Spotting table

May 26, 1942.

J. R. HOLDER

SPOTTING TABLE

Filed June 17, 1940

2,284,572

Sheets-Sheet 1

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May 26, 1942.

J. R. HOLDER

SPOTTING TABLE

2,284,572

Filed June 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

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Patented May 26, 1942

2,284,572

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,284,572

SPOTTING TABLE

Joseph K. Holder, Fremont, Nebr., assignor of one-half to Charles N. Johnson and Winifred Johnson, both of Fremont, Nebr., jointly, with right of survivorship

Application June 17,

Claims.

This invention relates to a device for drying and locating spots in garments or fabrics and is an improvement over the structure embodied in my prior Patent No. 1,984,267 which issued December 11, 1934.

An object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind including a supporting table having an illuminating means incorporated therein so that light rays may be projected through the article resting on the table to thereby facilitate the location of the spots in the article.

Another object of this invention is to provide a table structure formed with an imperforate illuminable section and a perforate section, the perforate section being designed for use with a steam gun or nozzle for permitting the application of steam or other cleaning fluid to the garment during the removal of the spot.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which will support that portion of the garment or fabric which is being cleaned or examined and which will also maintain the remaining portion of the garment or fabric out of contact with the floor.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device including a combined examination or spot locating table, a spot removing part and a cleaning fluid reservoir.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which is so constructed as to permit the use of a gaseous illuminating medium and which includes a reflector beneath the transparent table top so as to reflect the light rays upwardly through the top.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind embodying the use of steam heat for a drying medium and for cleaning the garment or fabric and wherein the condensate from the steam used for cleaning may be collected beneath the table.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention, consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a spotting table constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

1940, Serial No. 341,070 (CI. 68—240)

Figure 2 is a plan view partly broken away and in section of the table.

Figure 3 is a sectional view partly broken away taken on the line 3—3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4—4 of Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5—5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 10 6—6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates generally a standpoint on which a table generally designated as 12 is secured and a garment rest 11 is also secured to the stand15 ard IB at a point below the table structure 12 and is positioned in parallel relation to the table structure 12.

The standard 10 comprises a base member 13 provided with an upstanding bushing 14 in which 20 the lower end of an upright 15 engages. The upright 15 may be secured in the bushing 14 by means of fastening devices 16 or the like. The upright (5 at its upper end is formed with a forwardly extending brace 17 which is se25 cured to the bottom of the table structure 12 in any suitable manner.

The table structure 12 comprises an elongated bottom wall 18 formed with an opening 18α, upstanding side walls 19 which are disposed in 30 forwardly convergent relation, a forward arcuate end wall 20 and a rear wall 21. An inner heat insulating bottom wall 22 engages on the bottom wall 18 and is formed of any suitable heat insulating medium and provided with an open35 ing 22α.

The bottom wall 18 is provided with a rear extension 23 which is provided with a rear wall 24 and side walls 25. The extension 23 and the walls 24 and 25 form a supporting means for a 40 liquid reservoir generally designated as 26. The reservoir 26 comprises a bottom wall 27, upstanding side walls 28 and front and rear walls 29 and 30, respectively. The side, front and rear walls are provided with a right angular 45 flange 31 which is adapted to engage on the top of the rear wall 21, the rear end wall 24 and the side walls 25 so as to support the reservoir or receptacle 26 within the chamber 32 formed at the rear of the table structure 12.

An inner wall 33 extends inwardly from one of the side walls 19 to a point substantially in the longitudinal center of the bottom wall 18 and a second inner wall or partition 34 is disposed in a vertical position and extends at right 55 angles forwardly from the inner end of the in2,384,573 ner wall 33. The two walls or partitions 33 and 34 form a cleaning chamber 35 which is separate from the remaining chamber 33 formed by the side and front and rear walls of the table structure 12. A heating coil 37 is disposed with- 5 in the housing formed by the side walls 19 and the front and rear walls 20 and 21, respectively, and this coil is formed with a U-shaped branch or coil part 33 extending between the partition 33 and the rear wall 21 and with a second coil io member 39 which is connected to the rear end of the U-shaped coil 38 and extends lengthwise of the table structure and into the space 40 formed between the longitudinal partition 34 and adjacent a side wall 19. The steam coil 37. 15' is extended through the bottom wall 18 as at 41 and is adapted to be connected to a suitable source of steam supply.

