GB2297982A - Ironing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An ironing board has a work surface, a heatable flat iron, docking means associated with said board and adapted to cooperate with the flat iron, and heating means associated with the iron and/or said docking means and adapted to heat the iron when the latter is cooperating with the docking means. Control means interrupt the supply of energy to the heating means when the cooperation between the iron and the docking means is interrupted by the user. The docking means may be adapted to receive said flat iron in a horizontal, or substantially horizontal, orientation whereby the iron is parallel to, or slightly angled from, the ironing board work surface. The board may be heated, the heating occuring when the iron is not being heated. There may be pneumatic means for holding a garment on the board. A resilient foam means may cover the board which when removed allows the board to act as a warming platform.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO IRONING AND PRESSING APPARATUS This invention relates to ironing and pressing apparatus and has particular reference to domestic ironing equipment the pressing and ironing of clothes.

It has long been recognised in commercial laundries that the pressing of clothes can most effectively and quickly be performed by means of apparatus which applies heat to both sides of the fabric. At the present time various attempts have been made to produce a heated ironing board and ironing assembly but these have not been technically entirely satisfactory, and for this reason have not met with significant commercial success. The prior art heated ironing boards have either been unable to provide a sufficiently high temperature to obtain a significant effect or, if the temperature was significantly high, there were inadequate safeguards to prevent the user from becoming burnt or at least made severely uncomfortable by the heat given off by the board.Thus, although domestic ironing is considered by many as a tedious and time consuming chore, the majority of people still iron clothes using only a flat iron and an unheated ironing board or table.

Apparatus previously tried in an attempt to speed up the process includes heated rollers between which domestic items are intended to be passed in order to effect pressing. Such equipment has failed to gain general acceptability, however, because the more complex shapes of garments and wearing apparel cannot satisfactorily be accommodated by such a roller arrangement.

In another attempt, by way of example, French Patent Specification No. 2128966 describes a sleeve-board with a heatable surface having a series of holes or ducts for the passage or steam and optionally an articulated pressure plate.

European Patent Specification No. EP 0126530 provides an altogether different approach, this specification discloses ironing apparatus, a feature of which is a heated ironing board including means whereby the temperature control of the cooperating pressing iron can be regulated by circuitry fitted into the board instead of being housed in the flat iron. Such apparatus has, traditionally, been used with a cordless ironing arrangement in which the iron is provided with a plurality of electrical contacts for the supply of both power and for connection of the temperature sensing circuitry within the iron to the control circuitry fitted into the board.

Such apparatus, however, tends to suffer from the disadvantage that with use entry of the electrical connectors into their cooperating connectors on the board in a docking station do not always provide the same level of electrical connectivity. Thus, for example, the formation of a small amount of oxide on one of the terminals can result in a relatively high resistance being experienced in the electrical connection to the sensing surface of the action. This will indicate a much lower temperature than is in fact present on the iron surface. Thus, the control circuitry in the board senses the (erroneous) lower temperature and the control circuitry responds by further heating of the iron.In some embodiments of the invention where the iron has a low friction sole plate, such as that one formed of polyethylenetetraflouride, the additional heat provided to the iron can be such as to cause buckling of the ironing surface, thus effectively destroying the iron.

This fault may be an intermittent fault since, of course, even if the iron does overheat provided it is not left in the docking station for a long period the user will probably not notice any significant difference.

Replacing the iron on a future occasion may be such that the electrical connection is correctly made, the correct sensing is given and no further power is supplied to the iron. Such a random fault, is not easily preventable; neither is it easily detectable; the present invention seeks to overcome this problem.

A further problem of prior art irons is that where electrical energy has been employed the terminals of the docking station have remained electrically live whether or not an iron has been in contact therewith. This represents a potential danger to the user, the applicant's invention further seeks to overcome this problem.

