.

Therefore a crease can be generated on both sides of the shirt, which is desired. The shirt is not stretched since the blades are adjustable to the shirt and blades and frame are not ductile. Therefore, the steam can penetrate the shirt in its pre-defined position and irons or presses the shirt without stretching the material. Since the shirt can be easily drawn over the apparatus and the shirt is quickly steamed, less operating time is required. Since the construction of the apparatus is very simple and cost efficient, high prime costs can be avoided.

Due to the blades a crease is generated. The ironed shirt then has the favourable appearance of a hand-ironed shirt and is easy to pack.

Preferred embodiments according to the sub-claims are claimed to be protected.

If at least two blades are mainly askew to a longitudinal axis of the shirt, adjustably attached to each side of the middle part of the frame, it is possible to adjust the shirt on the frame symmetrically. Therefore, the distribution of steam in the shirt is symmetrical and even results are achieved.

To adjust the shirt perfectly in the torso and the collar area, it is advantageous to construct the apparatus in a manner where at least four blades adjustable to the size of the shirt are attached to the middle part of the frame, whereby respectively two blades consist of collar form blades applied to the collar area of the shirt on both sides and two blades consist of centre form blades applied to the torso section of the shirt.

When at least one plate has a sharp edge on the side facing the shirt, a smooth result is achieved on the T-shirt or polo shirt. Following the treatment with the apparatus, the shirt has the finish of a shirt which was ironed with a hot iron. The sharp edge does not cut the material of the shirt.

In order to make speedy adjustments to the apparatus possible for the different shirt sizes, it is advantageous to shape the apparatus in such a form that the two centre form blades are simultaneously movable, preferably on guide rails.

Advantageously, unwanted creases in the shirt are avoidable if the guide rails are parallel to an upper shoulder edge of the shirt, preferably inclined 14° to a lower shirt hem edge. Since the centre form blades are moved along a line parallel to the upper shoulder edge of the shirt, preferably 14°, no creases result in the shoulder area of the shirt and easy adjustability is not impaired.

If the apparatus comprises a clamp construction to fix the lower shirt hem edge at a pre-defined place relative to a longitudinal axis of the frame, the lower shirt hem edge can be closely attached to the frame and therefore no flutter of the shirt is the result during the ironing operation. High quality ironing or pressing results are achieved.

In order to render the work easier for the operator, when the apparatus is adjusted to different shirt sizes, it is advantageous if the clamp construction is movable along at least one adjustment marks comprising rail and being on both sides of the frame.

Hereby it is possible to clamp the shirt to the frame, even if the shirt differs in size from the preceding shirt. When adjustment marks exist on the leading rail, along which the clamp construction is movable, it is easy for the operator to assess the position to which the clamp construction has to be moved, without stretching the shirt. The signs XXL, XL, L, M, S or XS, for example, can be marked on the leading rail.

If the clamp construction comprises at least two fixation bars to clamp the lower shirt hem edge and the fixation bars stretch across at least the entire width of the shirt on both sides of the frame and are pivotable and lockable in a certain position, fixation of the lower shirt hem edge can be quickly and easily conducted. A clamp construction with so-defined fixation bars is also very reliable.

In order to easily iron the cuffs of the shirt, precisely the sleeves of the shirt, it is preferred that the apparatus contains one cuff holder for positioning of every shirt cuff, thereby the cuff holder is moveable, attached to cuff arms and preferably two cuff holders are provided. Therefore, the cuff arms can be precisely positioned and easily steam ironed. Creases are therewith avoided.

If the cuff holders have an upper and a lower section, both being engagingly movable in a shirt cuff and lockable on the adjustment marks comprising cuff arms, the cuff holders can be easily and quickly positioned as the operator can clearly locate the mark to which the cuff holder has to be moved.

If, according to the size of the shirt, the cuffs vary in position in relation to the frame, it is advantageous to shape the apparatus in a manner whereby the cuff arms are pin- jointed with the lower end of the frame in such a way that a rotation of the cuff arms in a parallel plane through the edges of the centre form blades is achieved.

To further simplify and speed up the loading of the shirt onto the frame, it is advantageous that in the area of the frame abutting the collar of the shirt, preferably above the frame, a collar area guide ring with a greater diameter than the collar is provided to simplify the loading of the collar of the frame abutting the collar.

In order to simplify the handling of the shirt prior to loading the shirt over the frame, it is advantageous if the apparatus comprises orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the frame and preferably above the area of the frame abutting the collar, a loading bar whereon the shirt is placed during and/or before the loading operation of the shirt onto the frame. With such a loading bar, the operator may place the shirt on the loading bar and easily draw the shirt onto the frame.

Should the middle part of the frame comprise of two perforated plates, whereby one plate abuts the front of the shirt and the other plate abuts the back of the shirt in a large area, the steam can be easily passed over the front and back of the shirt.

