Cuff and collar press having asymmetric pleaters

Abstract

An improved cuff and collar press for pressing the pleated portions of the sleeves of a shirt as well as the collar. The cuff and collar press has a cylinder-shaped pressing pad that mates with a similarly curved press head to press the collar and cuffs of a shirt. Asymmetrical pleating protrusions extend from opposite ends of the cylinder-shaped pressing pad. The asymmetrical pleating protrusions have a protruding portion for receiving the pleated portion of a shirt sleeve and a cutaway portion that receives the unpleated portion of the sleeve such that the unpleated portion is not crushed when the pleated portion is pressed thereby improving the pressing operation.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a utility application based upon and claiming priority of provisional application No. 60 / 492,691 filed Aug. 4, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to apparatus used to press clothing articles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tubular cuff and collar press with improved asymmetric protruding pleaters. DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART [0003] Presently, there exists many varieties of commercially available shirt pressing assemblies. One such system employs a cylindrical or barrel shaped ironing form for ironing damp collars, cuffs, button-holes and pockets. The article or part of the article to be pressed is placed on the lower cylindrical form and then the mating upper cylindrical form is closed against the article to complete the pressing operation. [0004] The prior art barrel type presser does not allow for the ef...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] For the purpose of summarizing this invention, this invention comprises a method and an apparatus for efficiently pressing the collars, cuffs and sleeve portions of articles of clothing.

[0012] A feature of the present invention is to provide a pressing device for pressing an article of clothing such as a shirt. The pressing device comprises a base or platform which contains the electronic and mechanical systems as well as providing support for the pressing areas of the pressing device. The pressing area of the pressing device comprises a lower cylinder-shaped pressing pad which is mounted onto the base. Asymmetric members are positioned on each end of the lower cylinder-shaped pressing pad. The asymmetric members comprise a protruding portion for receiving a pleated portion of a sleeve of the shirt and a cutaway portion for receiving an unpleated portion of the sleeve of the shirt. The asymmetric members are defined by a front edge having an angled edge, a blunt-nose edge, a longitudinal edge and a transverse edge. It is the asymmetric portion which allows the pleated portion of the sleeve of the shirt to be properly pressed by the pressing device. An upper cylinder-shaped pressing head is adapted to mate with the lower cylinder-shaped pressing pad. A powered cylinder is provided for selectively pressing the upper cylinder-shaped pressing head against the lower cylinder-shaped pressing pad and for lifting the cylinder-shaped pressing head off of the lower cylinder-shaped pressing pad. The pressing device of the current invention can press a collar or cuff of the shirt as well as improve the pressing of the pleated portion of the sleeve of the shirt due the use of the asymmetrical members that extend from each end of the lower cylinder-shaped pressing pad.

[0013] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a pressing device for pressing an article of clothing such as a shirt. The pressing device comprises a lower pressing surface having at least one asymmetric member extending therefrom that can be positioned at any location such as one end of the lower pressing surface. The pressing device can include an optional base for supporting the lower pressing surface as well as the electrical and mechanical systems of the pressing device. An upper pressing surface is provided that is adapted to mate with the lower pressing surface. The lower pressing surface of the pressing device can be cylindrical or barrel shaped with the mating upper pressing surface being cylindrical or barrel shaped as well. The lower pressing surface can further comprise a base pad that may be substantially a silicone foam that conforms to the lower pressing surface. A second pad may be provided that conforms to the base pad which can be substantially made of flannel. A cover which can be made of cloth can be provided that conforms to the second pad. The asymmetric member can be defined by a front edge that has an angled edge, a blunt-nose edge, a longitudinal edge and a transverse edge and can be further defined by a fillet edge positioned between the longitudinal edge and the transverse edge. In addition, the longitudinal edge can extend arcuately from the blunt-nose edge. The asymmetric member can have a protruding portion for receiving a pleated portion of a sleeve of the article of clothing and a cutaway portion for receiving an unpleated portion of the sleeve of the article of clothing. A powered cylinder can be provided for selectively pressing the upper pressing surface against the lower pressing surface and lifting the upper pressing surface off of the lower pressing surface. The powered cylinder can be activated by any known actuator. The pressing device of the current invention can press a collar or cuff of the shirt as well as improve the pressing of the pleated portion of the sleeve of the shirt due the use of the asymmetrical members that extend from each end of the lower cylinder-shaped pressing pad.

[0014] Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide a method of pressing an article of clothing such as a shirt. The method comprises placing a cuff of the article of clothing on an asymmetric member of a pressing assembly. The asymmetric member is defined by a protruding portion and a cut-out portion where the cut-out portion provides the necessary relief for the gathering of the unpleated portion of the sleeve portion of the article of clothing. The pressing assembly comprises a base, a lower pressing surface and an upper pressing surface that is adapted to mate with the lower pressing surface. The lower pressing surface of the pressing device can be cylindrical or barrel shaped with the mating upper pressing surface being cylindrical or barrel shaped as well. Next, the pleated portion of the sleeve portion of the article of clothing is aligned on the protruding portion of the asymmetric member. The unpleated portion of the sleeve portion of the article of clothing is gathered at the cut-out portion of the asymmetric member. The upper member of the pressing assembly is closed against the lower member of the pressing assembly to press the sleeve portion of the article of clothing. The upper member of the pressing assembly is opened away from the lower member of the pressing assembly, whereby the sleeve portion of the article of clothing may be removed from the pressing assembly. The pressing assembly method of the current invention allows for the pressing of collars and cuffs as well as the pleated portions of the sleeves of articles of clothing due to the use of the asymmetrical members that extend from each end of the lower cylinder-shaped pressing pad.

Problems solved by technology

The prior art barrel type presser does not allow for the efficient and practical pressing of a shirt cuff.

As a result, the prior art barrel presser will only effectively finish the cuff of the shirt.

The portion of the sleeve immediately adjacent the cuff will not be effectively finished.

Therefore, the pleats on a shirt sleeve adjacent to a shirt cuff will be either unfinished or they will be wrinkled.

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