Abstract: An electronic control for engine block heater elements for heating an engine to an engine ready temperature includes a power input, a power output, and a controller. The controller includes a clock for keeping a time and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature. The controller is configured for controlling the power from the power input to the power output in at least two modes of operation for heating the engine to the engine ready temperature. The second mode of timed ready is where the power from the power input to the power output is connected at a pre-calculated time interval for the purpose of making ready the subject vehicle for starting at the desired start time as set by the user. The third mode of maintain ready is where the power from the electrical outlet to the engine block heater element is regulated to maintain the engine ready temperature.

Abstract: An indexing system for a garment pressing machine includes a rotatable carriage having radial arms supporting circumferentially spaced pressing bucks moveable between dressing, pressing and unloading positions. A fluid drive arrangement includes a single linear reciprocating fluid actuator extendible and retractable under control of various solenoid valves that are controlled by a microprocessor which receives and processes signals from sensors indicating the degree of extension or retraction of the fluid actuator and the position of the rotatable carriage. A single cycle of retraction and extension of the fluid actuator results in rotation of the carriage by one position. Another cycle of retraction and extension of the actuator returns the drive system to a starting position ready to initiate another rotation of the carriage to its next position. The carriage can be cyclically indexed to move the bucks between their various operating positions every other retraction and extension cycle of the actuator.

Abstract: In a press wherein an expandable buck and a heated pressing plate are utilized, provision is made for the expansion of the buck without interrupting the overall press finish of garments of varying dimension. The expandable buck includes a thickened longitudinally extending central buck member and two side members. These two side members telescope outwardly from the central buck member. In operation, a garment such as a shirt is passed over the expandable buck. The buck is then expanded at the side members until the garment at its full girth is stretched over the buck. The pressing plate is configured to coact with the buck. It includes an indentation that is configured to coact with the central buck member and thus effect pressing of that portion of the full girth of the garment that overlies the central buck member. It further includes side pressing surfaces designed for cooperative engagement at the expandable sides of the buck protruding beyond the central member.

Abstract: A trouser presser includes a trouser carrier for holding a pair of washed trousers in a desired attitude. The trouser carrier includes a waist pad for receiving the waist portion of the trousers to shape it and a bottom stretcher for receiving the bottoms of the trousers to stretch them. Heat plates are provided for pressing from both sides the pair of washed trousers to dry them. A first drive is provided for moving the trouser carrier up and down, and a second drive for horizontally reciprocating the trouser carrier between a trouser loading position and a trouser press position.

Abstract: A laundry press of the type suitable for pressing all articles of apparel, especially shirts, is contained in a rectangular cabinet. The cabinet upon opening includes at least one panel member hinged at the bottom for bracing the cabinet in an upright position. The cabinet provides at its upper end the support structure for a buck and heated pressing plate for placing on the garments the desired press. The buck and heated pressing plate in turn fold upwardly from the cabinet and are supported so as to cantilever from the cabinet overlying the bracing panel member. The buck is provided with the capability of rotation with respect to the pressing plate. Thus, a garment once mounted to the buck can be pressed on all sides. The buck is provided with side arm members that fold outwardly to support a duality of function to the buck. First, the outwardly folding members expand the buck to enable pressing of virtually all sizes of shirts, coats and other abdominal garments.

Abstract: A trouser presser (10) includes a pair of front waist bucks (40) having front and opposing side surfaces for receiving and engaging the front torso part of a pair of trousers. A pair of rear waist bucks (41) is provided having rear and opposing side surfaces for receiving and engaging the rear torso part of a pair of trousers, with the trousers encircling the front and rear waist bucks (40 and 41, respectively). An air cylinder alternately moves front and rear waist buck (40 and 41, respectively) relatively towards and away from each other to define a closed position where the trousers are held loosely and an open position where the trousers are held in a tensioned condition for being pressed. The opposing side surfaces of the front and rear waist bucks (40, 41) are parallel to each other and in the same vertical plane to collectively define opposing, planar pressing surfaces for opposite sides of the trousers.

Abstract: A trouser presser (10) is disclosed which includes a pair of front waist bucks (40) having front and opposing side surfaces for receiving and engaging the front torso part of a pair of trousers. A pair of rear waist bucks (41) is provided having rear and opposing side surfaces for receiving and engaging the rear torso part of a pair of trousers, with the trousers encircling the front and rear waist bucks (40 and 41, respectively). An air cylinder alternately moves front and rear waist buck (40 and 41, respectively) relatively towards and away from each other to define a closed position where the trousers are held loosely and an open position where the trousers are held in a tensioned condition for being pressed. The opposing side surfaces of the front and rear waist bucks (40, 41) are parallel to each other and in the same vertical plane to collectively define opposing, planar pressing surfaces for opposite sides of the trousers.

Abstract: Waste hot air from side chests a pair of (23) is reclaimed by an air blower (110) contained within a blower housing (111). When the waist expander assembly (20) on which a pair of trousers is mounted is positioned over a center buck (22) in pressing position, the waste air is fed through a duct (115) into the trousers, inflating them in order to remove wrinkles. When waist expander assembly (26) is forward of center buck (22) in its dressing position, air containing waste heat is compressed within blower housing (111).

Abstract: A trouser finisher has independently retractable and extendable waist expander (20) and leg expander (26) assemblies which are mounted respectively, on pairs of spaced-apart Thompson rods (51 and 71). Each assembly moves in translation only movement independently and separately of the other.

Abstract: Vertical side chests (23) for a presser (10) which include both heating means (81) and steaming means (88) positioned within each side chest (23). Vertically aligned, elongate slots (77) are formed in the pressing surface (75) of the side chests (23) thereby ensuring a uniform application of steam along the length and width of the trousers. Steam is applied to the trousers at substantially right angles thereto.

Abstract: A trouser presser (10) has a waist expander assembly (20) and a leg expander (26) which are mounted for translation only movement to a point outside a presser frame (11) away from side chests (23) for dressing and removal of trousers from the waist expander assembly (20) and leg expander assembly (26). The waist expander assembly (20) is mounted on a pair of Thompson rods (51) slidably positioned in sliding mounts (52). The leg expander assembly (26) is independently mounted on a pair of Thompson rods (71) and slidably mounted in slides (72).

Abstract: A trouser presser (10) having vacuum ports is (22b) positioned in the top surface of a center buck (22) to exert a vacuum force on the area immediately above the top of the center buck (22) in the region of the trouser crotch. A wire skeleton (61) spaces the crotch of the trousers above the top of center buck (22) to permit free air movement in the space between the crotch of the trousers and the vacuum means. A vacuum in the area of the trouser crotch assists in the steaming and drying of the crotch area during a pressing operation.