Cuff and collar press having asymmetric pleaters

Abstract

An improved cuff and collar press for pressing the pleated portions of the sleeves of a shirt as well as the collar. The cuff and collar press has a cylinder-shaped pressing pad that mates with a similarly curved press head to press the collar and cuffs of a shirt. Asymmetrical pleating protrusions extend from opposite ends of the cylinder-shaped pressing pad. The asymmetrical pleating protrusions have a protruding portion for receiving the pleated portion of a shirt sleeve and a cutaway portion that receives the unpleated portion of the sleeve such that the unpleated portion is not crushed when the pleated portion is pressed thereby improving the pressing operation.

1 . A pressing device for pressing a shirt, said device comprising: 
 a base for supporting said pressing device;    a lower cylinder-shaped pressing pad mounted on said base having opposing ends;    asymmetric members extending from each of said opposing ends of said lower cylinder-shaped pressing pad, said asymmetric members having a protruding portion for receiving a pleated portion of a sleeve of the shirt and a cutaway portion for receiving an unpleated portion of the sleeve of the shirt, said asymmetric members are defined by a front edge having an angled edge, a blunt-nose edge, a longitudinal edge and a transverse edge;    an upper cylinder-shaped pressing head adapted to mate with said lower cylinder-shaped pressing pad; and    a powered cylinder for selectively pressing said upper cylinder-shaped pressing head against said lower cylinder-shaped pressing pad and lifting said cylinder-shaped pressing head off of said lower cylinder-shaped pressing pad.    
   
   
       2 . A pressing device for pressing an article of clothing, said device comprising: 
 a lower pressing surface having at least one asymmetric member; and    an upper pressing surface adapted to mate with said lower pressing surface.    
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said lower pressing surface is cylindrical and said upper pressing surface is cylindrical.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said asymmetric member is defined by a front edge having an angled edge, a blunt-nose edge, a longitudinal edge and a transverse edge.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said front edge of said asymmetric member is further defined by a fillet edge positioned between said longitudinal edge and said transverse edge.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said longitudinal edge extends arcuately from said blunt-nose edge.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said asymmetric member having a protruding portion for receiving a pleated portion of a sleeve of the article of clothing and a cutaway portion for receiving an unpleated portion of the sleeve of the article of clothing.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 2  further comprising a powered cylinder for selectively pressing said upper pressing surface against said lower pressing surface and lifting said upper pressing surface off of said lower pressing surface.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said powered cylinder further comprises a timer activated actuator.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said asymmetric member extends from an end of said lower pressing surface.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 2  further comprising a base for supporting said pressing device.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said lower pressing surface further comprises a base pad conformed to said pressing surface.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said lower pressing surface further comprises a second pad conformed to said base pad.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said lower pressing surface further comprises a cover conformed to said second pad.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said base pad is substantially silicone foam.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said second pad is substantially flannel.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said cover is substantially cloth.  
   
   
       18 . A method of pressing an article of clothing, said method comprising the steps of: 
 placing a cuff of the article of clothing on an asymmetric member of a pressing assembly, said asymmetric member being defined by a protruding portion and a cut-out portion, said cut-out portion providing relief for gathering of the unpleated portion of the sleeve portion of the article of clothing;    aligning said pleated portion of the sleeve portion of the article of clothing on said protruding portion of said asymmetric member;    gathering said unpleated portion of the sleeve portion of the article of clothing at said cut-out portion of said asymmetric member;    closing an upper member of the pressing assembly against a lower member of the pressing assembly to press the sleeve portion of the article of clothing; and    opening said upper member of the pressing assembly away from said lower member of the pressing assembly, whereby the sleeve portion of the article of clothing may be removed from the pressing assembly.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said lower member of the pressing assembly having a cylindrical pressing surface and said upper member of the pressing assembly having a mating cylindrical pressing surface.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of: 
 placing a collar of the article of clothing on the pressing assembly;    aligning said collar of the article of clothing on said cylindrical pressing surface of said lower member of the pressing assembly;    closing said upper member of the pressing assembly against said lower member of the pressing assembly to press the collar of the article of clothing; and    opening said upper member of the pressing assembly away from said lower member of the pressing assembly, whereby the collar of the article of clothing may be removed from the pressing assembly.