DESCRIPTION:

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a device for drying and removing wrinkles from clothing comprising:

- an inflatable body with:

a body part provided with an inlet opening and two shoulder parts, and two limb parts fastened at the shoulder parts to the body part, the inner spaces of which communicate at the shoulder parts to the inner space of the body part, and

- air outflow holes near the ends of the limb parts and the bottom of the body part,

a suspension element from which the inflatable body is suspended and which is provided with:

a hollow coupling piece connected at the inlet opening to the inflatable body for coupling an air blower to the device for removing wrinkles from clothing for blowing air into the inflatable body, and

two elongated hollow air guides, each of which is connected at one end to the coupling piece and of which the other end is open, through which air guides the connector communicates with the inner space of the inflatable body.

Background of the invention

Such a device for removing wrinkles from clothing is known from W002/50361A1. In this known device, the inflatable body is of a porous material whereby relatively much air and heat must be added to dry and remove wrinkles from the garment. In this known device, the air guides extend from an air blower located under the inflatable body to the bottom of the inflatable body. The air blower is located in a portion of the device that is located under the inflatable body and has an extendable portion that can be slid up into the inflatable body. The part under the inflatable body normally rests on the floor, even in storage when not used.

US2009/083989A1 discloses a device for removing wrinkles from clothing in which the inflatable body is of a porous material, whereby relatively much air and heat must be added to dry and remove wrinkles from the garment. Furthermore, long air guides are required to deliver the heat to the ends of the garments, and it is necessary to use different shape air guides for each type of garment in order to properly distribute the required heat to the garment to be treated.

US3066839A1 discloses a device for removing wrinkles for shirts in which the inflatable body is of an airtight material. This device uses a firm wire frame so that only from clothing items with the shape of shirts wrinkles can be removed. Furthermore, with this device, the air is blown centrally into the inflatable body, as a result of which heat is not spread well over the garment and as a result of which much air and energy is required to dry a garment. Furthermore, a standard and the firm wire frame of this device is necessary in order to be able to apply shirts and similarly shaped clothing items to the device, as a result of which the device takes up a lot of space, the device is less suitable for serial use if from several shirts wrinkles have to be removed at the same time and the interior is hardly suitable for traveling.

Summary of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide an energy-efficient device for removing wrinkles from clothing of the type described in the preamble, wherein a garment is easy to apply over the inflatable body and with a relatively small and energy- efficient air blower, optionally fed by a (re-) rechargeable energy source, the garment can be efficiently dried and get rid of wrinkles. To this end, the device for removing wrinkles from clothing according to the invention is characterized in that:

the inflatable body is made of an airtight material, and

the open ends of the air guides are located at the shoulder parts.

By making the inflatable body of an airtight material, pressure can be built up with less energy, which pressure pushes the wrinkles away. Furthermore, by using an airtight material, the pressure is stable and independent of the air permeability or moisture of the garment. There is no pressure loss that has to be compensated with additional air supply during drying and removing wrinkles due to air escaping more easily through porous material via already dried, and therefore more air-permeable, pieces of the garment. Furthermore, the amount of air required is smaller because the air leaves the inflatable body only in a limited number of places and does not exit through the porous material throughout the body.

By providing the inflatable body with exhaust vents at the ends, warm air can be blown through the body, which makes the garment dry faster. By making the inflatable body of airtight material, it is possible to distribute the heat constantly and efficiently throughout the body and already dried pieces do not become unnecessarily warm because they are more air-permeable -as can be the case with an inflatable body of air-permeable porous material- and the pieces that are still moist always get the heat they need, so that the garment dries quickly and evenly.

An embodiment of the device for removing wrinkles from clothing according to the invention is characterized in that the suspension element is provided with coupling means for fastening the suspension element to an object such as a wall or for suspending the suspension element to an object such as a hook or clothes rail.

By providing the inflatable body with a suspension element, such as a part that acts as a coat hanger or a part that can be attached to a coat hanger or wall, a solid body, such as a wireframe to which the garment can be applied, is unnecessary. This makes it possible to make the device of the invention for removing wrinkles from clothing very compact, suitable for a wide range of clothing sizes, since there is no limiting size of a solid body, and no unnecessary obstacle. Depending on the design of the air blower and air guides, with a folded inflatable body, the volume of the overall invention may not be much greater than that of a folded shirt. Preferably, the coupling means have a suspension hook for suspending the device for removing wrinkles from clothing.