According to the present invention, therefore, there is provided laundry equipment comprising an ironing board, a heatable flat iron and docking means associated with the said board and adapted to cooperate with the flat iron characterised by the provision of heating means associated with the iron and/or said docking means and adapted to heat the iron when the latter is cooperating with the docking means and control means for interrupting the supply of energy to the heating means when the cooperation between the iron and the docking means is interrupted by the user.

In one aspect of the present invention the heating means may be provided with the flat iron itself. In another aspect of the invention the heating means may be provided by the docking means and the iron may be heated by conduction, that is to say by the surface of the iron being in contact with a heated plate or other heating means. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that on removal of the iron from the docking means the supply of heating energy to the heating means is interrupted to prevent further heating. In these circumstances where heating is by conduction, the heating contact surface for the iron may be arranged such that it cools quickly once the iron is removed.In a further aspect of the present invention, a thermostat is associated with the heating means in order to control the heat energy supplied to the heating means so that when the iron reaches a predetermined temperature the energy supplied to the heating means is interrupted.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention the energy for the heating means is electrical energy. The iron, however, may be heated by an electrical heater or by high frequency heating means, or simply by the provision of super heated steam under pressure to a container therein. The arrangement may be such that when the iron is disconnected the supply of energy to the docking means and/or to the heating means when the iron is not in contact with the docking means is interrupted, thereby preventing potential injury to a user. Thus, where the iron is heated by electricity, once the iron is disengaged from the docking means, the current supply to the connecting electrical terminals is interrupted.

The means for interrupting the supply of energy to the heating means when the iron is disengaged from the docking means may be a micro-switch or other switch means operable in response to the engagement and disengagement of the iron with the docking means. When the iron is returned to cooperate with the docking means, the electric current supply to said terminals may be reinstated.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention the surface of the board is heated. The heated surface of the board is preferably thermostatically controlled. The heating means for the board may be by means of an electric heating element embedded within the board or may be by means of a hot air supply, for example, an air supply generated by a fan heater.

In another aspect of the invention the board may be constructed and arranged to provide for an airflow to be drawn through the board to hold articles being ironed on the surface of the board. Said vacuum air supply may be provided in response to a foot or other control.

In a further embodiment of the present invention the board may be heated when the iron is not heated and vice versa. This provides a load sharing arrangement so that the overall power consumption for the equipment forming the subject of the invention is significantly reduced over that required when both are in operation simultaneously. Such an arrangement is particularly useful where the power supply voltage is limited to 110 v or 115 v.

The ironing board may have an electrical resistance element associated therewith for generating heat to raise the temperature of the surface of the platform or table to a value in the region of 90"C to 12000. The electrical resistance elements may be provided in one of a number of ways. For example, the electrical resistance element may be embedded in the material of the platform for which for this purpose may be suitable ceramic or plastic insulating material or may be of metal with suitable ceramic or plastic insulators or insulators or other suitable material between the metal and the electrical resistance elements, or may be aluminium or other material having high thermal conductivity. The electrical resistance elements may, for example, be covered by a cover which overlays the surface of the platform.Such a cover may be formed as a separate laminate sheet or as a sleeve which could be held in position on the platform my suitable means such as tie straps or press studs or by bolt ropes arranged in cooperating grooves on the table or board. Means may be provided for connecting the platform electrical heater to the main electrical supply carried by the board may be arranged through a flip flop type switch to provide alternative heating of the board and/or heating of the iron when the latter is in the docking station.

Means may be provided to detect the temperature of the working platform, such means may comprise one or more sensors and the temperature detection may be used to control the energy supplied to the heating element.

Temperature sensors may be of the conventional bi-metal strip type or may be thermo-couplers which may be used not only to detect the temperature of the board but also that of the cooperating flat iron. A thermo-couple or a thermistor may be used on the flat iron as an alternative to a conventional bi-metal type of temperature regulator, but it is preferred that a traditional bi-metal type of temperature regulator is used in the flat iron and that the temperature of the iron is controlled during the heating cycle from within the iron itself.

In another aspect of the invention, the board and/or the iron are thermostatically controlled to fixed temperatures.

