Dry cleaning process employing a unitary chemical dispensing cabinet

Abstract

A cabinet is provided containing multiple chemical containment housings mounted on a base portion mounted on an interior panel. Each base portion has a nozzle press fitting into an opening to a flexible bag containing a dry cleaning chemical, the flexible bag mounted within the containment housing. In addition, the base portion has an opening connected to one end of a conduit, with the second end of the conduit connected to a chemical dispensing tube. The dispensing tube is mounted on a front exterior panel of the cabinet, and is held in place by a line under tension connected at one end to the dispensing tube and at its other end to a tension reel mounted within the interior of the cabinet. Squeezing of the dispensing tube while aimed at a garment stain causes the stain removing chemical to flow onto the garment.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a process for dry cleaning fabrics. More particularly, it refers to the employment of a chemical dispensing cabinet with multiple dispensing tubes mounted on a front panel, each dispensing tube emitting selected chemicals to spot clean stains on garments in a dry cleaning process.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Dry cleaning of garments is a well known art in which, customarily, different dry cleaning solutions from separate tanks are employed as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 774,025. Spot cleaning is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,780 where a plurality of pressure receptacles for spotting fluids are housed in a base section of a cabinet. A spray gun sprays spotting fluid onto stained portions of a fabric located on a base portion of the cabinet. Additional cleaning systems are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,234,268; 5,259,557 and 5,435,157. In view of air pollution regulations for the dry cleaning industry a need exists for a spot cleaning system that minimizes air pollution. Furthermore, since many dry cleaning facilities are frequently small in size, an easily mountable spot cleaning system that minimizes space requirements while still reducing air pollution is urgently needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The process of this invention provides a system minimizing escape of volatile organic dry cleaning solvents and provides a unitary chemical dispensing cabinet that includes the chemicals commonly used to remove different stains from garments. The process provides a cabinet with a front panel having depressions for mounting multiple chemical dispensing tubes. Each tube is connected by a conduit to a base portion of a chemical containment housing mounted on a panel within the cabinet. In addition, a connecting line attached to a tension spool mounted within the interior of the cabinet is connected to the tube to retain it in the cabinet front panel depression. Pulling the tube away from the cabinet and depressing a soft elastomeric middle portion of the tube causes fluid to flow from a flexible bag in the containment housing to a narrow opening at the tip of the tube which is pointed at the garment stain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0005] FIG. 1 is a front prospective view of the chemical dispensing cabinet of this invention.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the chemical dispensing cabinet with one chemical dispensing tube displayed for use.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the dispensing tube along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the dispensing tube along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, but with the tube squeezed to permit outward flow of a chemical agent.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a front view of the dispensing tube of FIG. 4.

[0010] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the chemical dispensing cabinet opened.

[0011] FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the opened chemical dispensing cabinet with one chemical bag holder disengaged from its base portion and one wire reel box cut away.

[0012] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the chemical bag containment housing opened.

[0013] FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing an open connection to the chemical bag to permit flow of chemicals.

[0014] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the valve removed from its chemical bag connection to cease flow of all chemicals.

[0015] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a table mount frame for the chemical dispensing cabinet.

[0016] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a floor mount frame for the chemical dispensing cabinet.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0017] Throughout the following detailed description the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the chemical dispensing cabinet 10 in this invention has multiple soft elastomeric dispensing tubes 12 with conduits 14 leading to the interior of the dispensing panel. Multiple holding indentations or depressions 16 on the front face 18 of the dispensing cabinet 10 retain the dispensing tubes 12 with the assistance of a wire connection 20. The dispensing tubes 12 retained under tension in slot 16 by the tension reel 57 in reel box 56. The chemical dispensing panel 10 has a top side 22, a left side 24 and a right side 26 with a bottom side 28. A back panel 30 is hinged 32 to the panel portions 18, 22, 24 and 28 integral with cabinet front frame 29.

