Patent · US Expired

Spot cleaning system and method

US5253378A · kind A · utility

33Cited by
14References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 30, 1992
Grant dateOct 19, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 30, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC D)Textiles; Paper
  • CPC primaryD06F43/002
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A substantially self-contained system and corresponding method provides practical spot cleaning of soiled garments without requiring the use of chlorinated solvents. A soiled garment may optionally be pretreated with either of a water based or petroleum based nonchlorinated cleaner. Thereafter, a relatively high level of vacuum force is applied to the soiled garment to be cleaned, and comprises the flushing agent for both the soil and the pretreatment cleaner. Drying effects obtained with the vacuum force may be augmented by the addition of compressed air directed onto the garment. A self-contained workstation practicing such methodology may optionally include an electric water boiler for generating steam to be applied as a supplement to vacuum and also include an industrial grade vacuum pick-up with a waste collector for generating the relatively high vacuum force, preferably at least about 80 inches of mercury of static pressure.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.