FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to clothes folding machines and clothes hangers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Clothes folding machines have been known in the art. For instance, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a shirt folding machine 10 available from Sang Jin Inc. Co. Ltd., located in Inchon, Korea, under Model No. SNC-330 (see also http://www.sungjinnc.com). The folding machine 10 includes a folding plate assembly 12 having a center plate 14 which is supported from a base (not shown) of the folding machine 10 via a center beam 16 such that it is substantially stationary relative to the base. A guide plate 18 is attached to the center plate 16 adjacent an upper end 20 thereof such that a groove or channel 24 is formed between the guide plate 18 and the center plate 14.
Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the folding plate assembly 12 also includes a pair of side plates 26a, 26b, one of which is located on one side of the center plate 14 and the other of which is located on an opposite side of the center plate 14. Each of the side plates 26a, 26b has a slopped upper end 28, a lower end 30, an inner side edge 32, which extends substantially linearly from a corresponding one of the upper ends 28 to a corresponding one of the lower ends 30. The side plates 26a, 26b are supported from the base via a pair of rods 34a, 34b, respectively, which are pivotable via an electrically operated pneumatic cylinder or cylinders housed within the base. The side plates 26a, 26b are affixed to the rods 34a, 34b, respectively, such that they are pivotable between their expanded positions (see FIG. 1), in which the side plates 26a, 26b are generally co-planar with the center plate 14, and their collapsed positions (see FIG. 2), in which the side plates 26a, 26b are swung rearwardly (as indicated by arrows A, B, respectively, in FIG. 1) toward a rear surface of the center plate 14.
A hanger 36 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is provided for use in conjunction with the folding machine 10 for facilitating folding of a shirt. More particularly, the hanger 36 includes a hook 38, a generally rectangular base section 40 and a trapezoidal middle section 42 connecting the hook 38 to the base section 40, which has lateral ends 43a, 43b.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, to fold a shirt 44, the base section 40 of the hanger 36 is placed in the groove 24 of the center plate 14. With the side plates 26a, 26b positioned in their expanded positions, the shirt 44 is placed over the folding plate assembly 12 (see FIG. 3). One or more buttons 46 of the shirt 44 is then buttoned up. Next, sleeves 48a, 48b of the shirt 44 are manually folded rearwardly over the side plates 26a, 26b (as indicated by arrows C and D in FIG. 3) against a rear surface of the folding plate assembly 12. Thereafter, a foot-operated switch (not shown) of the machine 10 is operated so as to cause the side plates 26a, 26b to pivot from their expanded positions to their pivoted positions such that the shirt 44 is folded about the rods 34a, 34b (see FIG. 4) or fold lines E, F (see FIG. 2). After a storage bag 50 (see FIG. 5) is pulled over the folded shirt 44, the shirt 44 is removed from the folding plate assembly 12 together with the bag 50 by pulling the hanger 38 upwardly.
The folding machine 10 described above has various shortcomings. For instance, because the folding plate assembly 12 does not properly support the shirt 44, wrinkles or folds 52 form adjacent a lower portion 54 of the shirt 44 when the shirt 44 is placed over the folding plate assembly 12 (see FIG. 3), after the shirt 44 has been folded by the folding plate assembly 12 (see FIG. 4) and/or when the folded shirt 44 is removed from the folding plate assembly 12 (see FIG. 5). Moreover, because the hanger 36 does not have a proper shape and/or dimension (e.g., when placed in the groove 24, the lateral ends 43a, 43b are positioned laterally inwardly relative to the fold lines E, F shown in FIG. 2), when the folded shirt 44 is removed from the folding machine 10, the shirt 44 tend to collapse such that additional wrinkles or folds 52 may form (see FIG. 5).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a hanger is provided for hanging a shirt having shoulder portions and a lower portion. More particularly, the hanger includes a hook and a body depending from the hook for supporting the shirt therefrom. The body includes laterally extending body sections for supporting the shoulder portions of the shirt when the shirt is hung from the body of the hanger. The body sections are sized and shaped so as to orient the shoulder portions of the shirt such that the lower portion of the shirt expands in a laterally outward direction and thereby inhibits the formation of folds therein.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for folding a shirt having shoulder portions, side portions and a lower portion. More particularly, the apparatus includes a folding plate assembly that includes a center plate, which has a first lateral side, a second lateral side and a receptacle for receiving a clothes hanger. The folding plate assembly also includes a first side plate, which is pivotably connected to the first lateral side of the center plate so as to pivot backwardly from a first extended position to a first folded position, and a second side plate, which is pivotably connected to the second lateral side of the center plate so as to pivot backwardly from a second extended position to a second folded position. The folding plate assembly is sized and shaped such that when a shirt is placed over the folding plate assembly, the first and second side plates are substantially aligned with the respective side portions of the shirt. The first and second side plates cause the respective side portions of the shirt to be folded behind the shirt when the first and second side plates pivot from their respective extended positions to their respective folded positions. Each of the first and second side plates has an upper edge which is substantially horizontal so as to orient a corresponding one of the shoulder portions of the shirt such that the lower portion of the shirt expands in a laterally outward direction, thereby inhibiting the formation of folds in the lower portion of the shirt when the side portions of the shirt are folded behind the shirt.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a folding plate assembly of a conventional shirt folding machine, side plates of the folding plate assembly being illustrated in their expanded positions;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, except that the side plates of the folding plate assembly are illustrated in their collapsed positions;