Sensing means may be provided on the board to sense the temperature of the iron through electrical contacts between the iron and the board, or by sensor means in contact with the sole plate when the iron is docked. The sensing of the sole plate temperature may be by infra red means sensing the temperature of the sole plate when the iron is "docked"; in an alternative, temperature information concerning the heat of the sole plate may be generated within the iron and transmitted to control means in the board.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention the cooperating flat iron may have an electrical resistance heating element supplied from the same power supply as the electrical resistance element of the heated board.

Both the electrical resistance element of the pressing iron and that of the platform are supplied through the same circuit and the temperatures independent of each component are independently controlled. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the iron is in the docking station and capable of drawing energy for heating of the same, the supply of power to the heating elements of the board is terminated.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention the iron may be provided with an electric lead which is permanently connected to a socket on the board but is arranged for the supply of power only when the iron is disposed in a docking station or docking area on the board.

The control circuit on the board may include a timer which automatically switches off the electrical resistance heating element to the platform and to the iron after a predetermined period of time. Thus, if a user is away for a period of, say three minutes, the current supplied to both board and iron is automatically switched off and can only be reset by physically operating the on/off switch on the equipment.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention the iron may be provided at its rearward end with a pair of projecting lugs, each of which is adapted to engage with corresponding recesses provided in the board for the purpose of making electrical contact with the electricity supply to the board itself. Typically, the connectors may be provided in a slot in an upper surface of the board adapted to receive the iron and the iron is stood on its end with the lugs entering a recess in the board's surface so that the electrical contacts carried thereby may contact the appropriate contacts on the board.

In another aspect of the invention, the electrical supply to the equipment is by a two supply system; characterised by the provision of protection means to prevent user contact with the sole plate of the iron during heating.

In order to effect heating of the iron it may be returned to a "docking" station for heating either by the supply of energy to means either in the iron for direct heating or in the board for indirect heating. The docking station may be substantially "flat" or may be angled with respect to the board surface. Where the iron has a steam capability, this is disabled when the iron is "docked".

In one aspect of the invention, a lever or other operating means is associated with the handle of the iron and is operatively connected with the water supply valve so that the supply valve is opened only when the iron is being held by its handle, thus ensuring that when the iron is "docked" and left by the user, the water supply to the steam means is interrupted. Alternatively a lug may be provided which is connected to the water supply valve, and which is depressed on docking of the iron so that the water supply is automatically disconnected during thermal recharging of the iron.

Resilient foam cover means may be provided for the working surface of the ironing of board to cover the hard upper surface thereof. This cover serving to provide a resilient flexible surface suitable for pressing or ironing garments by means of a flat iron. Quick release means may be provided for securing the resilient foam cover means in position over the board while at the same time allowing the ready removal to expose the upper surface for use as a food warming platform or for other heating uses.

Following is a description by way of example only and with methods of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrically heated iron and board in accordance with the present invention, and Figure 2 is a wiring diagram of the system shown in Figure 1. Figures 3, 4 and 5 represent an exploded view of an ironing board of the present invention, and the arrangement of a board heating element. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view A A' through the ironing board of figures 3,4 and 5, showing the operative interaction between the iron and ironing board. Figure 7 is a perspective view of a horizontal docking embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is another embodiment of the horizontal docking arrangement, in which the iron heating means is external to the iron itself.

The ironing equipment illustrated in figure 1 of the accompanying drawings comprises a board (10) and an iron (11). The board (10) comprises a generally plane art working platform (12) having an upper working surface (13) and an underside (14) which is supported on a scissor stand (15) of known construction which is adapted to fold flat against the underside (14) of the board to aid storage when not in use. The platform (12) is provided at its rearward end (16) with an iron rest platform (17). The upper surface (18) is raised upwardly of surface (13) of board working platform (12) and its adapted to receive iron (11) when it is not being used in ironing. Iron rest platform (17) carries in a central part (19) an iron docking element (20) comprising a circular disk having a substantially diametric slot (21) and a mains indicator light (22).The disk comprising docking element (20) is rotatable with respect to central part (19) of iron rest platform (17). The rearward end of iron rest platform (17) is provided with a mains switch (23) which is operatively connected to mains supplied lead (24) for connecting the apparatus to an electrical outlet socket. As shown in Figure 2 the mains lead (24) is connected to a pair of spaced terminals (25) located in diametric slot (21).

