Fabric treating systems and accessories

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9410281-B2
Application number	US-76797410-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2010
Priority date	May 1, 2009
Publication date	Aug 9, 2016
Grant date	Aug 9, 2016

Abstract

A fabric treating system having an enclosure having a first wall, a second wall, and a fabric receiving space defined by the enclosure. The fabric treating system also has a support member positioned proximate to the first wall. The support member is configured to support one of a hanger configured to support a piece of fabric and the piece of fabric within the fabric receiving space. The fabric treating system also has a fabric tensioning system positioned at least on the second wall. The fabric tensioning system has at least a first fabric grasper configured to be attached to at least a first portion of the piece of fabric to apply tension to the piece of fabric.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fabric treating system, comprising:
a pair of sidewalls and a plurality of liquid dispensing heads positioned on the sidewalls;
an extractable enclosure extractable from between said sidewalls, said enclosure comprising:
a first wall,
a second wall, and
a fabric receiving space defined by the enclosure;

a support member positioned proximate to the first wall, the support member configured to support one of a hanger configured to support a piece of fabric and the piece of fabric within the fabric receiving space; and
a fabric tensioning system positioned at least on the second wall, the fabric tensioning system comprising at least a first fabric grasper configured to be attached to at least a first portion of the piece of fabric to apply tension to the piece of fabric,
the hanger comprising:
a fabric tensioning apparatus configured to be engaged with the support member, the fabric tensioning apparatus comprising:
a support beam,
a collar comprising a first projection and a second projection, wherein the collar is engaged with the support beam at a location on the collar at least partially intermediate the first projection and the second projection,
a first fabric engaging portion movably attached to the first projection, wherein the first fabric engaging portion is positioned at least partially on a first side of the support beam,
a second fabric engaging portion attached to the second projection, wherein the second fabric engaging portion is positioned at least partially on a second side of the support beam,
a release mechanism configured to move between an engaged position, where the release mechanism contacts at least the first fabric engaging portion, and a disengaged position, where the release mechanism is free from contact with at least the first fabric engaging portion, and
a biasing member configured to move at least the first fabric engaging portion relative to the support beam when the release mechanism is in the disengaged position to expand the fabric tensioning apparatus and apply tension to the piece of fabric.

2. The fabric treating system of claim 1 , comprising a separate, second fabric grasper configured to be attached to a second portion of the piece of fabric to apply tension to the piece of fabric.

3. The fabric treating system of claim 1 , wherein the support member is movably engaged with the first wall, and wherein at least the first fabric grasper is fixedly attached to the second wall.

4. The fabric treating system of claim 1 , wherein the support member is fixedly attached to the first wall, and wherein at least the first fabric grasper is movably engaged with the second wall.

5. The fabric treating system of claim 1 , wherein the support member is movably engaged with the first wall, and wherein at least the first fabric grasper is movably engaged with the second wall.

6. The fabric treating system of claim 1 , wherein the hanger comprises:
a collar;
a first arm extending from the collar in a first direction;
a second arm extending from the collar in a second direction, wherein the first and second arms are configured to support the piece of fabric;
a first hanging member movably engaged with the collar; and
a second, separate hanging member extending from the collar and configured to engage the support member.

7. The fabric treating system of claim 2 , wherein the enclosure comprises at least a third wall, wherein the fabric tensioning system comprises a tensioning beam extending from at least one of the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall, and wherein a third portion of the piece of fabric is configured to be one of engaged with and at least partially encircled about the tensioning beam.

8. The fabric treating system of claim 7 , wherein the fabric tensioning system comprises at least a second fabric grasper configured to be attached to the third portion of the piece of fabric to apply tension to the piece of fabric when the third portion is one of engaged with and at least partially encircled about the tensioning beam.

9. The fabric treating system of claim 1 , comprising one of a resilient member and an extendable member configured to bias the support member proximate to the first wall, wherein one of the resilient member and the extendable member is configured to permit relative movement of the support member with respect to the first wall and permit tensioning of the piece of fabric.

10. The fabric treating system of claim 1 , comprising:
a weight system comprising a weight, wherein the weight system is configured to bias the support member proximate to the first wall, and wherein the weight system is configured to permit relative movement of the support member with respect to the first wall and permit tensioning of the piece of fabric; and
a channel defined in the enclosure, wherein the weight is movable within the channel.

11. The fabric treating system of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is configured to move at least the first fabric engaging portion away from the support beam when the release mechanism is in the disengaged position.

12. The fabric treating system of claim 1 , wherein the fabric tensioning system comprises a plurality of first fabric graspers on at least the second wall, the fabric tensioning system comprising the first fabric graspers configured to be attached to at least a first portion of the piece of fabric to apply tension to the piece of fabric, wherein the plurality of first fabric graspers are arranged in a first row and a second row.

13. The fabric treating system of claim 1 , wherein said liquid dispensing heads are positioned within protrusions of the sidewalls.

14. The fabric treating system of claim 1 , wherein the fabric treating system has an air flow path in a direction from the second wall to the first wall.

15. The fabric treating system of claim 12 further comprising an air supply provided intermediate the first row and second row.

16. The fabric treating system of claim 12 , wherein the fabric treating system has an air flow path in a direction from the second wall to the first wall.

17. The fabric treating system of claim 1 , wherein said liquid dispensing heads dispense up to about 112 grams of benefit composition per use.

Assignees

• Roselle Brian Joseph
• Bischoff Corey Michael
• Smith Christopher Lawrence
• Sabisch Markus
• Von Sartori-Montecroce Oliver
• Kleemann Christof
• Hollinger Stefan H
• Beck Benjamin Janes
• Damaschke Robert Hans-Joachim
• Meschkat Stephan James Andreas
• Ullrich Heiko
• Marsden Douglas Arthur
• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Roselle Brian Joseph
• Bischoff Corey Michael
• Smith Christopher Lawrence
• Sabisch Markus
• Von Sartori-Montecroce Oliver
• Kleemann Christof
• Hollinger Stefan H
• Beck Benjamin Janes
• Damaschke Robert Hans-Joachim
• Meschkat Stephan James Andreas
• Ullrich Heiko
• Marsden Douglas Arthur

Classifications

• D06F73/02

  having one or more treatment chambers · CPC title

• A47G25/62

  Trouser or skirt stretchers or tensioners of the hanger type (with application of heat or steam D06F) · CPC title

• D06F58/203 Primary

  Laundry conditioning arrangements · CPC title

• A47G25/32

  involving details of the hook (A47G25/34, A47G25/38 take precedence) · CPC title

• A47G25/442 Primary

  to support shouldered garments (non-adjustable shoulder support members A47G25/20) · CPC title