US1817531A - Method of treating articles - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 4, 1931. A. N. SPANEL 1,317,531 METHOD OF TREATING ARTICLES I Original Filed A ril 4, 1928 2 Sheet s-Sheet 1 g 4, 1931- A. N. SPANEL METHOD OF TREATING ARTICLES Original Filed April 4, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mmnon or 'rnmrme aarrcnrs Application filed April 4, 1928, Serial No. 267,394. Renewed August 20, 1929.

My method relates in general to treating articles, such as clothing, beddingand the like, and in particular to a method of treating in which the articles are subjected to the gases or vapors of a volatile substance,

for the purpose of fumigating, disinfecting,

to such gases or vapors while under pres-' sure.

Another object has been to provide a method whereby the odors of the volatile substance employed may be removed from the articles, after they have been fumigated or disinfected.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one form of apparatus by which my method may be carried out, it being obvious that this is only one form of apparatus, and

that it is, therefore, shown only as illustrative of the type of apparatus necessary for the carrying out of my invention.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows a face view,

partly in section, of a receptacle.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, transverse, sectional view, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a complete apparatus, showing it used in the carrying out one of the first stepsof the'method. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the apparatus in use for carrying out one of the subsequent steps of m method.

Referring to the i ustrative apparatus shown in the drawings, 10 represents a portable receptacle, which is made of flexible or collapsible material, preferably non-porous, such as rubberized fabric or the like. Arranged at the top of. the receptacle is a taken on line 3-3 of' central bar 11, preferably of wood, which supports a metallic wire frame 12. The wire frame is preferably of the shape and dimension of the top of the receptacle. Hooks 13 are secured in the central bar, through which a cord 14 or other supporting member may be placed. A wire support 15 is mounted within the upper end of the receptacle and has its central portion 16 secured to the central bar 11. The ends 17 of the support extend upward and are secured to the wire frame-12. The support is provided with a plurality of bends 18 which provide spaced supports for garment hangers, one of which is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The top 20 of the receptacle is sup orted by the central bar 11 and the wire rame 12, and the sides 21 of the receptacle are suspended from the top 20. V

The receptacle is also provided with a bottom 22. The top and bottom, and side walls, are all suitably secured together by stitching or otherwise so as to provide substantially air tight joints. Arranged in the bottom 'of the receptacle and supported by the bottom wal122 is a rigid plate 23, which gives body to the bottom of the receptacle,

and which also provides a suitable support for the connector 24. This connector is preferably tubularin form and extends throu h the plate 23 and bottom 22 of the receptac e. 1

It is suitably secured to the plate 23, and carries at its upper end a perforated chamber 25. This chamber may be screw-threaded to the connector 24, or it may have a perforated cover 26 which is screw-threaded to the body thereof, wherebythe interior of the chamber is accessible either through the connector 24 from the outside of the receptacle, or from the interior thereof by unscrewing the chamber itself or the cover 26 thereof.

One side of the receptacle is provided with a relatively long opening 30, extending preferably from the top down the side thereof, by means of which articles to be treated may be placed into the receptacle. Suitable means are provided for closing this 0 ening when articles have been inserted an these means may ,compri'sea hookless fastener 29, as shown in the drawings.

which case there will be suflicient leakage In the carrying out of my process it is essential that some means are employed to produce a current of air, and for convenience I have shown a household vacuum cleaner 31. Such vacuum cleaner is provided as is customary with a suction connector 32 and with a discharge connector 33. The attachment hose 34 of the vacuum cleaner is employed in the carrying out of my process.

In carrying out my process by the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings,

. I first place the articles to be treated within thereof.

After the articles have been placed within the receptacle, the openin 30 is closed by the fasteningmeans emp oyed. A circulation of air is provided for either by leakage throu h the fasteningmeans or through a smal is to be employed is now laced within the chamber 25. The volati e substance employed will depend upon the desired treatmentof the articles. If, for instance, the treatment is for the extermination of moths or rendering the articles moth-proof, para dichlorbenzene or its equivalent would constitute the agent. Obviously, the volatile substance may be in theform of crystals or lumps, or if a liquid is used, some suitable absorbent material may be placed withthe portion of the opening 30 which is notinthe chamber 25, which will then be saturated with the agent.