The forward end (25) of board working platform (12) is tapered at a relatively sharp radius for the ironing of sleeves and other parts of a garment. The upper surface (13) of platform (12) carries a pair of heating elements (27, 27-) each of which follow a convoluted part and are fixed into place by means of fixing (28). A thermostat (29) is provided in the board surface the arrangement being such that when the temperature of the board surface reaches a predetermined level the thermostat is caused to switch out thereby terminating the power supply to the board element (27,27-).

In another embodiment of the present invention the platform (13) comprises a supporting base (84) having two electrical resistance elements (86,87) each of which overlays support platform (4) and are secured by a heat distribution cover panel formed in two parts (88,89).

The material used for the heat distribution panel (88,89) is preferably a light metal such as aluminium or an aluminium alloy or other metal having a high thermo conductivity.

The operating surface temperature envisaged for the surface of the board is within the range 93"C to 1200C which gives faster and better ironing results when used with a domestic pressing iron having a temperature lying in the range of 1200C to 2100C. It is envisaged that the temperature control of the ironing board surface will be adapted to the temperature control of the domestic pressing iron such that a temperature of 90"C at the board surface will be provided with an ironing temperature of 1200 C, and at the other end of the range an ironing board surface temperature of approximately 1200 C will be matched by an iron temperature of approximately 210 C.Corresponding adjustments which may be incremental or infinitely variable may be provided by the temperature control mechanism. In a particular embodiment of a the present invention, the temperature of the board will be fixed at 90" C and the temperature of the iron will be variable and under the control of the user. The board operating temperatures are achieved by employing electrical resistance elements (86,87) (see Figure 4) having the appropriate electrical resistance to give an electrical loading in the region 0.4 watts per cm2. A typical surface area for a traditional ironing board surface is in the region of 2250 cm2 and at 0.4 watts per cm2 the total electric loading would be 900 watts.The heat up time in an electrical element having these parameters will match that of a currently available domestic pressing iron so that the heated board will be ready for use a the same time as a normal pressing iron, assuming that both are switched on at the same time. The 900 watts electrical load considered in combination with the 110 watt electrical load of a currently available dry steam iron gives a total electrical consumption of 2 kw, but because the ironing time is reduced by at least 33sh9O the overall electrical energy consumption is in many cases less than that consumed with an unheated board over a longer period taken to complete pressing and ironing operations.

The heat distribution elements (88,89) shown in Figure 4 are aluminium with elongate fixing holes (90) allowing for firm clamping to the platform parts (86,78) by rivets, screws or the like whilst still allowing for longitudinal expansion to take place upon heating. The element (88) is provided with retaining legs (91) for attaching the element (88) to platform (86).

The electrical resistance elements (86,87) may comprise electrical resistance wires encased in mica but may be made of other materials such as lead/tin for elements encapsulated in mylar plastics film which has temperature resistance of up to 1300 C to 1500 C. In an alternative embodiment, electrical resistance wires may be embedded directly with suitable insulation into the material of the heat distribution element (88). Heat insulated leads (89) extend from the surface of the board to a control box in the manner described above.

As illustrated in cross-section in Figure 6, a cover (96) for the board has a flexible bolt rope (104) attached to the longitudinal periphery of the cover (96) which latter comprises two layers (102, 103) of fabric encasing a reticulated foam layer (94). The platform (84, 85) has an edge groove (95) into which the bolt rope (104) is introduced to slide the cover (96) onto the board and retain it firmly under tension. The upper surface layer (102) of the cover (96) is made from a thin, high quality tightly woven cotton or like material while the underside has a looser more open weave. Longitudinal tension is maintained by attaching the bolt rope (104) to resilient fasteners or springs (97) fixed to one end of the platform (76).One end of the cover (96) may be left open so that the foam element (94) may be withdrawn for replacement of the cover if this should become damaged or worn with long use while retaining the foam element (94) this latter may be a reticulated polyethylene or like foam which is silicone coated by vulcanising technique to make it more resilient at high temperatures.