FIGS. 3-5 are schematic views illustrating a folding operation associated with the folding plate assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a shirt folding machine constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is front elevational view of a folding plate assembly of the folding machine shown in FIG. 6, side plates of the folding plate assembly being illustrated in their expanded positions;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, except that the side plates of the folding plate assembly are illustrated in their collapsed positions;
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the folding plate assembly;
FIG. 10A is a clothes hanger constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10B is a clothes hanger constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 11A-11D are schematic views illustrating a folding operation of the folding machine shown in FIGS. 6-9;
FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a clothes hanger constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a view illustrating use of the clothes hanger shown in FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a clothes hanger constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a clothes hanger constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 6 illustrates a shirt folding machine 100 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. More particularly, the folding machine 100 includes a base 102 having a construction and operation similar to those of a base of a conventional shirt folding machine. For instance, the base 102, which has a front end 104 and a rear end 106, is provided with a plurality of wheels 108 for movably supporting the folding machine 100. The base 102 also includes various novel features to be discussed herein. More particularly, the base 102 is provided with a pneumatically operated cylinder or cylinders 110 (shown schematically in broken-line representation in FIG. 6) connected to a pressurized source of air 112 for operating various folding components of the folding machine 100. A foot-operated pneumatic valve 114 is connected to the cylinder 110 via a hose 116 for operating the cylinder 110. As a result, the cylinder 110 is able to operate without the use of any electrical component. Alternatively, the cylinder 110 and the valve 114 may be replaced with any conventional mechanisms (e.g., electrical motors, switches etc.).
Still referring to FIG. 6, the folding machine 100 includes a rack 118 projecting from the rear end 106 of the base 102. The rack 118, which has a construction and function that are basically identical to those of a rack of a conventional shirt folding machine, has a lower section 119a and an upper section 119b removably connected to each other at removable joints 119c (only one of which is shown in FIG. 6). The rack 118 also includes a support 120 for rotatably supporting thereon a roll of storage bags 122 and an overhang 124 such that a free end of the roll 122 can be fed toward a shirt folding area 126 of the folding machine 100.
With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a folding plate assembly 128 is provided above the front end 104 of the base 102. While the folding plate assembly 128 has a construction and operation similar to those of a folding plate assembly of a conventional shirt folding machine, it includes various novel features of the present invention to be discussed herein. The folding plate assembly 128 includes a generally rectangular center plate 130 having an upper edge 132, which is substantially horizontal, and a pair of opposed substantially vertical lateral edges 134a, 134b. A support beam 136 projects from the front end 104 of the base 102 for fixedly securing the center plate 130 relative to the base 102. As a result, the center plate 130 is stationary relative to the base 102. A guide plate 138 is attached to the center plate 130 adjacent the upper edge 132 thereof. More particularly, the guide plate 138 is spaced from the center plate 130 so as to form a groove or channel 140 (i.e., a receptacle) for purposes to be discussed below (see also FIG. 9).
Still referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the folding plate assembly 128 includes a pair of rods 142a, 142b projecting upwardly from the front end 104 of the base 102. The rod 142a is rotatably secured to the lateral edge 134a of the center plate 130 via bearings 144a, while the rod 142b is rotatably secured to the lateral edge 134b of the center plate 130 via bearings 144b. The rods 142a, 142b are connected, either directly or indirectly, to the cylinder 110 in a conventional manner such that they are pivotable simultaneously in opposite directions.
Now referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the folding plate assembly 128 includes a side plate 146a, which is positioned adjacent the lateral edge 134a of the center plate 130, and a side plate 146b, which is positioned adjacent the lateral edge 134b of the center plate 130. The side plates 146a, 146b are fixedly secured to the rods 142a, 142b, respectively, via connectors 148a and connectors 148b, respectively, such that the side plates 146a, 146b can pivot conjointly with the rods 142a, 142b, respectively. The construction of the side plates 142a, 142b will be discussed in greater detail below.