In the known devices it is difficult to fit a garment over the inflatable body due to the long air guides or wire frame. In the device according to the invention, the garment can be hung easily, just like over a regular clothes hanger, and the limb parts can simply be inserted into the sleeves of a shirt, because they are completely deformable because there are no pipes or other rigid parts in them. Furthermore, with the same suspension element, different types of garments can be dried and get rid of wrinkled, such as shirts, trousers, dresses and onesies, using other inflatable bodies.

By providing the inflatable body with a suspension element, such as a part that acts as a coat hanger or can be attached to a coat hanger, a solid body, such as a wireframe to which the garment can be applied, is not required. This makes it possible to make the clothing crease device of the invention very compact, suitable for a wide range of clothing sizes, since there is no limiting size of a solid body, and no unnecessary obstacle. Depending on the design of the air blower and air guides, with a folded inflatable body, the volume of the overall invention may not be much greater than that of a folded shirt.

In addition, by not blowing the warm air into the body through one inlet opening, such as with the device for removing wrinkles from clothing US3066839A1, but by guiding it through different manifolds (hollow suspension element with single air holes that also functions as a coat hanger) to different parts of the inflatable body, the heat flow in the body is optimized so that the warm air also reaches the ends (such as the ends of sleeves or the bottom of trouser legs) and the pieces that need extra warmth, for example because they are made of thicker fabric (such as the cuffs of a shirt or the belt of a pair of trousers) or the pieces that retain more water (such as the bottom of the garment to be dried). With the manifold, the body can be evenly heated, so that the garment is completely dried faster.

Preferably, the device for removing wrinkles from clothing further comprises a collar tensioner, which is, preferably detachably, connected to the suspension element in order to be able to keep the collar of the shirt, dress or sweater or the belt of a pants tight during drying. This collar tensioner is preferably resilient and flexible to keep cuffs and belts of different sizes tight. Furthermore, the collar tensioner serves as a stop for easy fitting of a garment. When the garment is applied, it is the first to be pulled against the collar tensioner so that it hangs in the correct position for further fastening, drying and get rid of wrinkles.

The collar tensioner is preferably hollow and is connected to the coupling piece. In that case, warm air flows into the collar tensioner during use, so that the inside of the collar is dried faster and better. The collar tensioner can optionally be provided with outflow holes to allow the collar to dry even better and faster.

The device for removing wrinkles from clothing preferably further has a collar cap which can be applied over a collar of the shirt to be dried. Air escaping from the top of the clothes crease device, for example through exhaust holes or the pressure relief valve, flows into the collar hood and dries the collar on the outside so that it dries even better and faster. The device for removing wrinkles from clothing according to the invention preferably comprises an air blower which is, possibly detachably, connected to the coupling piece or is connected to the inflatable body, the inflatable body in turn being coupled to the coupling piece. This allows the air blower to be optimally designed for inflating and possibly heating the body.

The device for removing wrinkles from clothing is, preferably, further provided with a moisture sensor which is connected to the control unit that controls the air blower control, so that, for example, the air blower can be switched off automatically when the garment is sufficiently dry.

The device for removing wrinkles from clothing is, preferably, further provided with an air pressure sensor connected to the control unit that controls the air blower control, so that, for example, the air blower can be automatically switched off or adjusted when the pressure in the inflatable body is sufficient.

The device for removing wrinkles from clothing is further preferably provided with a pressure relief valve, so that the pressure in the inflatable body does not become too high and air can escape above a certain pressure.

By cleverly placing the outflow holes of the inflatable body, the airflow and residual heat from the air flowing out can also be used to influence the airflow on the outside of the garment and accelerate the drying process.

By recycling the warm air flowing out and returning it to the inlet of the air blower, higher temperatures can be achieved in the inflatable body with relatively less energy, supplied by, for example, (re) rechargeable batteries. This can be done, for example, by placing the pressure relief valve in relation to the inlet opening in such a way that the air that escapes through the pressure relief valve is recycled, the pressure relief valve then functions as an air circulation valve, or in other ways. By recycling the warm outflow air, it is possible to use a more energy-efficient air heating source that only needs to heat the air a little bit per cycle.