An inner plate or bottom 42 is disposed above the coil 37 between the side walls 19 and the end 20 walls 20 and 21 and this inner bottom wall 42 is preferably formed of metal and provided of heat conducting material and is also provided with a light reflecting upper surface. A Ushaped channel member 43 is disposed on top of 25 the reflecting wall 42 and has the bight 44 thereof disposed in a vertical position and secured in any suitable manner to the side walls 19, the end wall 20 and the rear end wall 21. One leg 45 is disposed in contacting relation with the up- 30 per surface with the reflecting wall or plate 42 and the other leg 46 is disposed in parallel spaced relation to the lower leg 45. A gaseous illuminable tube or element 47 is disposed between the parallel legs 45 and 46 of the channel mem- 35 ber 43 and this gaseous member 47 is provided with an extension 48 which extends through the rear wall 21 and is continued rearwardly beneath the bottom wall 27 of the reservoir 26 and is then extended downwardly through the bottom wall 40 18 rearwardly of the rear wall 21.

The extension 48 is connected to an operating structure disposed in a housing 49 which is sus-. pended from the bottom wall 23 rearwardly of the standard 10. The housing 49 is provided 45 with the conventional vibrator and transformer structure for exciting the gas within the tubes 47 and 48.

A transparent top wall or plate 50 is disposed on top of the upper leg 46 of the channel member 50 43 and the plate or top 50 is detachably secured to the upper leg 46 of the channel member 43 by means of a plurality of clips 51 which are secured to the side and end walls 19 and 20, respectively, by means of fastening devices 52, 55

The top 50 is provided with a plurality of openings or perforations 53 which are disposed over the chamber 35 and these perforations 53 provide means whereby the fabric or garment which is being cleaned may be engaged by a steam gun 60 and the spot or spots removed by projecting the steam through the fabric and into the chamber 35. The providing of the top 50 with a perforated portion forms said top with what may be termed an impervious portion and a pervious 65 portion and with the impervious portion of greater dimensions than the pervious portion. A perforated partition or wall 54 is disposed below the perforated zone or portion of the top wall 59 and it is arranged in the chamber 35 above the 70 openings 18α, 22α referred to. The openings 18α, 22α register with each other. The opening 18α communicates with a drip pan 55 arranged below the bottom wall 18. The drip pan 55 comprises a wall 56 which is inclined to the horizon- 75 tai being inclined forwardly and upwardly and the drip pan 55 at its forward end communicates with the chamber 35 so that the condensed liquids passing through the perforated wall 54 will drop downwardly and be received within the pan 55. The pan 55 is provided with a forward wall 57 which is secured to the bottom wall 13 and is also provided with a rear wall 58 secured to the bottom wall 13 substantially below the rear wall 21.

The pan 55 is also provided with an inner side wall 59 and an outer side wall 69. The side wall 60 is substantially flush with the adjacent side wall 19. A petcock 61 is carried by the bottom wall 56 adjaceht the rear end thereof so that the condensed liquids can be drained from the pan 55. The provision of the perforated wall 54 provides a means whereby any lint or threads which are forced through the fabric will be caught by the inner bottom wall 54 and will not be permitted to pass downwardly into the drip pan 55. The perforated inner wall 54 may be readily cleaned by removing the top wall 50.