[0019] The soft elastomeric dispensing tube 12 shown in cross section in FIGS. 3 and 4 has an elastomeric cylindrical housing 34 and a front nipple holder 36 retaining a conical nipple 38. Housing 34 also overlays a rear tube mount 40. The conduit 14 is placed over a conical portion 41 of rear tube mount 40. A rear portion of spring 42 is retained within the rear tube mount 40 by opposed flanges 44 and 46. A front portion of spring 42 presses against a ball valve 50 closing an opening 48 within the cylindrical housing 34. When the cylindrical housing 34 is depressed as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ball 50 moves away from channel 52 to allow the chemicals to flow into the conical nipple 38. On release of the cylindrical housing 34, the spring 42 acts to push the ball 50 back in place in front of channel 52 and prevents further flow of chemicals.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the interior 54 of the dispensing panel 10 has a wire reel box 56 containing a wind-up tension reel 57. The wire 20 wound on reel 57 leads to and is attached to dispensing tube 12 which is held under tension in depression 16. The back side 17 of depression 16 is seen in FIG. 6. Adjacent the wire reel boxes 56 is a panel 58 on which is mounted a base portion 60 for a containment housing 62. Rails 82 and 84 on the bottom of the containment housing 62 slide into slots 86 and 88, respectively on the base portion 60. The containment housing 62 as shown in FIG. 9, retains a plastic bag 64 containing the chemicals used for the dry cleaning process. A fixture 16 with opening 67 at the bottom of each chemical bag 64 engages an upwardly extending nozzle 68 in the base portion 60. An outlet 70 at the base of nozzle 68 is attached to the conduit 14 leading to the dispensing tube 12. Pushing down on lever 90 lifts containment housing 62 off base portion 60 so that a new flexible chemical bag 64 can be inserted.

[0021] The chemicals contained in each bag 64 will be any one of the following compositions: 1 STAIN CHEMICAL COMPOSITION 1. Grease or cosmetics. 100% trichioroethylene 2. Paint, oil, grease, tar, 25% amyl acetate lipstick, crayon wax, varnish 15% anionic surfactant and inks. 60% chlorinated solvent 3. Cuff and collar soil, 25% anionic surfactant latex paints and some inks. 25% nonionic surfactant 50% aliphatic solvent 4. Tannin stains including 15% nonionic surfactant coffee, tea, beer, wine, 25% sodium N-methyloleyl grass, soft drinks, mustard taurate and fruit juice. 5% glycolic acid 5% polypropylene glycol 50% water 5. Protein stains such as 15% ammonia blood, albumen, egg, milk and 10% nonionic surfactant ice cream. 75% water 6. Oily stains from silk and 20% nonionic surfactant rayon. 80% aliphatic solvent 7. Paint, oil, grease, tar, 25% anionic surfactant lipstick, rayon, wax and 75% dLimonene solvent varnishes. 8. Rust. 10% hydrogen fluoride 30% ammonium bifluoride 60% water

[0022] Additional chemicals well known in the prior art also can be used in the flexible chemical bags 64 to remove stains from garments.

[0023] FIGS. 9 and 10 show the position of the fixture 66, its opening 67, valve 68, and the outlet 70 from the base portion 60 when chemicals are flowing, as shown in FIG. 9, and when the fixture 66 is closed in FIG. 10.

[0024] FIG. 11 shows the chemical dispensing panel 10 mounted on a table mount 72, and FIG. 12 shows the chemical dispensing panel 10 attached to a floor mount 74.

[0025] The chemical dispensing panel 10 can be made of a high strength plastic or lightweight metal and can have decorative portions 76, 78, and 80. The decorative portions can contain indicia. The containment housing 62 and the chemical containing bags 64 are made of a plastic as is the base portion 60.

[0026] Other equivalent elements can be substituted for the elements of the chemical dispensing cabinet which have been described in order to obtain substantially the same results in substantially the same way and with substantially the same function.

Claims

1. A method for spot cleaning a stain on a garment in a dry cleaning process comprising:

(a) providing a stand alone cabinet having a front panel with multiple indentations, each indentation adapted to receive a chemical dispensing tube, each dispensing tube connected by a connecting line to a wind up tension reel located in an interior portion of the cabinet;

(b) providing multiple containment housings mounted within the interior of the cabinet, each containment housing enclosing a flexible bag containing a dry cleaning chemical;

(c) providing a base portion for the containment housing, the base portion having means for attaching the containment housing to the base portion and means for connecting a nozzle in the base portion to the flexible bag;

(d) providing a conduit connecting the base portion of the containment housing to the dispensing tube; and