In another embodiment, not illustrated, the foam material layer (94) is directly secured to the heat distribution plates (88) by means of a suitable heat resistant adhesive, the whole is then covered by a single layer of fabric as a cover.

The iron may be a flat iron of the kind generally well known to a man skilled in the art and being adapted to be heated by an electrical resistance provided within the iron (not shown), the temperature of which is controlled by means of circular control (31) whereby the temperature of the surface (30) can be controlled.

The iron may be a steam iron, in which case it has a water reservoir (32) and a steam control mechanism (33) whereby on depression of the mechanism (33) steam is caused to be emitted through holes provided in base plate (30). The rear of the iron is provided with a pair of spaced lugs (34), each containing a pair of electrical contacts (35). When the iron is not being used the iron is stood on end as shown in the diagram and the lugs (34) are entered into the diametric slot (31). The contacts (35) on each of lugs (34) comes into electrical contact with corresponding contacts located within slot (21).

At the same time one of the lugs contacts the pressure surface of a micro-switch to urge the micro-switch to the closed position, thereby supplying electric current to each of the contacts (25) provided within slot (21). The electrical circuit is thus made via the iron thermostat and the heating element within the iron to heat the iron to the temperature set by the thermostat. An indicator to light (36) may be provided on the iron to provide an indication as to when the iron is being supplied with electrical power and is being heated and when the electrical power is being interrupted by the thermostat.

On removal of the iron from the docking member, the removal of lugs (34) results in the operation of the micro-switch to terminate the supply of electricity to each of contacts (25) so that in the event of foreign articles entering slot (21) the terminals are no longer live.

The reticulated foam layer (94) provided on the surface of the board provides effective insulation against the hot surface (103) (see Figure 6). The ironing pressure exerted by the iron upon the garment to be pressed causes collapse of the reticulated foam layer (94) and brings the garment to be pressed into juxtaposition with the heated surface (103). Thus heat is provided both from the iron surface and from the surface of the board.

Relaxation of pressure upon the board results in the reticulated foam layer (94) recovering to urge the garment out of significant heat exchanging contact with the heated surface (103) with the result that the garment is substantially insulated from the effect of the heated surface. This has the significant feature that the garment is protected from the effects of the heated surface (103) of the board while at the same time protecting the operative from the effects of the heated surface.

In this way clothes and other items laid on the board will not be of a sufficient weight to depress the reticulated foam layer (94) to an extent for any significant heating effect of the surface (103) to become apparent on the garment while ironing pressure will have an immediate effect.

The applicants have shown that the operative combination of a board heated to a fixed temperature of 90" C will permit ironing with a variable temperature steam iron to produce a variety of effects. In the embodiment described with reference to Figures 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawing, a number of perforations may be provided in the surface plates (88,89) and the intermediate layer and base support (84) may be provided with through passages connecting the perforations and connecting to a plenum chamber below platform (84) (not shown).The plenum chamber may be connected to vacuum means by means of a air valve the arrangement being such that when an item is laid on the surface for ironing, operation of the air valve causes a depression within the plenum chamber to withdraw air through perforations in the surface (88,89) with a view that the article is held in place on the table to permit ironing to take place.

This will tend to prevent the "slippage" of garments and items from the table on the floor when an operative is moving a garment about the table.

Figure 7 shows a different embodiment of the docking mechanism. In this embodiment lugs 34 as previously described of iron 11 are docked horizontally into engagement member 20 which is a raised portion of iron rest platform 17. The raised portion has a generally rectilinear docking face 44 into which are recessed two female sockets for the lugs 34. The sockets are each provided with contacts (not shown) on their upper surfaces which correspond to the lug contacts 35. The rest platform 17 is provided with a sole plate contact area 41 which is made of heat-resistant insulating material.