Thereby, high quality results are achieved.

The blades, adjustable to the size of the shirt, can be easily guided from a starting position to an end position if at least one blade is guided between the plates.

If at least one blade and one plate are covered by the steam permeable cloth, condensation fluid on the metal surface of the blades or frame is avoided at the beginning of a work cycle.

If the frame is mainly erect on a base comprising a steam regulation unit, a physical effect of the rising steam, following ejection of the steam supply, can be used to achieve high quality results. By using a steam regulation unit, the amount of steam to be applied to the shirt, depending on the material and the thickness of the shirt, is easily achieved.

A cost effective construction to evenly distribute the steam through the shirt is thereby achieved if the steam supply ends between the blades and the steam is uniformly distributable through the diverse openings in the steam supply.

If in the area of the frame abutting the collar, a rear collar support plate is positioned, it is possible for the operator to quickly and easily iron the reverse of the collar of the shirt.

If a split between the eatable blades allows steam to reach the edges of the blades and the shirt, the blades are heated through the steam, steam is led to the edges and therefore crease can be generated. Creases are generally not desired, particularly in the shoulder area of the shirt. A crease on either side of the shirt is, however, desired.

It is further a method for generating a crease, whereby a shirt is positioned on a loading bar, characterised by pulling the shirt over a collar area guide ring on a flat frame, moveable blades with sharp edges abut the shirt from the inside and steam is led through the inside of the shirt through the material of the shirt.

With such a method, low costs and high quality of ironing are achieved.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the above invention are explained together with drawings.

In Figure 1, a front view of the apparatus with a frame with blades, a clamp construction and cuff holders is shown.

In Figure 2, a side view of the apparatus indicated in Figure 1 is shown.

In Figure 3, a top view of the apparatus indicated in Figures 1 and 2 is shown.

In Figure 1, a frame (1) has a flat middle part (2). In this embodiment, flat means less than half of the shirt width. The apparatus comprises four blades (3). The four blades (3) consist of two centre-form-blades (4) and two collar form blades (5). The centre- form-blades (4) are movable and adjustable to the short width. The collar form blades are also adjustable and movable according to the shirt width. The middle part (2) of the frame (1) comprises two perforated plates (14). The middle part (2) includes a steam heating and spray circuit. The middle part (2) is constructed to the minimum width possible just allowing enough internal chamber area to fit a steam heating and steam spray system. Air blowing is also directed through the chamber to pass air through the complete body of the shirt to dry and cool it. The frame (1) is constructed in this manner to give the pressed garment a flat look after unloading from the apparatus, thus simulating the finish from an ironing table. The steam system is located in the centre of the slim-line frame (1) to allow maximum adjustment for the side blades. Due to the method of construction and adjustment of the centre-form and collar-form blades, the forming area offers a completely solid surface for hand- finishing areas such as pockets and front straps through the complete size range of the frame (1).

Those plates (14) are attached to each other in such a way that the centre-form- blades (4) can be moved between them. Between the centre-form-blades (4) and the plates (14) of the middle part (2) and the frame (1), a small gap exists through which steam can pass. Steam is led by a steam supply (13), which is attached to the inside area between the two plates (14). The steam supply (13) has diverse openings through which steam can evaporate.

The collar form blades (5) are attached to the middle part (2) of the frame (1) and can be moved along a line parallel to the shoulder part of the shirt. Preferably collar form blades (5) can be moved along a line inclined 14° out of a horizontal plane. The frame is fixed on a base unit. The longitudinal axis of the frame is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shirt. Attached to the frame (1) is a collar area guide ring (7) and a loading bar (6). The loading bar (6) comprises a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the frame.

The loading bar (6) allows the garment to be loaded onto the frame (1) with the side seams correctly positioned at the rear of the side blades. The loading bar (6) also offers support to the garment during the loading operation, allowing the hem clamping process to be carried out near the top of the centre form, thus eliminating the need for tall operators to have to bend down during the clamping operation.

The collar area guide ring (7) is fixed to the frame (1) and has a diameter bigger than the biggest shirt collar area. The collar area guide ring (7) offers a smooth guide to the garment during the loading operation, if the loading bar (6) is not utilised (used on simple straight hem garments).

During the loading operation, the shirt is placed on the loading bar, then drawn over the collar area guide and the frame (1). Therefore, there is no damage to the shirt during the loading operation since the material is not cut by the blades. The blades (3), especially the centre-form-blades (4) and the collar form blades (5) have sharp edges. The edges are sharp in the entire area where the edges are in contact with the shirt.

