Clamping device for hem ends and device for drying and/or smoothing an item of clothing

Abstract

A clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric sections at the hem of an item of clothing during smoothing of the item of clothing on an inflatable member, wherein the clamping device ( 1 ) has a common receiving area for receiving the two ends of the fabric sections and the receiving area is surrounded by an inner ( 21 ) and an outer plate ( 31 ), wherein the plates ( 21, 31 ) are parts of flaps ( 2, 3 ), the inner flap ( 2 ) is connected to the outer flap ( 3 ) by a connecting element ( 5 ), and the connecting element ( 5 ) produces a clamping force between the inner and the outer plate ( 21, 31 ). The invention further relates to a device for smoothing and/or drying an item of clothing, wherein the device ( 100 ) has a housing ( 110 ) via which an inflatable member ( 120 ) for tensioning the item of clothing (H) is held.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . A clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric sections at the hem of an item of clothing during smoothing of the item of clothing on an inflatable member, the device comprising a common receiving area for receiving the two ends of the fabric sections and the receiving area is surrounded by an inner and an outer plate, wherein the plates are parts of flaps, the inner flap is connected to the outer flap ( 3 ) by a connecting element, and the connecting element produces a clamping force between the inner and the outer plate.  
   
   
       17 . The clamping device according to  claim 16 , wherein the outer flap includes two part flaps.  
   
   
       18 . The clamping device according to  claim 16 , wherein the connecting element includes a spring element.  
   
   
       19 . The clamping device according to  claim 18 , wherein the spring element includes a torsion spring.  
   
   
       20 . The clamping device according to  claim 16 , wherein the clamping device has an engaging device for fixing the relative position of the flaps with respect to one another.  
   
   
       21 . The clamping device according to  claim 16 , wherein the outer flap has an actuating lever which extends from the connecting element to the end of the flap which lies opposite to the plate of the flap, and which is arranged at an angle to the plate of the flap.  
   
   
       22 . The clamping device according to  claim 16 , wherein the dimensions of the inner plate correspond to the dimensions of outer plate.  
   
   
       23 . The clamping device according to  claim 16 , wherein the bending resistance of the plates in the longitudinal direction is greater than that in their width direction.  
   
   
       24 . The clamping device according to  claim 16 , wherein the flaps in the area of the plates include an air-permeable material.  
   
   
       25 . The clamping device according to  claim 16 , wherein the inner flap and the outer flap each have a coating in the area of the plates on the side facing the respectively other plate.  
   
   
       26 . The clamping device according to  claim 16 , wherein the clamping device is provided with a weight.  
   
   
       27 . The clamping device according to  claim 16 , wherein the clamping device has a fixing device for fixing the clamping device to a device for at least one of smoothing and drying an item of clothing.  
   
   
       28 . The clamping device according to  claim 27 , wherein the fixing device includes a tensioning device.  
   
   
       29 . The clamping device according to  claim 16 , wherein the fixing device is provided on the end of the inner flap facing away from the plate.  
   
   
       30 . The clamping device according to  claim 16 , wherein the fixing device has a strap via which the clamping device can be tensioned with respect to the device for drying and/or smoothing.  
   
   
       31 . A device for at least one of smoothing and drying an item of clothing, wherein the device has a housing via which an inflatable member for tensioning the item of clothing is held, the device comprising a clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric sections, wherein the clamping device is connected by means of a fixing device to the housing of the device for at least one of smoothing and drying the item of clothing and has a common receiving area for the ends of the two fabric sections.  
   
   
       32 . The device according to  claim 30 , wherein the fixing device is a strap tensioner by means of which the clamping device can be braced with respect to the housing.  
   
   
       33 . A clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric sections at the hem of an item of clothing during smoothing of the item of clothing on a clothes smoothing device having an inflatable member, the clamping device comprising: 
 an inner flap having an inner plate and an inner lever;    an outer flap having an outer plate and an outer lever;    a connecting element connecting the outer flap to the inner flap for pivotal movement with respect to the inner flap between an open condition, in which the inner and outer plates are separated from one another, and a closed condition, in which the inner and outer plates are adjacent one another, the connecting element biasing the outer flap toward the closed condition; and    a receiving area defined between the inner and outer plates for receiving the two ends of the fabric sections.    
   
   
       34 . The clamping according to  claim 33 , wherein the inner plate and the inner level are substantially co-planar.  
   
   
       35 . The clamping according to  claim 33 , wherein the outer lever and the outer plate intersect near the connecting element and the outer lever extends at an angle from the outer plate, the outer plate and the outer level are not co-planar.  
   
   
       36 . The clamping according to  claim 33 , wherein the inner flap faces toward the inflatable member and the outer flap faces away from the inflatable member during operation of the device.  
   
   
       37 . The clamping device according to  claim 33 , wherein the outer flap include a first section and a second section, each section being independently movable with respect to the inner flap.  
   
   
       38 . The clamping device according to  claim 33 , wherein the connecting element ( 5 ) includes a torsion spring.  
   
   
       39 . The clamping device according to  claim 33 , wherein the bending resistance of the plates in the longitudinal direction extending away from the connecting element is greater than the bending resistance in their width direction extending along the connecting element.  
   
   
       40 . The clamping device according to  claim 33 , wherein the inner and outer plates are air-permeable.  
   
   
       41 . The clamping device according to  claim 33 , wherein the inner and outer plates each have a coating in the receiving area on an internal side of the respective plate facing the other plate.  
   
   
       42 . The clamping device according to  claim 33 , further comprising a tensioning device, for connecting the clamping device to a clothes smoothing device and retaining the clamping device in a desired position.