(e) pulling a dispensing tube out of the indentation and thereafter squeezing the dispensing tube to permit the flow of the dry cleaning chemical out of the dispensing tube while pointing a front end of the dispensing tube over a stain in a garment.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein there are provided six indentations on the front panel of the cabinet and each indentation is provided with a chemical dispensing tube, and six containment housings are provided within the cabinet, each containment housing enclosing a flexible bag, each flexible bag containing a dry cleaning chemical different from that contained in any other flexible bag within the cabinet.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the chemical dispensing tube is provided with a conical shaped front portion having a decreasing diameter from a rear to a front end and a middle portion of the dispensing tube is provided as a soft elastomeric cylindrical member, and pressing the cylindrical member inwardly to create a flow of the dry cleaning chemical.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the means for attaching the containment housing to the base portion is a pair of parallel rails on a bottom of the containment housing overlying corresponding parallel longitudinal slots in the base portion.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the means for connecting a nozzle to the flexible bag is by press fitting the nozzle projecting upwardly from the base portion to an opening into a bottom fixture of the flexible bag.

6. A method for spot cleaning a stain on a garment in a dry cleaning process comprising:

(a) pulling a squeezable dispensing tube from a stand alone cabinet, the dispensing tube having been held in a depression on a front face of the cabinet by a tension line connecting the dispensing tube to a tension reel inside the cabinet,

(b) squeezing the dispensing tube over the stain on the garment to permit a chemical suitable for removing the stain to flow from a conical tube at one end of the dispensing tube onto the stain, and

(c) providing a conduit from a base portion of a containment housing to the dispensing tube, the containment housing being provided within the cabinet and containing a flexible bag containing the chemical suitable for removing the stain on the garment, a valve on the base portion of the containment housing engaging an opening from the flexible bag to permit flow of the chemical suitable for removing the stain from the flexible bag to the conical tube at the end of the dispensing tube.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein six dispensing tubes are provided, each connected by a conduit to a base portion of a corresponding containment housing, each containment housing enclosing a flexible chemical bag containing a different chemical so that each of the six dispensing tubes is capable of dispensing a different spot removing chemical.

8. A chemical dispensing cabinet for use in a dry cleaning process for removal of stains on garments, the cabinet comprising:

(a) a cabinet having a top, bottom, two opposed side walls, and a front wall integral with a front frame of the cabinet, the front frame hinged at a base portion to a back frame of the cabinet,

(b) multiple depressions on the front wall for receiving chemical dispensing tubes, each chemical dispensing tube being retained in a depression under tension from a tension cord, the cord connected to the chemical dispensing tube at one end and to a tension reel mounted within the cabined at a second end,

(c) multiple conduits, each connecting at a first end to a base portion of a containment housing, the base portion mounted on a shelf within the cabinet, a second end of each conduit connected to a rear conical end of the dispensing tube,

(d) a flexible bag containing a stain removing chemical, the bag housing a bottom fixture with an opening connectable to a nozzle on the base portion of the containment housing, the flexible chemical bag enclosed by the containment housing, and

(e) the dispensing tubes adapted to be depressed to permit the stain removing chemical to flow out of the dispensing tube onto a stain on a garment.

9. The chemical dispensing cabinet according to claim 8, wherein there are six depressions on the front wall of the cabinet, each depression retaining a dispensing tube under tension.

10. The chemical dispensing cabinet according to claim 8, wherein each chemical dispensing tube has a compressible cylindrical housing overlaying a nipple holder at a front end and a tube mount at a rear end, the tube mount having a conical rear portion for engagement with the conduit and the nipple holder having a conical front portion retaining a conical nipple along an interior wall, and a ball valve within an interior of the cylindrical housing retained in place by a spring to block the flow of a chemical within the cylindrical housing, but permitting the flow of the chemical when an outer wall of the cylindrical housing is depressed.

11. The chemical dispensing cabinet according to claim 8, wherein each base portion of a containment housing has an upwardly projecting nozzle adapted to fit into the opening in the bag containing a stain removing chemical, and a channel opening at substantially a right angle to the nozzle, the channel opening connected to the first end of the conduit.

12. The chemical dispensing cabinet according to claim 8, wherein a pair of parallel rails on a bottom end of the containment housing engages a pair of parallel slots on the base portion to connect the containment housing to the base portion.

13. The chemical dispensing cabinet according to claim 12, wherein a lever on the base portion is integral with the parallel slots and is adapted to disengage the containment housing from the base portion.

14. The chemical dispensing cabinet according to claim 12, wherein the containment housing comprises two halves pivoting on a vertical edge to allow insertion of a chemical bag.

15. The chemical dispensing cabinet according to claim 9, wherein there are six chemical bags, each within a containment housing and each chemical bag contains a different stain removing chemical.