The air outflow holes can be designed in such a way that the size of the opening is adjustable, preferably by providing them with electric valves which -if cordless, such as, for example, via Bluetooth signals or a suitable alternative signal form- are connected to the control unit that controls the air blower. For example, when inflating the inflatable body, the valves can be closed so that the body is in shape quickly. Once inflated, the valves can be opened to distribute heat. By having the control unit -that controls the air blower control and possibly also its heating source and the valves of the air outlet openings- follow a program of instructions -possibly taking into account input from moisture or air pressure sensors and garment type characteristics- pressure and heat profile of the inflatable body can be achieved in time, with which the garment can be optimally dried and get rid of wrinkles with minimal energy consumption. A program can, for example, ensure that a garment is dried and get rid of wrinkles as quickly as possible, or that the garment is treated more slowly and as energy- efficiently as possible with possibly optimal sub-optimal drying. The valves can also cause the pressure in the inflatable body to increase and air to escape via the pressure valve, so that the temperature in and of the body can rise quickly through recirculation of air.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an illustrative embodiment of the device for removing wrinkles from clothing according to the invention shown in the drawings. Hereby shows:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a shirt wrinkle-removal device for shirts in which the inflatable body is indicated by broken lines;

Figure 2 is a side view of the upper part of the clothing wrinkle-removal device shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a top view of the clothing wrinkle-removal device shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a front view of the clothing wrinkle-removal device shown in Figure 1 with the inflatable body in solid lines;

Figure 5 is a front view of the clothes wrinkle-removal device shown in Figure 1 during drying of a shirt;

Figure 6 is a side view of the clothing wrinkle-removal device shown in

Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a top view of the clothes wrinkle-removal device shown in

Figure 5;

Figure 8 is an embodiment of the trouser clothing wrinkle-removal device in front view with the inflatable body shown in broken lines; and

Figure 9 is a diagram schematically showing the blowing force, the heat supply by the air blower and the size of the opening of exhaust vents over time.

Detailed description of the drawings

Figures 1-3 show an embodiment of the device for removing wrinkles from clothing according to the invention in different views with the inflatable body 5 in broken lines. Figures 4 and 8 show a device for removing wrinkles from clothing with the inflatable body 5 in solid lines and the suspension element 13 shown in broken lines. The inflatable body 5 is made of airtight material and has a body part 7 provided with an inlet opening 8 and two shoulder parts 9. The inflatable body 5 furthermore has two limb parts attached to the body part 7 at the location of the shoulder parts 9. The inner spaces of the limb parts 11 are in communication with the inner space of the body part at the shoulder parts 9. The device 1 for removing wrinkles from clothing further has a suspension element 13 from which the inflatable body 5 is suspended and which is provided with a hollow coupling piece 14 which is connected to the inflatable body 5 at the location of the inlet opening 8. An air blower 17 for blowing hot air into the inflatable body is releasably connected to the coupling piece 14. The suspension element 13 further has two elongated hollow air guides 15, each of which is detachably connected at one end to the coupling piece 14. The other ends 16 of the air guides 15 are open and are located at the location of the shoulder parts 9. The air blower 17, with possible an air heating source, communicates via the open ends 16 of the air guides 15 and further via air outflow holes 33, in the coupling piece 14 and or in the air guides 15, with the inner space of the inflatable body 5.

At the location of the inlet opening 8, the inflatable body 5 is connected to the coupling piece 14 and a detachable flexible collar tensioner 19 is connected to the suspension element 13. This collar tensioner 19 is formed by a resilient curved strip, the ends of which are some distance apart when the collar tensioner is relaxed. The collar tensioner 19 can also be hollow and be connected to the coupling piece 14 in order to better and faster dry a collar.

The device for removing wrinkles from clothing further has a collar cap 18 which can be applied over a collar of the shirt to be dried. Air escaping at the top flows into the collar cap and dries the collar on the outside so that it dries even better and faster.

A moisture sensor 21 is present on the inflatable body 5, which sensor is connected to control unit 2 of the warm air blower 17, for example for automatically switching off the air blower when the garment is sufficiently dry. Preferably, on the coupling piece 14 there is an air pressure sensor 22 which is connected to control unit 2 of the heat source 17, for example, for adjusting the blowing force for energy efficiency or in case the pressure threatens to become too low or too high.

Not shown in the figures is an optional temperature sensor, which may be connected to control unit 2, for measuring the temperature of the air in the inflatable body.

The suspension element 13 for suspending the device for removing wrinkles from clothing is provided with a suspension hook 23 which is attached to the coupling piece 14. The inflatable body 5 is provided with air outflow holes 25 and 27 near the ends of the limb parts 11 and the bottom of the body part 7. The inflatable body 5 may be designed such that the air outflow holes 25 and 27 can be adjusted so that their size can be adjusted. This can for instance be realized with electric valves 20 which are connected to control unit 2.