Referring primarily to FIG. 7, the side plate 146a has a substantially horizontal upper edge 150a which is substantially aligned vertically with, or is positioned slightly below, the upper edge 132 of the center plate 130. The side plate 146a also has an outer lateral edge 152a and a sloped edge 154a connected to the outer lateral edge 152a and the upper horizontal edge 150a. Moreover, the side plate 146a is provided with a cutout 155a in its upper right corner and includes an upper inner lateral edge 156a, which is connected to the upper horizontal edge 150a. A lower inner lateral edge 158a is located below the cutout 155a and hence the upper inner lateral edge 156a. As a result, the upper inner lateral edge 156a is offset laterally outwardly from the lower inner lateral edge 158a so as to form a laterally expanded space 160a between the upper inner lateral edge 156a and the lateral edge 134a of the center plate 130 for purposes to be discussed below.
The side plate 146b has a substantially horizontal upper edge 150b (see FIG. 7) which is substantially aligned vertically with, or is positioned slightly below, the upper edge 132 of the center plate 130. The side plate 146b also has an outer lateral edge 152b and a sloped edge 154b connected to the outer lateral edge 152b and the upper horizontal edge 150b. Moreover, the side plate 146b is provided with a cutout 155b in its upper left corner and includes an upper inner lateral edge 156b, which is connected to the upper horizontal edge 150b. A lower inner lateral edge 158b is located below the cutout 155b and hence the upper inner lateral edge 156b. As a result, the upper inner lateral edge 156b is offset laterally outwardly from the lower inner lateral edge 158b so as to form a laterally expanded space 160b between the upper inner lateral edge 156b and the lateral edge 134b of the center plate 130 for purposes to be discussed below.
Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, because the side plates 146a, 146b are affixed to the rods 142a, 142b, respectively, they are pivotable between their expanded positions (see FIG. 7 and the solid line representation of the side plates 146a, 146b in FIG. 9), in which the side plate 146a, 146b are generally co-planar with the center plate 130, and their collapsed positions (see FIG. 8 and the broken line representation of the side plates 146a, 146b in FIG. 9), in which the side plate 146a, 146b are swung rearwardly (as indicated by arrows G and H, respectively, in FIGS. 7 and 9) onto a rear surface of the center plate 130.
With reference to FIG. 6, the support beam 136 has an upper section 137 and a lower section 139, which are removably connected to each other via connecting plate 141. Similarly, each of the rods 142a, 142b has an upper section 143 and a lower section 145 removably connected to one another via a connection 147, which has a conventional construction (e.g., a threaded connection, etc.). Due to the provision of the removable connections between the upper section 137 and the lower section 139 of the support beam 136 and between the upper sections 143 and the lower sections 145 of the rods, 142a, 142b, the folding plate assembly 128 can be detached or removed from the base 102. As a result, when the upper section 119b of the rack 118 is removed from the lower section 119a of same, the machine 100 can be packaged compactly and shipped to, or stored in, a desired location.
FIG. 10A illustrates a clothes hanger 162a constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. More particularly, the hanger 162a, which is made from a conventional metal wire, includes a hook 164a, a base section 166a and a middle section 168a connecting the base section 166a to the hook 164a. More particularly, the middle section 168a includes slopped shoulders 170a, 170b depending from the hook 164a. The base section 166a includes a pair of wings 172a, 172b having ends 174a, 174b, respectively, and projecting laterally outwardly from the shoulders 170a, 170b, respectively. The base section 166a is sized and shaped so as to be received in the groove 140 of the folding plate assembly 128 (see FIGS. 6-8). More particularly, when the base section 166a is placed in the groove 140, the wings 172a, 172b project laterally outwardly from the groove 140 into the spaces 160a, 160b, respectively, such that the ends 174a, 174b thereof are in a generally abutting relationship relative to the upper inner lateral edges 156a, 156b, respectively, of the side plates 146a, 146b, respectively, without interfering with the pivoting movement of the side plates 146a, 146b. As a result, the ends 174a, 174b of the wings 172a, 172b are positioned laterally outwardly (i.e., offset) from, or are substantially aligned with, folding lines (see broken lines I and J in FIG. 8) defined by lateral outer edges of the bearings 144a and the connectors 148a and by lateral outer edges of the bearings 144b and the connectors 148b, respectively, when the side plates 146a, 146b move from their expanded positions to their collapsed positions.
