US 5,253,378 A · Spot cleaning system and method

Abstract

A substantially self-contained system and corresponding method provides practical spot cleaning of soiled garments without requiring the use of chlorinated solvents. A soiled garment may optionally be pretreated with either of a water based or petroleum based nonchlorinated cleaner. Thereafter, a relatively high level of vacuum force is applied to the soiled garment to be cleaned, and comprises the flushing agent for both the soil and the pretreatment cleaner. Drying effects obtained with the vacuum force may be augmented by the addition of compressed air directed onto the garment. A self-contained workstation practicing such methodology may optionally include an electric water boiler for generating steam to be applied as a supplement to vacuum and also include an industrial grade vacuum pick-up with a waste collector for generating the relatively high vacuum force, preferably at least about 80 inches of mercury of static pressure.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method of commercially spot cleaning soiled garments without the use of chlorinated solvents, said method comprising:

pretreating spots on the soiled garment to be cleaned by the application of nonchlorinated cleaners thereto;
and
applying a relatively high vacuum force to the pretreated spots so as to flush both soil and pretreatment cleaner therefrom and for drying the garment being cleaned;
further including providing a substantially self-contained workstation having an upper work surface on which a user may work a soiled garment to be cleaned for pretreating same, a self-contained vacuum means for generating said relatively high vacuum force, a stand-up vacuum arm connected to said vacuum means and adapted for receiving a soiled garment thereon, and vacuum waste collector means carried on said workstation and associated with said vacuum means for collecting waste materials vacuumed through said vacuum arm under said vacuum force;
and
further including providing said substantially self-contained workstation with a self-contained steam generator means and associated steam spray gun and interconnecting hose for selectively applying steam to the soiled garment.

3 more elements

A system for commercially spot cleaning soiled garments without the use of chlorinated solvents, said system comprising:

a user workstation;
means for pretreating spots on the soiled garment to be cleaned by the application of nonchlorinated cleaners thereto;
and
vacuum means for selectively applying a relatively high vacuum force to the pretreated spots, so as to flush both soil and pretreatment cleaner therefrom as such garment is drying with said vacuum force;
wherein said workstation includes a substantially self-contained workstation having an upper work surface on which a user may work a soiled garment to be cleaned for pretreating same, a self-contained vacuum means for generating said relatively high vacuum force, a stand-up vacuum arm connected to said vacuum means and adapted for receiving a soiled garment thereon, and vacuum waste collector means carried on said workstation and associated with said vacuum means for collecting waste materials vacuumed through said vacuum arm under said vacuum force;
and
means for spraying steam including a self-contained steam generator means and associated steam spray gun and interconnecting hose for spraying said steam on the soiled garment.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Spot cleaning system and method

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Spot cleaning system and method

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Abstract

Claims23