The inflatable body 5 or the coupling piece 14 is provided with a pressure relief valve 6, located between the inlet opening 8 and the collar tensioner 19, which valve prevents the pressure in the inflatable body from becoming too high and, possibly, causes the warm air that is escaped from the inflatable body to flow to the inlet of the warm air blower 17 and is heated further, so that the temperature in the inflatable body can be raised relatively faster.

Figures 5-7 show, by way of illustration, the device 1 for removing wrinkles from clothing during drying and thereby keeping a shirt 3 wrinkle-free. The shirt 3 has a collar 4 which is tightly fitted around the resilient collar tensioner 19, the ends of the collar tensioner being bent together and the resilience pressing the collar tensioner against the collar.

Figure 8 schematically depicts an inflatable body suitable for drying and removing wrinkles from pants. It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that other shapes of the inflatable body suitable for other garments are also possible. In addition, shapes are conceivable for articles with the same drying and wrinkle properties as garments, such as, for example, pillowcases, backpacks or tents.

Figure 9 shows in a diagram an example of an 'ironing' program (which is stored in the electronic control unit 2 and can be adjusted via, for example, a Bluetooth or mini-USB port) with control profiles for the supply of heat, air and opening the outlet openings in time for the optimum drying and removing wrinkles of a garment by the control of the air blower 17, heating source and valves 20 of the outlet openings 25 and 27 by the control unit 2.

The mutual coordination of the aforementioned control profiles can also be based on the discharge properties of the energy source, which can be recharged such that the degree of discharge is distributed approximately as regularly as possible over the drying period and the period for removing wrinkles. The simultaneous maximum activation of the air blower 17 and the said heating source may in fact be less advisable in certain cases. For example, if the energy source included four 1.5V rechargeable AA batteries, one could at:

T = 0 close the outlet openings 25 and 27 with the valves 20 and turn on the air blower 17 maximally for quickly pressurizing the inflatable body 5,

T = 1 when the inflatable body 5 is pressurized enough and excess air escapes through the pressure valve, turn on the heating source, and let the air blower 17 blow to re-circulate the air for the fastest heating of the air in the inflatable body 5,

T = 2 when said temperature is high enough (maybe around 57 degrees Celsius and taking into account safety standards), be able to lower the heating source, let the air blower 17 blow a little less fast and slightly open the exhaust vents 25 and 27 by the valves 20 to distribute the heated air to the ends of the inflatable body 5.

T = 3 when the moisture sensor 21 indicates that the garment has reached a desired degree of dryness (or after a time set in the control unit 2) have a loudspeaker not shown in the figures emit a 'ready' signal, have the heat source switched off, allow the outlet openings 25 and 27 to close by the valves 20 and shortly thereafter switch off the air blower 17, with which the garment can dry around the inflated inflatable body 5.

Although the invention has been elucidated with reference to the drawings in the foregoing, it should be noted that the invention is by no means limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings. The invention also extends to all embodiments deviating from the embodiment shown in the drawings within the scope defined by the claims.

For example, the inflatable body 5, except for the inlet opening 8, can be completely closed, so that after inflating the body, the device 1 for drying and removing wrinkles from clothing with a shirt over it, can be hung. In that case the air blower 17 is preferably detachable, so that it can also be used for inflating other inflatable bodies. The coupling piece 14 or the air guides 15 must, respectively, each be provided with a shut-off valve not shown in the figures, which closes as soon as the air blower 17 is disconnected from the coupling piece 14.

It is also conceivable (but not shown in the figures) that the air guides 15 are telescopically or, for example, hingedly mounted on air blower 17, or that air blower 17 including (re) rechargeable energy source is integrated in the air guides 15, so that the air blower assembly 17 and air guides 15 look something like a regular clothes hanger. It goes without saying that an embodiment of the device 1 for removing wrinkles, that is not provided with its own energy source will have a cord (shown schematically in figure 2, but not further mentioned) with socket plug, and which is provided with a (re-) rechargeable energy source will have a contact (not shown in the figures) (or for example a 5V mini-USB port like many mobile phones) for the plug of a charger (also not shown in the figures) for such a rechargeable energy source, although cordless charging can also be included.

Although the present invention is elucidated above on the basis of the given drawings, it should be noted that this invention is not limited whatsoever to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The invention also extends to all embodiments deviating from the embodiments shown in the drawings within the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.