In use the, iron is engaged with the docking member 20 at the end of each ironing event in order to reheat the sole-plate 30. The orientation of the engagement member allows engagement to be made laterally, without rotating the iron 11 significantly towards the vertical. This makes the iron considerably more convenient to use.

However the steam capability should to be disabled for the period that the iron is thermally recharging away from the working surface of the ironing board.

Figure 8 shows diagrammatically an alternative embodiment of the invention in which iron 11 is shown above ironing board 10. The docking member 20 is a recessed plate in the iron rest platform 17, which plate heats a juxtaposed iron sole plate by thermal conduction. The recessed plate is made from aluminium alloy and is shaped to correspond with the "foot print" of iron sole plate 30. The recessed plate 20 is heated by a heating element (not shown) embedded in the plate. The heating element is connected to control means which detects the presence of the iron on the recessed plate and activates the heating element if the iron temperature is below the user selected value.

The user selects the iron temperature by means of thermostatic controller dial 40 on platform 17.

In use, the user is prevented from touching the heated recessed plate by the footprint of the iron sole plate. This allows a two wire electrical supply system to be used without danger of electrocution to the user by contact with an active heated surface. When the iron is disengaged the control means detects the absence of the iron and disconnects the heating element from the power supply.

Claims (16)

1. Laundry equipment comprising an ironing board provided with a work surface, a flat iron having a heatable sole plate, docking means associated with said board and adapted to cooperate with the flat iron, and heating means associated with the iron and/or said docking means and adapted to heat the iron when the latter is cooperating with the docking means and control means for interrupting the supply of energy to the heating means when the cooperation between the iron and the docking means is interrupted by the user.

2. Equipment as claimed in claim 1 and characterised in that the docking means is adapted to receive said flat iron in a horizontal, or substantially horizontal, orientation whereby the iron is parallel to, or slightly angled from, the ironing board work surface.

3. Equipment as claimed in claim 2 and characterised in that said flat iron is provided with steam means adapted for selective production of steam and characterised in that the steam means includes means to prevent the production of steam while the iron is docked.

4. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and characterised by temperature setting means associated with said flat iron or with said board and adapted to maintain the temperature of the engaged iron at a predetermined level.

5. Equipment as claimed in claim 4 and wherein said temperature setting means is associated with said flat iron and characterised in that said setting means operates by thermostatic means.

6. Equipment as claimed in claim 4 wherein said temperature setting means is associated with said board and characterised by sensing means adapted to monitor the temperature of the engaged iron.

7. Equipment as claimed in claim 6 and characterised in that said sensing means comprises an infra-red sensor directed to the iron sole plate, or a heat sensor adapted to contact the engaged iron sole plate.

8. Equipment as claimed in any preceding claim and characterised in that the control means comprises switch means operable in response to the engagement and disengagement of the iron with the docking means.

9. Equipment as claimed in any preceding claim and characterised in that the heating means is provided integral to the flat iron.

10. Equipment as claimed in any preceding claim and characterised in that the heating means is integral to the docking means.

11. Equipment as claimed in claim 7 and characterised in that the heating means comprises a heated contact surface adapted to receive said flat iron and transfer heat thereto by thermal conduction.

12. Equipment as claimed in any preceding claim and characterised in that said docking means include shield means adapted to prevent user contact of the flat iron heated surface when docked.

13. Equipment as claimed in any preceding claim and characterised in that the ironing board working surface is adapted to be heated during operation.

14. Equipment as claimed in claim 13 and characterised in that the control means is adapted to cause heating of the board when the iron is not heated and vice versa.

15. Equipment as claimed in any preceding claim and characterised in that the docking means is adapted to maintain said flat iron sole plate at an angle less than 90 degrees from the horizontal.

16. Equipment as claimed in any preceding claim and characterised in that the board is adapted to provide for an airflow to be drawn through the board to hold articles being ironed on the surface of the board.