The garment supporting member 11 comprises a U-shaped support 62 which has the free ends of the parallel legs thereof secured in a bracket or a supporting structure 63 carried by a bushing 64 which is secured by fastening devices 65 to the upright ! 5 at a point below the table structure 12. A web or fabric 66 is carried by the supporting member 62 and comprises a horizontally disposed sheet 67 which has the opposite edges thereof folded about the supporting member 62 and secured to the underside of the sheet 67 as at 68, This garment supporting sheet 66 is adapted to support the depending portions of the garment which extend below the table 12 so as to prevent the garment or fabric from contacting with the floor and preferably the sheet or garment support 66 is detachable from the supporting member 62 in order that it may be maintained in a clean condition.

In the use and operation of this device, the steam coil 37 is connected to a suitable source of steam supply and the heat generated in the coil 37 will be communicated through the plate 42 to the transparent top wall 50. The garment or fabric is placed on top of the transparent top 50 and by means of the illuminating means 47, the spots in the garment will be made visible and the garment may then be shifted over to the perforations 53 in the top 50 so that the spots may be removed. The spotted portion of the garment may be dipped in the cleaning fluid carried by the reservoir 26 or the. garment may be sponged and then a steam gun supported in any suitable manner may be directed toward that portion of the garment lying over the perforations 53. It will be understood that if desired the luminous tube 47 may also be extended into the chamber 35 so as to render the.spot visible through the perforated zone of the top wall 59. The condensed liquids passing through the perforations 53 will drop downwardly , onto the inner wall 54 which will remove the fibers or threads and the liquid may then drop downwardly. from the inner wall 54 into the drip pan 55. It will be understood also that if desired the garment or fabric may be initially treated with the cleaning fluid from the reservoir 26, the garment or fabric being either dipped into the cleaning fluid or sponged with the cleaning fluid. The heat emanating from the top 59 will dry the garment or fabric so that >72 3 side and end walls, a transparent top, means securing said top onto said housing, said top having perforations in at least a portion thereof, illuminable means in said housing below said top, an L-shaped partition in said housing extending below said top and about the perforated area thereof, and a perforate lint collecting member in said housing below the perforated portion of said top.

4. A spotting table comprising a standard, and a table structure carried by said standard, said structure comprising a housing having bottom side and end walls, a transparent top, means securing said top onto said housing, said top 15 having perforations in at least a portion thereof, illuminable means in said housing below said top, an L-shaped partition in said housing extending below said top and about the perforated area thereof, a perforate lint collecting member 20 in said housing below the perforated portion of said top, and a liquid collector carried by said housing below said lint collector.

5. A spotting table comprising a standard and a table carried by said standard, said table com25 prising a housing formed of a bottom wall, front and rear end walls, a pair of side walls and a transparent top wail formed with an imperforate part and a perforated part, a gaseous illuminating tube arranged in said housing below 30 said top wall, a support for said tube fixed to said housing within the latter closely adjacent to said top wall, a heating coil within said housing below said tube and below the imperforate part of said top wall, a combined reflector and 35 heat conducting element interposed between said tube and said coil, a drip collecting pan below said bottom wall, heat insulating means between said bottom wall and said coil, said heat insulating means and said bottom wall having ⁴⁰ aligned openings communicating with said pan, and a perforate wall disposed within the housing below the perforated part of said top wall and arranged over said aligned openings.

JOSEPH R. HOLDER.

2,284,

If desired the garment or fabric may be held on the top wall 50 until it has become dried.

The device hereinbefore described will provide an efficient means whereby any spots in the garment or fabric may be located and the spots 5 immediately removed. In addition, in the event it is not desired to apply heat to the garment or fabric, the steam coil may be cut off and the illuminating means 47 used to locate the spots in the garment. By providing a luminous tube 10 which extends substantially entirely about the area of the top and below the top and also providing a reflecting plate 42 for reflecting the light rays upwardly through the garment or fabric, the entire area of the garment of fabric resting on the transparent top 50 will be lighted so that the spots therein can be readily seen through the fabric.