Clothing press apparatus and method

Abstract

A foldable and flexible sheet capable of ensuring that an article of clothing, such as a shirt collar or cuff, remains pressed and unwrinkled during and after the laundering of that clothing article. In the practice of an aspect of the present invention, the clothing press apparatus is applied to the desired article of clothing prior to laundering that article. The clothing press is suitably rigid to prevent bunching or wrinkling of the clothing, while ensuring that the proper shape of the article of clothing is maintained. The clothing press is of such a shape, design, and formed of such materials as to prevent the damaging of the laundering machine or other clothing being laundered along with the selected garment.

Having thus described the disclosed subject matter, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A foldable sheet, comprising:
 a frame including a top member, a bottom member, and two side members, wherein said ends frame a central gap;   a cover covering said frame;   a flexible sheet of material having an inner face, an outer face, opposite sides, and opposite ends, said sheet affixed to the frame cover and occupying said central gap;   a top fold point located on said top frame member and a bottom fold point located on said bottom frame member; and   wherein said frame is adapted to fold along an axis crossing said top fold point and said bottom fold point.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable sheet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 each said side member including at least two slide lock elements;   wherein said top frame member is slidably engaged with said two side members, and said bottom frame is similarly slidably engaged with said two slide members; and   wherein said slide lock elements are capable of temporarily preventing said top frame member and bottom frame member from sliding relative to said side members.   
     
     
         3 . The foldable sheet of  claim 1 , wherein said sheet is water resistant and heat resistant such that said sheet is capable of being processed through a mechanical clothes washing machine and a mechanical clothes dryer. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable sheet of  claim 3 , wherein said foldable sheet is adapted to close over a standard shirt collar. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable sheet of  claim 3 , wherein said foldable sheet is adapted to close over a standard shirt sleeve cuff. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable sheet of  claim 3 , wherein said foldable sheet is adapted to close over a standard pant cuff. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable sheet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein said frame members are comprised of steel; and   wherein said top member and bottom member are capable of snapping from an open position to a closed position at said fold points.   
     
     
         8 . A foldable sheet adapted for use with clothing, the sheet comprising:
 a frame including a top member, a bottom member, and two side members, wherein said ends frame a central gap;   each said side member including at least two slide lock elements;   wherein said top frame member is slidably engaged with said two side members, and said bottom frame is similarly slidably engaged with said two slide members; and   wherein said slide lock elements are capable of temporarily preventing said top frame member and bottom frame member from sliding relative to said side members;   an insulating cover covering said frame;   a flexible sheet of material having an inner face, an outer face, opposite sides, and opposite ends, said sheet affixed to the frame cover and occupying said central gap;   a top fold point located on said top frame member and a bottom fold point located on said bottom frame member; and   wherein said frame is adapted to fold along an axis crossing said top fold point and said bottom fold point.   
     
     
         9 . A method of laundering a shirt, comprising:
 providing a foldable sheet including a covered frame comprised of multiple frame members defining a central gap, and a flexible sheet affixed to the covered frame and filling said central gap;   sliding said frame members such that said foldable sheet has a length that corresponds to the length of a portion of clothing having a first face and a second face;   placing a first face of said foldable sheet against said first face of said clothing;   folding said foldable sheet in half such that said first face of said foldable sheet is placed against said second face of said portion of clothing, thereby pressing said portion of clothing flat; and   laundering said shirt using a mechanical clothes washing machine and a mechanical clothes dryer.