Textiles: fluid treating apparatus – Machines – Liquid applying
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-22
2001-12-04
Coe, Philip R. (Department: 1746)
Textiles: fluid treating apparatus
Machines
Liquid applying
C134S199000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324875
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for washing all types of curtains, such as vertical blinds, drapes and the like, wherein the curtain is in a suspended and collapsed state.
Such devices are predominantly used in the service industry for cleaning purposes.
2. Description of Related Art
Devices for washing suspended vertical lamellae are known in the art and typically consist of a wash container placed on the floor with supply hookups and a spraying head which is suspended on the top end of the vertical lamellae and connected to the wash container via supply lines. The spraying head and the lamellae, which are collapsed as a block, are enclosed by a tubular foil to protect the surroundings.
The washing solution is supplied with the help of the supply hookup via the supply line from the wash container to the spraying head, where the washing solution exits under pressure and impinges on the lamellae. The washing solution runs down inside the tubular foil and is collected by a catch basin or directly by the wash container and made available again to the wash process.
Different types of spraying heads are known. For example, European Patent No. 352 496 B1 discloses a nozzle rod which hangs from the running rail. This nozzle rod is implemented as a flat plate, has a plurality of horizontal supply channels and vertical nozzle bores and is placed between the curtain and the running rail, so that the washing solution jets impinge on the lamellae from above.
This nozzle rod cannot be manufactured due to the dimensional requirements or cannot be used due to the tight space between the lamellae and the running rail.
German Patent No. 195 28 857 C1 discloses a spraying device for vertical lamellae wherein the spraying device is predominantly box-shaped and has an open bottom side, an open end face and a top side with an elongated slot. Two separate opposing nozzle rails, which extend in a longitudinal direction and have nozzles oriented in the horizontal direction, are located inside the box-shape spraying device. Each nozzle rail has a connection at a respective end face for a respective supply line.
The spraying device is placed on the top of the vertical lamellae, so that the jets of the washing solution impinge on the vertical lamellae from the side.
The spraying device is quite compact and heavy.
In operation, it has been observed that the wet vertical lamellae and the relatively heavy spraying device with the two supply lines and the tubular foil exert additional stress on the running rails which the running rails frequently cannot withstand. Since the load bearing capacity of running rails is not known in advance and also cannot be tested, running rails are frequently torn off.
It is an additional disadvantage that the upper region of the vertical lamellae is only partially cleaned, because the nozzle rails inside the spraying device cannot be placed at a sufficient height due to design constraints.
It is another disadvantage that the width of the individual nozzle rails is determined by the structural design. Only a relatively small free space remains between the two nozzle rails as a result of the width of the nozzle rails in relation to the fixed width of the spraying device. As a result, wider vertical lamellae are difficult to clean.
Moreover, washing devices with spraying devices that are placed on top of the lamellae have the disadvantage that they can be used only with vertical lamellae. These devices cannot be used to wash drapes and curtains because drapes and curtains do not provide the necessary support at their respective upper sections.
All of the aforedescribed washing devices have a common disadvantage in that the spraying devices form a rigid system which cannot be adapted on location to the different curtain types and attachment modes.
It is therefore an object to provide a device for washing the aforedescribed types of curtains with a spraying device, which can be used universally for all types of curtains and independent of the specific attachment mode of the curtain, and which cleans the curtains across the entire length with a uniform quality.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a device for washing all types of curtains, wherein the curtain is in a suspended and collapsed state. The device includes a moveable wash container and a spraying device supplied from the wash container. The spraying device can be inserted between the curtain and the running rail of the curtain. Furthermore, the spraying device and curtain can be enclosed together with a tubular foil. The spraying device includes two nozzle rails, which are rigidly connected to one another, and connected to a supply line. Each nozzle rail has substantially uniformly spaced nozzles oriented so that the nozzles on one rail point in opposite directions to the nozzles on the other rail. In addition, each nozzle has a nozzle opening and an indentation. The spraying device includes a coupling for connecting to an external holding device. The inner surface of the nozzle rail extends to the height of the upper metal sheet or holding sheet, respectively. Furthermore, the longest axis of each of the indentations of the nozzles is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the horizontally extending nozzle rail. In addition, the indentations have, as observed from a top view, an elliptical shape with end sections having sharp edges; from a cross-sectional view, an involute shape; and in a longitudinal sectional view, the shape of a sector of a circle.
In an embodiment of the invention, the holding device may be a height-adjustable telescopic rod, which can be clamped between the floor and the ceiling of the room and has a clamp fitting for the coupling of the spraying device. Alternatively, the holding device may be an actuatable suction holder, which can be attached to a smooth surface in the room and connected to the coupling of the spraying device by an angled coupling element. In this alternative embodiment, the legs of the coupling element may be designed to have different heights.
The nozzle openings may be disposed at the deepest location of the indentation. Furthermore the nozzle openings may have an oval cross-section and a conical wall with the longest axis of the nozzle opening oriented substantially perpendicular to the horizontally extending nozzle rail.
In one embodiment the nozzle rail is arranged at a predetermined distance from the upper side of the holding metal sheets. A gap formed between the nozzle rail and the upper side of the holding metal sheet may be covered by a cover panel. Alternatively, the nozzle rails may be attached directly on the bottom side of two upper metal sheets, wherein the upper metal sheets are spaced apart and substantially parallel to one another so as to define therebetween a slot that is open on one side. The nozzle rails have a dimensional ratio between the width and the height of less than one. Furthermore, the nozzle rails are connected to one another, for example, directly to their respective inner sides, by a connecting element and have a common supply hookup. Alternatively, the connecting element may be connected to the respective end faces of the nozzle rails by a respective adapter.
The invention eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art devices discussed above. Accordingly, the spraying device is optionally placed on the lamellae or is supported exclusively by an external holding device. In this way, washing device can be used not only with vertical lamellae, but also with all the other types of curtains which do not provide a corresponding Support surface.
This holding device, which may consist of a height-adjustable telescopic rod or an actuatable suction holder, also completely eliminates the risk that the running rail is torn from its anchoring support or that the relatively thin rollers for the curtains break off, because the wet condition of the curtains and the relatively heavy spraying device with the two supply hoses and the tubular foil have a substantial we
Coe Philip R.
Darby & Darby
LandOfFree
Device for washing all types of curtains does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for washing all types of curtains, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for washing all types of curtains will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2570726