FIG. 10B illustrates a clothes hanger 162b constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The hanger 162b has a construction that is basically identical to that of the hanger 162a shown in FIG. 10A, except that the hanger 162b is not made from a metal wire, but is made from another suitable material, such as plastic or metal. More particularly, the hanger 162b is provided with a rib/web construction (i.e., has a plurality of ribs 176 and a plurality of webs 178). The hanger 162b is also equipped with a plurality of nipples 179 provided on a base section 166b of the hanger 162b so that a necktie or belt can be hung from the base section 166b between an adjacent pair of the nipples 179. In this regard, the base section 166b can be provided or coated with a conventional non-slip material to prevent the necktie or the belt from slipping off from the base section 166b. A hook 164b of the hanger 162b can be replaced with a different hook, such as the metal wire hook 164a of the hanger 162a shown in FIG. 10A. Such a hook can be fixedly or rotatably attached to the rest of the hook 162b.
For the sake of clarity, the operation of the folding machine 100 will be discussed below in conjunction with the hanger 162a only. It should, however, be understood that the hanger 162b or differently constructed hangers may be used together with the folding machine 100.
Referring now to FIGS. 11A-11D, to fold a shirt 180, the base section 166a of the hanger 162a is inserted in the groove 140 of the center plate 130 such that the ends 174a, 174b of the hanger 162 are positioned in the space 160a, 160b, respectively, of the folding plate assembly 128 (see also FIG. 7). If the side plates 146a, 146b are normally positioned or rest in their collapsed positions (see FIG. 8), the foot-operated valve 114 (see FIG. 6) is depressed so as to move the side plates 146a, 146b from their collapsed positions to their expanded positions (see FIG. 7). Alternatively, the folding machine 100 can be designed such that the side plates 146a, 146b normally rest in their expanded positions. With the side plates 146a, 146b positioned in their expanded positions (i.e., while the foot-operated valve 114 is depressed), the shirt 180 is placed over the folding plate assembly 128 (see FIG. 11A). One or more buttons 182 of the shirt 180 is then buttoned up (see FIG. 11B). Next, sleeves 184a, 184b of the shirt 180 are manually folded rearwardly over the side plates 146b, 146b, respectively, (as indicated by arrows K and L in FIG. 11B) onto a rear surface of the folding plate assembly 128. With the sleeves 184a, 184b manually held in their folded positions, the foot-operated valve 114 is released so as to cause the side plates 146a, 146b to pivot from their expanded positions (see FIG. 7) to their collapsed positions (see FIG. 8) such that the shirt 180 is folded about the fold lines I and J (see FIGS. 8 and 11C). After a storage bag is pulled from the roll 122 (see FIG. 6) over the folded shirt 180, the shirt 180 is removed from the folding plate assembly 128 (see FIG. 11D) by pulling the hanger 162a upwardly.
The present invention have numerous advantages over the prior art. For instance, the folding plate assembly 128 is constructed so that it inhibits formation of folds or wrinkles in the shirt 180 when the shirt 180 is initially placed over the folding plate assembly 128 (see FIGS. 11A and 11B), when the shirt 180 is folded by the side plates 146a, 146b (see FIG. 11C) and/or when the folded shirt 180 is removed from the folding plate assembly 128 (see FIG. 11D). More particularly, because the folding plate assembly 128, including the side plates 146a, 146b and the center plate 130, is provided with a size which is larger than that of a conventional folding plate assembly, it properly supports the shirt 180, thereby inhibiting wrinkles/folds formation. Moreover, because the upper horizontal edges 150a, 150b of the side plates 146a, 146b, respectively, lift up shoulder portions 186a, 186b, respectively, of the shirt 180, they function to flatten out a lower portion 188 of the shirt 180 (see FIGS. 11A and 11B), thereby further inhibiting wrinkles/folds formation. In addition, the ends 174a, 174b of the hanger 162a extend laterally outwardly beyond, or are substantially align with, the fold lines I and J (see FIG. 8). As a result, when the shirt 180 is folded by the movement of the side plates 146a, 146b from their expanded positions to their collapsed positions and is removed from the folding plate assembly 128, the ends 174a, 174b of the hanger 162 inhibit the folded shirt 180 from collapsing and thereby keep the entire folded shirt 180 substantially free of folds or wrinkles (see FIG. 11D). Further, because the slopped edges 154a, 154b of the side plates 146a, 146b, respectively, are provided to accommodate placement of a relatively small shirt over the folding plate assembly 128 (e.g., the slopped edges 154a, 154b function to prevent shoulder portions of such a shirt from being lifted up excessively), the present invention is adapted for use in connection with many differently sized shirts.
