LASER-ASSISTED ALIGNMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, generally, to a pants pressing machine and, more particularly, to such a pressing machine, which is used on the upper portion of pants, pants legs and for creased pants.

Description of the Prior Art

The type of puffer machine currently available for pressing the upper portions of a pair of pants on the marketplace today is limited to pressing the waist area. The biggest drawback of the puffer machine commercially available is its size; it is a small-sized puffer machine with a round shape. If a pair of pants is 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, thereby 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A newer version of the upper puffer pressing machine available today is an electrical and a high cost machine. Since such a machine is operated automatically, a switch is activated and a great deal of steam is released from the machine; steam is wasted on pressing just a small area of the pants. Another great drawback of existing puffer pressing machines is that 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. The operator must still then 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. This procedure becomes 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 currently no apparatus that exists that focuses on pressing the inseams and out seams on the legs of a pair of pants. A general pressing machine is, instead, 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 pants 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 two times per leg. Therefore the pressing plate is brought down on the pants a total of four times for the entire pair of pants.

A pant pressing machine more recently introduced onto the market 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, however, because of the small size, it is more time consuming to press larger size pants.

One drawback of such a pressing machine is its narrow end. If the bottom of a pair of pants is wide, the pressing plate has to be brought down two times per pant leg, making it a total of four 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. Further, the most significant drawback is often 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.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved pants pressing machine that can be used for pressing the upper portion of a pair of pants and which readily completes the pressing of the waist area.

It is another object, of the present invention to provide an improved pants pressing machine that includes a specially designed size and shape feature that will permit relatively small and large pants to be accommodated, and to allow small and large pants to be pressed in the substantially same amount of time. Yet another object of the present invention, due to its manual mechanism, will be the provision of a smaller pressing machine than prior automatic pressing machines, making the present invention a space saver in small quarters, and which may, optionally, be connected to a hot-heated steam boiler and vacuum duct.

It is, yet, a further object of the present invention to provide an improved pants pressing apparatus which will leave no impression marks of the inseams and out seams on the fabric of the pants.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a pants pressing machine which will make the job of an operator quicker and easier by providing, in a preferred embodiment, a manually operated machine, thus making it an economically lower cost operating pants pressing machine.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a pants pressing machine having 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 preferably having the longitudinal trough therein is moved into engagement with the bottom plate, the seam will reside within the trough thereby eliminating and pressing marks on the pants leg seam.

The foregoing and related objects are accomplished by the present invention, which provides a pants pressing steam apparatus, which includes:

a) a base having a pair of cylindrical stanchions each supporting a wheel thereon and each stanchion having a cantilevered arm supporting a wheel on their distal end; b) a support extending vertically from one end of said base with a pair of apertures therein with each having a wheel positioned thereover;

c) a cantilevered top base fixedly attached to the top surface of said support; d) a pair of wheels fastened to one end of said top base substantially co linear with said support wheels;

e) a framework pressing plate extending longitudinally along said top base and forming an integral part therewith;

f a vacuum valve and a steam release valve fixed to one end of said framework pressing plate;

g) a pair of foot pedal positioned approximate said base; and,

h) each foot pedal having a length of line fastened thereto extending across the stanchion wheels through a respective support aperture and guide wheels to a respective top base wheel terminating at a respective vacuum valve and steam release valve.

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 will be operable so as not remove the creases. Hence, when pants do not need creases, the pressing of the pants are completed at a single pressing station.

The pants pressing machine of the present invention is capable of pressing relatively small- and large-sized pants. The rear side of the present invention is preferably about six to ten inches wide, the length is preferably 32 to 37 inches and the hem side is preferably four to six 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 preferably pressed. No marks are left on the seams and if pants are lined, the lining will be pressed at the same time.

Further, the pants pressing machine of the present invention 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 arid 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 relatively 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 one time per leg. To complete the pressing it will only take bringing the pressing plate down two times. Thus, an operator will bring the pressing plate down fewer times and spend less time to complete pressing a pair of pants. Assuming that the crotch side and the hem side are the same size, 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.

The present invention solves the problem of fabric being left flat and looking faded. The pants pressing machine of the present invention includes a top plate having an indention; the indention area does not release steam, so the inseams and out seams on the pants are never touched and, therefore, the fabric of the pants are left fluffy and in its original state.

The pants pressing apparatus of the present, invention preferably includes a longitudinal framework pressing plate having a triangular shape with a transverse curvilinear surface. It is further preferable to provide a longitudinally-tapered rectangular steam and vacuum framework pressing plate having a substantially co-planar top and bottom surface.

Further, the pants pressing apparatus of the present invention preferably includes 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.

In addition to other features and benefits of the present invention, the claimed invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by preferably providing three pressing steam apparatuses, wherein one 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 a third steam apparatus is used to form a crease in the legs of the pants.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent when considered in combination with the accompanying drawing figures which illustrate certain preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should, however, be noted that the accompanying drawing figures are intended to illustrate only certain embodiments of the claimed invention and are not intended as a means for defining the limits and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

In the drawing, wherein similar reference numerals and symbols denote similar features throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 A is a front view of the upper portion pressing machine, illustrating a plurality of tiny steam outlet holes; FIG. IB is a further perspective rear view of the upper portion pressing machine, illustrating in particular the steam, drain and vacuum valve connections;

FIG. 2 A 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; and,

FIG. 3D is a further perspective side rear view, illustrating the laser light alignment device for aligning a seam thereover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND DRAWING FIGURES

Turning now, in detail, to a first preferred embodiment of the pressing machines rear view is illustrated in FIG. IB. 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 includes 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 preferred 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 bas 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.

While only several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

List of Reference Numerals

10 Pants Pressing Machine of the present invention

1 1 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 wheel

wheel

right foot pedal left foot pedal

wheel

cylinder

metal wire string steam pin release steam outlet holes framework pressing plate wire spool

drain valve

boiler valve

vacuum valve

vacuum valve

pin release

wheel

side support base structure metal wire string wheel

wheel

cylinder

wheel

left foot pedal

right foot pedal wheel

wheel

wheel cylinder

metal wire string

wheel

steam pin release

top base support structure steam valve

bottom base support structure steam outlet holes

bottom framework pressing plate back board

top framework pressing plate longitudinal trough

steam outlet holes

open lever

steam release lever

close handle

top boiler valve connection top drain valve connection contour crotch shape

contour crotch shape

drain valve

boiler valve

vacuum valve connection vacuum valve

vacuum pin release

metal wire string

wheel

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