Garment refreshing apparatus and method

Abstract

A garment refreshing system includes an enclosure having a top, a bottom, a sidewall, an air inlet and an air outlet, and a hook or other element on the top to facilitate hanging in a closet or other location. An electrical fan at the air inlet is operative to bring air into the enclosure and past the clothing to the air outlet, and a filter supported at the air outlet for collecting odors removed from the clothing: The preferred configuration further includes a support within the enclosure to receive clothing on hangers, and the sidewall includes a closable opening to place clothing into, and remove clothing from the enclosure. The use of a low-voltage D.C. fan, such as a 12-VDC fan, facilitates use in a vehicle. As a further option, a material associated with the air inlet to introduce a deodorizer or fragrance into the enclosure. For example, an absorbent material may be provided to receive a deodorizer or fragrance in liquid form.

1 . Garment refreshing apparatus, comprising: 
 an enclosure having a top, a bottom, a sidewall, an air inlet and an air outlet, the enclosure being dimensioned to receive one or more articles of clothing;    a hook or other element on the top of the enclosure to facilitate hanging;    an electrical fan at the air inlet for bringing air into the enclosure and past the clothing to the air outlet; and    a filter supported at the air outlet for collecting odors removed from the clothing.    
   
   
       2 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a support within the enclosure to receive clothing on hangers.  
   
   
       3 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fan is disposed on the top and the filter is disposed on the bottom of the enclosure.  
   
   
       4 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter includes activated charcoal.  
   
   
       5 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is removable.  
   
   
       6 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter includes a hinge to temporarily remove the filter from the air outlet.  
   
   
       7 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom of the enclosure are rigid or semi-rigid.  
   
   
       8 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall is substantially flexible.  
   
   
       9 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the top and bottom of the enclosure are rigid or semi-rigid;    the sidewall is substantially flexible; and    one or more fasteners allowing the top and bottom to be brought together and fastened with the sidewall contained therein for transport.    
   
   
       10 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall is substantially transparent.  
   
   
       11 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall includes a closable opening to place clothing into, and remove clothing from the enclosure.  
   
   
       12 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 1 , including: 
 a low-voltage D.C. fan; and    a power converter to transform A.C. line voltage to the low-voltage D.C.    
   
   
       13 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 1 , including: 
 a low-voltage D.C. fan; and    a connector to operate the fan from an auxiliary power receptacle in a vehicle.    
   
   
       14 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 1 , including an air-distribution plenum from the air inlet within the enclosure to direct the air past the clothing.  
   
   
       15 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the air-distribution plenum includes one or more perforated flexible tubes.  
   
   
       16 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 1 , including a material associated with the air inlet to introduce a deodorizer or fragrance into the enclosure.  
   
   
       17 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 16 , including an absorbent material to receive a deodorizer or fragrance in liquid form.  
   
   
       18 . Garment refreshing apparatus, comprising: 
 an enclosure having a top, a bottom, a sidewall, an air inlet and an air outlet, the enclosure being dimensioned to receive one or more articles of clothing;    a hook or other element on the top of the enclosure to facilitate hanging;    an electrical fan at the air inlet for bringing air into the enclosure and past the clothing to the air outlet; and    a material associated with the air inlet to introduce a deodorizer or fragrance into the enclosure.    
   
   
       19 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the material is an absorbent material to receive a deodorizer or fragrance in liquid form.  
   
   
       20 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 18 , further including a support within the enclosure to receive clothing on hangers.  
   
   
       21 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 18 , further including a filter supported at the air outlet for collecting odors removed from the clothing.  
   
   
       22 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the fan is disposed on the top and the filter is disposed on the bottom of the enclosure.  
   
   
       23 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the filter includes activated charcoal.  
   
   
       24 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the filter is removable.  
   
   
       25 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the filter includes a hinge to temporarily remove the filter from the air outlet.  
   
   
       26 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the top and bottom of the enclosure are rigid or semi-rigid.  
   
   
       27 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the sidewall is substantially flexible.  
   
   
       28 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the top and bottom of the enclosure are rigid or semi-rigid;    the sidewall is substantially flexible; and    one or more fasteners allowing the top and bottom to be brought together and fastened with the sidewall contained therein for transport.    
   
   
       29 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the sidewall is substantially transparent.  
   
   
       30 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the sidewall includes a closable opening to place clothing into, and remove clothing from the enclosure.  
   
   
       31 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 18 , including: 
 a low-voltage D.C. fan; and    a power converter to transform A.C. line voltage to the low-voltage D.C.    
   
   
       32 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 18 , including: 
 a low-voltage D.C. fan; and    a connector to operate the fan from an auxiliary power receptacle in a vehicle.    
   
   
       33 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 18 , including an air-distribution plenum from the air inlet within the enclosure to direct the air past the clothing.  
   
   
       34 . The garment refreshing apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the air-distribution plenum includes one or more perforated flexible tubes.