Garment shaping system
AssigneeHotec Incorporated
InventorsMichael Holzapfel, Shannon Cooper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Mannequin 14 includes upper torso portion 15 and lower torso portion 16. Upper torso portion 15 moves vertically with respect to the lower torso portion, and both portions expand laterally to mechanically distend a garment placed about the mannequin. Steam and air are introduced into the mannequin and pass outwardly through the garment draped on the mannequin while the garment is distended both vertically and laterally.
Claims14
A method of removing wrinkles from a garment of the type worn about the upper body which includes neck and arm openings and an open lower portion comprising the steps of:
- draping the garment downwardly about a mannequin,
- mechanically gripping and distending the lower portion of the garment outwardly,
- mechanically distending the garment upwardly,
- mechanically distending the upper portion of the garment outwardly,
- while the garment is distended outwardly and upwardly introducing steam and air within the garment in a volume sufficient to inflate the garment and sufficient for at least some of the steam to pass from within the garment outwardly through the garment, terminating the introduction of steam and continuing to introduce air within the garment in a volume sufficient for at least some of the air to pass from within the garment outwardly through the garment, and
- relieving the distending and inflation of the garment.
Apparatus for removing wrinkles from a garment of the type worn about the upper body which includes a neck and arm openings at its upper end portion and an open lower portion that surrounds the body comprising:
- a mannequin comprising a lower torso portion and an upper torso portion which together generally form the shape of a human body,
- said lower torso portion including opposed front and rear support surfaces and opposed hip plates,
- means for moving said hip plates toward and away from each other,
- presser members movable toward and away from said support surfaces,
- said upper torso portion including a chest surface and an opposed back surface, and opposed side surfaces movable toward and away from each other, and means for moving said opposed side surfaces toward and away from each other,
- means for moving said upper torso portion vertically with respect to said lower torso portion,
- fluid supply means for introducing fluid into said mannequin,
- whereby a garment is draped about the mannequin, the presser members press the front and rear lower portion of the garment against the front and rear support surfaces, the hip plates are moved outwardly to urge the lower sides of the garment outwardly, the upper torso is moved upwardly, the opposed side surfaces of the upper torso portion are moved outwardly, and fluid is introduced inside the mannequin and passes outwardly through the garment.
Apparatus for removing wrinkles from a garment of the type worn about the upper body which includes a neck and arm opening at its upper portion and a lower open portion, comprising
- a mannequin including upper and lower torso portions over which the garment is draped,
- means for laterally expanding both the lower and upper torso portions of the mannequin,
- means for raising and lowering the upper torso portion with respect to the lower torso portion, and
- means for introducing steam and air into said mannequin in an amount to move outwardly through the garment draped about the mannequin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.