FIGS. 12 and 13 depict a clothes hanger 200a constructed in accordance a further embodiment of the present invention. The hanger 200 is basically identical, in construction, function and use, to the hanger 162a shown in FIG. 10A, except as discussed below. Unlike the hanger 162a, the hanger 200 is sized and shaped for hanging a shirt or cloth in its non-folded form (see FIG. 13) and is therefore adapted for use independently from the folding machine 100 shown in FIGS. 6-9. The hanger 200 will be discussed in greater detail below.
With reference to FIG. 12, the hanger 200, which can be made from any suitable material (e.g., a conventional metal wire), includes a hook 202 for supporting or suspending the hanger 200 from a supporting member (not shown), such as a rod, a clothes hook, etc., a base section 204 for supporting a cloth on the hanger 200, and a middle section 206 connecting the base section 204 to the hook 202. The middle section 206 includes shoulders 208, 210, which have upper portions 212, 214, respectively, depending from the hook 202 and slopped lower portions 216, 218, respectively, extending laterally downwardly from the upper portions 212, 214, respectively. The base section 204 includes a lower member 220, which is oriented substantially horizontally, and a pair of upper members 222, 224, which project laterally outwardly from the lower portions 216, 218, respectively, of the middle section 206 and terminate at lateral ends 226, 228, respectively. Each of the upper members 222, 224 of the base section 204 is oriented substantially horizontally. Alternatively, each of the upper members 222, 224 may be slopped slightly downwardly as they project from the lower portions 216, 218, respectively, toward the lateral ends 226, 228, respectively. For instance, the upper members 222, 224 may be slopped at an angle within the range of from 0° to about 15° (see, e.g., FIG. 15). A side member 230 connects the upper member 222 to the lower member 204, while a side member 232 connects the upper member 224 to the lower member 204. The side members 230, 232 are oriented substantially vertically, although they may deviate from their corresponding vertical axes.
FIG. 13 illustrates a shirt 234 hung from the hanger 200. When the shirt 234 is properly placed on the hanger 200, the middle section 206 of the hanger 200 supports or engages a collar portion 236 of the shirt 234 in a conventional manner. The upper members 222, 224 of the base section 204 are sized and shaped so as to upwardly lift shoulder portions 238, 240, respectively, of the shirt 234 and maintain same substantially horizontally. More particularly, the lateral ends 226, 228 of the upper members 222, 224, respectively, of the hanger 200 are substantially aligned laterally with lateral ends 242, 244 of the shoulder portions 238, 240, respectively, of the shirt 234 (i.e., junctions between the shoulder portions 238, 240 and sleeve portions 246, 248, respectively, of the shirt 234). For instance, the lateral width of the base section 204 can be approximately 18 or 19 inches long. As a result, the shoulder portions 238, 240, and more specifically, their lateral ends 242, 246, are lifted upwardly by the lateral ends 226, 228, respectively, of the base section 204, causing a lower or waist portion 250 of the shirt 234 to expand laterally outwardly (as indicated by Arrows 252, 254) and thereby inhibiting the formation of wrinkles or folds in the lower portion 250 of the shirt 234. That is, the lower portion 250 of the shirt 234 is inhibited from sagging laterally inwardly and folding upon itself. As a result, the shirt's lower portion 250 is substantially free of wrinkles or folds when the shirt 234 is hung from the hanger 200.
It is noted that the hanger 200 can be used for hanging many different types of cloth, such as shirts, sweaters, jackets, etc. For instance, the hanger 200 may be adapted to hang robes or collarless garments (e.g., vestments worm by clergy or entertainers) by modifying the middle section 206. The hanger 200 can also be made from many different materials. The sizes and/or shapes of various components of the hanger 200 can vary or be modified. For instance, each of the upper members 222, 224 of the hanger 200 can have a wavy shape, rather than the linear shape illustrated in FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. Elements illustrated in FIG. 14, which correspond, either identically or substantially, to the elements described above with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13, have been designated by corresponding reference numerals increased by one hundred. Unless otherwise stated, the embodiment of FIG. 14 is constructed and assembled in the same basic manner as the embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13.
With reference to FIG. 14, a hanger 300 has a construction basically identical to that of the hanger 200 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, except as follows. Unlike the hanger 200 of FIGS. 12 and 13, the hanger 300 is not made from a metal wire, but is made from another suitable material, such as plastic or metal. The hanger 300 has a rib/web construction (i.e., has a plurality of ribs 356 and a plurality of webs 358) to provide sufficient rigidity. The hanger 300 may be provided with a hook 302 which is fixedly or rotatably attached to the hanger 300. The hanger 300 also has a lower section 304 which may be equipped with a plurality of nipples (not shown) similar in construction and function to the nipples shown in FIG. 10B.
It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20100243685