The centre-form-blades (4) are moveable along guide rails (16). The guide rails (16) are parallel to the upper shoulder edge of the shirt. They should, preferably, be inclined 14° to a horizontal plane. The centre-form-blades (4) are used to adjust the width of the frame (1) to suit the size of shirts being finished. The thin blades (3) offer a guide for positioning the garment side seams and are constructed with knife edges to form a folding crease down each side of the garment during the finishing process, thus simulating an ironing process. The blades (3) are adjusted manually and independently on the guide rails (16) which are set at the same angle as the shoulder line to retain the correct shoulder line on all sizes of garment. The blades (3) are heated by convection from a centre-form steam system, especially the steam supply (13), located in the central area of the frame (1).

The apparatus further comprises a clamp construction (8). The clamp construction (8) is guided at each end and is capable of moving up or down the middle part (2). A counter-balance system allows the clamp to be positioned at any height. Adjustable positioning stops on the guide rails (16) determine the maximum length the garment can be stretched to for sizing. The clamp construction (8) comprises two fixation bars (10). The two fixation bars (10), longer than the width of the shirts to be ironed, are positioned on two sides of the middle part (2) of the frame (1). The fixation bars can be clamped and fixed to the middle part (2) of the frame (1), especially to the blades (14). Further, they are movable along two leading rails (9). Leading rails (9) are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shirt and the longitudinal axis of the frame. The leading rails (9) have markings through which the operator easily sees where to move the rail (2).

Further, the apparatus comprises cuff holders (11) on both sides of the longitudinal axis positioned on cuff arms (12). Therefore two cuff arms are pin-jointed to the frame (1). Cuff holders (11) are positioned on the cuff arms (12). The cuff holders (11) can be moved along the cuff arm (12). The cuff holder (11) has two parts. One part is inserted into the cuff of the shirt at the upper end and the other is inserted into the same cuff of the shirt at the lower end. The shirt, especially a T-shirt or a polo shirt can be aligned without creases.

A steam regulation unit is included in the base unit through which the amount of steam entering the frame can be regulated. Therefore the quality parameters of the steam can be varied.

In the lower part of each centre-form-blade (4), a holding element (19) is attached to the blade. The holding element (19) is slidably connected to one of the guide rails (16). It therefore leads the centre-form-blade (4) along the guide rail (16). The movement can be stopped by a clamp screw (20) augmenting the friction between the guide rail (16) and the holding element (19) to a point where their positions are fixed to each other.

In Figure 2, a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1 is shown. The frame (1) with a middle part (2) and the blades (3) are clearly identified. It can be seen that the centre- form-blades (4) are positioned between the middle part (2) of the frame (1), especially between the plates (14). Those perforated plates (14) leave a small gap between the centre-form-blades (4) and the plates (14) through which steam can exit. The apparatus further comprises a collar support plate (17) with which the reverse of the collar is pressed.

The cuff arms (12) and the cuff holders (11) on either side of the middle part (2) of the frame (1) are only partially shown.

In Figure 3, a top view of the apparatus is shown. The loading bar (6) can be clearly identified. It can also be seen that the collar form blades (5) are movable within the middle part (2) of the frame (1).

The hot steam exits the steam supply at diverse places. The steam follows the darts, as shown in Figure 3. The steam either penetrates the perforated plates (14) or exits the cavity between the two plates (19) through either gap between gap (19) through either gap between one plate (19) and the blades (3). The steam reaches the sharp edges of the blades (3) and finally also penetrates the shirt in this area, producing a desired crease along either side of the shirt so that the shirt has the appearance of a manually ironed shirt. The shirt can then be easily folded.

The T-shirt or polo shirt is placed over the loading bar (6). The T-shirt is pulled over the collar area guide ring in the middle part (2) of the frame (1). The collar area guide ring and the middle part (2) of the frame (1), the centre-form-blades (4) and the collar form blades (5) have been adapted to the size of the shirt and the size of the collar prior to the loading operation or following the loading operation. The shirt is not stretched, however, the blades (3) are moved so far outside of the middle part (2) of frame (1) that the T-shirt is close to the middle part (2) or the blades (3), thereby most creases are avoided. The cuff holder (11) is inserted into one sleeve of the shirt. The other cuff holder (11) is inserted into the other sleeve. They can be moved on the cuff arm (12). The cuff arm (12) is moved in an outside or an inside direction towards or away from the middle part (2) of the frame (1) in such a way that creases do not exist in the cuffs.

The clamp construction (8) is moved to the lower edge of the shirt along the leading rails (9). The fixation bars (10) of the clamp construction (8) are then clapped towards the shirt and towards the middle part (2) of the frame (1). The clamp construction (8) is then moved towards the base unit (15) of the apparatus, not stretching the T-shirt but aligning the T-shirt with the frame (1). The base unit (15) includes a blower or a fan for blowing and/or sucking air through the shirt.