After the volatile substance has been placed within the chamber 25, the hose 34:

v1s used to attach the discharge connector 33 of the vacuum cleaner 31 to the connector 24 of the receptacle, and the vacuum cleaner operated. current of airwill now .be caused to pass through the vacuum cleaner,

hose 34, and into the receptaclelO. Such air will be charged by its passage through or over the volatile substance. The crystals of the volatile substance are then passed through the fabric of the articles contained therein. Since the capacity of closed is relatively small-as compared to the volume of air being assed into the receptacle a pressure will e built up within the receptacle, which will cause its sides to be distended, as shown in Fig. 4. If desired, the. opening 30. may be completelyclosed, in

1 opening at the top of'thev opening 30. The volatile substance which gases, vapors, particles, or.

of air through the fastenin means to maintain the desired pressure. he gases or vapors of the volatile substance, after having thoroughly and completely penetrated the articles within the receptacle, are allowed to escape through the portion of the opening 30 which is not closed at the top. of the receptacle, or through the fastening means.

The abovestep of my method 1s carried on for a suitable length of time, which will depend upon the number of articles contained within the receptacle, the texture of the materials of such articles, the amount of volatile substance used, and the volume and velocity of the air. After the ingress of sufiicient volatile substance into the recep-' tacle and after the disinfectin action has been substantially completed, t e operation of the vacuum cleaner may be continued and uncharged air blown into the reto the suction connector 32 thereof and uncharged air may be drawn through the rece tacle. Y

I desired, the volatile substance may be removed from the chamber 25 before the suction step of the method is started. When it is desired to remove the odor from thedisinfected articles, uncharged air may be forced or drawn through the receptacle. k

ceptacle, either through the portion of the opening 30 which is not closed, or through the imperfect seal of the fastening means.

Such atmospheric. air in passing over and around the articles will remove from them any disagreeable odors with which they might be charged as a result of the disinfecting or fumigating step of the process. This step of the process. is continued as long as is necessary or until all of the odors a have been removed from the articles. The length of time required to perform this step will vary, as in the pressure step of the process, and will depend largely upon the number of articles contained within the receptacle, and the texture of the fabrics forming such articles, as well as upon the nature of the volatile substance employed. The completion of'this step of the process may be determined by the condition of the air which is being discharged from the dischirigte connector 33 of the vacuum cleaner.

er the suction step of the process has been completed,- the vacuum cleaner is stopped, and the receptacle opened where- V C t ceptacle. Or the hose 34 may be attached upon the articles may be removed therefrom.

Obviousl under some conditions the air which is being passed through the receptacle will ass not only around and between the artic es, but through the" articles as well.

While I have described the receptacle 10 as being made of non-porous material, it is obvious that I may use a receptacle made of semi-porous material or even one made fromv porous material.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim is: v

1. A method of treating articles comprising the placing of the articles in a portable collapsible receptacle, forcing air charged with a volatile substance through the receptacle, subjecting the air in the receptacle to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, and then drawin air unimpregnated through the receptacle y suction;

2. A method of treating articles comprising the placing of the articles in a portable collapsible receptacle, forcing air charged with a volatile substance through the receptacle, and then drawing air unimpregnated from .the receptacle by suction.

3. A method of treating articles comprising the placing of the articles in a portable,

' flexible receptacle, charging a current of air with a volatile substance, conducting such current of air through the receptacle, and

then forcing uncharged air through the receptacle in a reverse direction.

I 4. A method of treating articles comprising the placing of the articles in a portable, flexible receptacle, forcing air toward, into and through the receptacle, charging such air, in its course, with a volatile substance,

then forcing uncharged air into, through,

and out of the receptacle.

5. A method of treating articles comprising the placing of the articles in a flexible receptacle, forcing air toward and into the receptacle, charging such air, in its course,

with a volatile substance, creating a pressure in the receptacle greater than atmospheric pressure, and then forcin such air through, and out of the receptacl e.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

' ABRAHAM N. SPANEL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,817,531. Gra'nted Augnst 4, 1931, to

ABRAHAM N. SPANEL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 20, claim 1, and line 26, claim 2," for "air unimpregnated" read unimpregnated air; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of September, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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