System for washing garments in plumbing fixtures like showers, combined bathtub - shower and the like

Abstract

The invention concerns a system for stain removing, washing, drying and ironing treatment of garments and/or washing of dishes in pre-existing plumbing fixtures like showers, bathtubs, combined shower—bathtub and shower—sauna, each provided with a protective stall. The system comprises a frame, composed of at least two posts ( 15 ) connected by a top crossbeam ( 16 ), placed inside the stall; collapsible or foldable hangers or models ( 18 ), assembled on the frame for hanging garments thereon; means ( 19, 20 ) for supplying and delivering a washing and rinsing fluid for garments supported by hangers or models ( 18 ); and means per supplying airflow in the stall for drying and ironing said garments, while the latter are hung up on said hangers or models. Alternatively to hangers or models, the system comprises plate-rack for dishes to be washed.

1 . System for stain removing, washing, drying and ironing treatment of garments in plumbing fixtures provided with a protective stall, the system comprising:
 a frame comprised of at least two posts ( 15 ) connected by a top crossbeam ( 16 ) placed transversely inside said stall;   means on said frame for hanging garments thereon to be treated, said means being comprised of hangers or models ( 18 );   means ( 19 ,  20 ) for supplying and delivering a washing and rinsing fluid for garments carried by said hangers or models ( 18 ); and   means for supplying airflow in said stall for drying and ironing said garments, while the garments are hung up on said hangers or models.   
     
     
         2 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein said hangers or models ( 18 ) for the garments to be treated have different dimensions to support garments of various sizes and to keep each garment spread and stretched so that front parts of the garments are separated from rear parts of the garment. 
     
     
         3 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein said hangers or models ( 18 ) are removable, collapsible, or foldable against the posts and/or the crossbeam of the loadbearing frame when not in use, thereby not impeding use of the plumbing fixture as such. 
     
     
         4 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the washing fluid is water and said loadbearing frame is combined with at least one compartment ( 17 ) hosting equipments for supplying and distributing pressurized water towards the garments, loading and distributing detergent, heating water, evacuating the washing water towards the drain of the plumbing fixture, as well as a hot air generator for drying and ironing garments, and control instruments. 
     
     
         5 . System according to  claim 2 , wherein the means for supplying and distributing washing and rinsing water comprise at least one spraying bar ( 19 ) with nozzles ( 20 ) to deliver water jets towards the garments to be treated, said spraying bar ( 19 ) being able to be horizontal or vertical and vertically movable relatively to the hung and stretched garments on the hangers or models ( 18 ). 
     
     
         6 . System according to  claim 5 , wherein the means for supplying and distributing washing and rinsing water comprise two or more spraying bars with nozzles to deliver water jets in opposite directions, said bars being vertically movable relatively to the hung and stretched garments on the hangers or models ( 18 ). 
     
     
         7 . System according to  claim 6 , wherein said spraying bars ( 19 ) are driven vertically and can be moved in parallel or independently one from each other. 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein each spraying bar ( 19 ) comprises clusters of spraying nozzles water—fed selectively or simultaneously. 
     
     
         9 . System according to  claim 5 , wherein means to cause the rotation of at least some of water sprays and change selectively the pressure of delivered water are provided. 
     
     
         10 . System according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one nozzle ( 21 ) for a rotating water spray at a level of specific parts of a garment to be treated. 
     
     
         11 . System according to  claim 2 , further comprising one or more nozzles for delivering water jets into at least some spread and stretched garments on hangers or models ( 18 ). 
     
     
         12 . System according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for pointing and stopping selectively at least some water jets at a single garment or some parts that are particularly dirty of a garment to be treated. 
     
     
         13 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the stall inside of the plumbing fixture is sub-dividable into areas or boxes to point and direct the jets of washing liquid into each boxes according to a corresponding programmable and selective washing cycle for insisting on a single garment or specific parts that are particularly dirty of a garment. 
     
     
         14 . System according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one nozzle for a manual or automatic spray of the stain removing fluid on specific parts of the garment to be treated. 
     
     
         15 . System according to  claim 2 , further comprising means for programming different operating cycles through the choice of the number or movements of sprays and washing water pressure and drying and ironing times of the hung and stretched garments on hangers or models ( 18 ). 
     
     
         16 . System according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for supplying dry cleaning fluid and means for collecting and reusing said fluid. 
     
     
         17 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein said frame ( 15 ,  16 ) is foldable, or collapsible, or at least partially removable to allow an effective use of the plumbing fixture as such. 
     
     
         18 . System according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more elements ( 100 ) for supporting dishes ( 101 ) configured to support the dishes with respect to the means ( 19 ,  20 ) for supplying/delivering the washing fluid with the corresponding surfaces orthogonal to the corresponding jet of said fluid. 
     
     
         19 . System according to  claim 18 , wherein the supporting elements ( 100 ) of the dishes ( 101 ) are removable, totally or partially, from said stall, or the supporting elements are collapsible or foldable to allow the use of the plumbing fixture as such. 
     
     
         20 . System according  claim 18 , further comprising sensors for detecting a shape and/or a dimension and/or a presence of a garment or dish ( 101 ) and a controlling unit programmed to process signals received from said sensors and to feedback adjust the system operation. 
     
     
         21 . Shower stall provided with the system for stain removing, washing, drying and ironing garments and/or dishes according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         22 . Bathtub stall comprising the system for stain removing, washing, drying and ironing garments and/or dishes according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         23 . Combined shower—bathtub assembly comprising the system for stain removing, washing, drying and ironing garments and/or dishes according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         24 . Combined shower—sauna assembly comprising the system for stain removing, washing, drying and ironing garments and/or dishes according to  claim 18 .