AU2015201200B2

AU2015201200B2 - Steam ironing appliance

Info

Publication number: AU2015201200B2
Application number: AU2015201200A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stéphane Loprete; Cédric METAY; Cédric Nivon
Original assignee: SEB SA
Current assignee: SEB SA
Priority date: 2014-03-24
Filing date: 2015-03-09
Publication date: 2019-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-09
Also published as: FR3018831B1; ES2700612T3; FR3018831A1; AU2015201200A1; EP2933371A1; RU2665437C2; EP2933371B1; RU2015106637A3; RU2015106637A; CN104947404A; CN104947404B; IL237598B

Abstract

5 STEAM IRONING APPLIANCE Household electrical appliance comprising an ironing and/or smoothing device (1) intended to be held by hand and a portable base (2) comprising a surface (21) for receiving the ironing and/or smoothing device, the base (2) comprising 10 at least one blocking element (4) that can be rotated between a folded position in which the ironing and/or smoothing device (1) can be taken off the base (2) and an immobilisation position in which the ironing and/or smoothing device (1) is immobilised on the base (2) by the blocking element (4), characterised in that the base (2) comprises return means (6) exerting a torque on said blocking 15 element (4) whose direction reverses on passing an intermediate position located between the immobilisation position and the folded position, said torque exerted by the return means (6) tending to move the blocking element towards the folded position when the blocking element (4) lies within a first angular range between the intermediate position and the folded position and tending to 20 move the blocking element (4) towards the immobilisation position when the blocking element (4) lies within a second angular range between the intermediate position and the immobilisation position. - Figure for the abstract: Fig 1

Description

STEAM IRONING APPLIANCE

This disclosure relates to a household electrical appliance comprising an ironing and/or smoothing device.

It is known, from patent application FR 2 874 628 filed by the applicant, an ironing appliance comprising an iron and a portable steam-generating base equipped with a location for receiving the iron. In this document, the base comprises an arc that can be rotated between a folded position in which the iron can be taken off the base and an immobilisation position in which the iron is 10 fastened to the base so that the appliance can be carried with the handle of the iron.

However, such an appliance has the disadvantage of having a device for locking the arc in immobilisation position which is relatively complex and expensive to manufacture. Moreover, such a locking device comprises an 15 unlocking button such that the locking device can be damaged if the user forces the arc to move it into folded position without first having actuated the unlocking button.

Thus, it may be desirable for at least an embodiment of the disclosure to remedy these disadvantages by proposing a household electrical appliance 20 which may comprise an ironing and/or smoothing device intended to be held by hand and a portable base comprising a surface for receiving the ironing and/or smoothing device, in which the means for immobilising the ironing and/or smoothing device on the base may be simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Another purpose of an embodiment may be to propose means for immobilising 25 the iron which are extremely ergonomic to use and which in particular cannot be damaged by incorrect handling by the user.

An embodiment relates to a household electrical appliance comprising an ironing and/or smoothing device intended to be held by hand and a portable base comprising a surface for receiving the ironing and/or smoothing device, 30 the base comprising at least one blocking element that can be rotated between a folded position in which the ironing and/or smoothing device can be taken off

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2015201200 31 Oct 2018 the base and an immobilisation position in which the ironing and/or smoothing device is immobilised on the base by the blocking element.

The disclosure relates to a household electrical appliance comprising an ironing and/or smoothing device intended to be held by hand and a portable base 5 comprising a surface for receiving the ironing and/or smoothing device, the base comprising at least one blocking element that can be rotated between a folded position in which the ironing and/or smoothing device can be taken off the base and an immobilisation position in which the ironing and/or smoothing device is immobilised on the base by the blocking element, characterised in that 10 the base comprises return means exerting a torque on the blocking element whose direction reverses on passing an intermediate position located between the immobilisation position and the folded position, the torque exerted by the return means tending to move the blocking element towards the folded position when the blocking element lies within a first angular range between the 15 intermediate position and the folded position and tending to move the blocking element towards the immobilisation position when the blocking element lies within a second angular range between the intermediate position and the immobilisation position.

Such a characteristic may provide an appliance in which the element for 20 blocking the ironing and/or smoothing device on the base may be very ergonomic to use, the return means may tend to maintain the blocking element in the immobilisation position when the blocking element is moved manually near this position, and in the folded position when the blocking element is moved manually near this position. In particular, such a characteristic may 25 remove the need for any device for locking the blocking element requiring actuation of an unlocking button to move the blocking element.

According to another characteristic of the appliance, the ironing and/or smoothing device may have a gripping handle, which may be possible to carry the entire appliance by the handle when the ironing and/or smoothing device is 30 immobilised on the base by the blocking element.

According to yet another characteristic, the blocking element may be kept in contact with the ironing and/or smoothing device by the return means when the

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2015201200 31 Oct 2018 blocking element is in immobilisation position.

Such a characteristic may offer the advantage of eliminating any play between the blocking element and the ironing and/or smoothing device to keep the latter held more securely on the base.

According to another characteristic, the blocking element may be arranged substantially in the plane of the surface for receiving the ironing and/or smoothing device when it is in the folded position.

Such a characteristic may improve access to the surface when the blocking element is in folded position.

According to another characteristic, the return means may consist of at least one spring.

According to yet another characteristic, the blocking element may be mounted so that it can be rotated about an axis, the spring may be a helical torsion spring having a first end connected to a point on the base and a second end 15 connected to a point on the blocking element, the point on the blocking element may be located between the point on the base and the axis, being aligned with them, when the blocking element is in intermediate position.

Such return means may offer the advantage of being efficient as well as simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

According to another characteristic, the blocking element may have the shape of an arc.

According to another characteristic, the base may comprise a stop immobilising the rear part of the ironing and/or smoothing device laterally, the blocking element may immobilise the front part of the ironing and/or smoothing device 25 laterally when it is in the immobilisation position.

According to another characteristic, the ironing and/or smoothing device may be an iron comprising a soleplate surmounted by a body comprising an overhanging part extending between the soleplate and a rear side of the body, the stop may have a projection which inserts in a cavity of complementary 30 shape formed in a lower side of the overhanging part of the iron.

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Such a characteristic may offer the advantage of providing a small stop which perfectly immobilises the rear part of the iron. The appliance so produced may therefore offer the advantage of being relatively compact and of leaving the rear part of the iron visible. Moreover, the cavity receiving the projection of the stop 5 may offer the advantage of being hidden by the rear part of the iron when the iron is resting on its soleplate, thereby preserving the visual appearance of the iron.

According to another characteristic, the base may contain a reservoir and a tank for generating pressurised steam.

According to another characteristic, the appliance may comprise a stop device limiting the stroke of the blocking element beyond or at the immobilisation position.

According to another characteristic, the surface for receiving the iron may be inclined with respect to the lower plane of the base.

Such an inclination may make the appliance more ergonomic to use.

The purposes, features and advantages of embodiments of this disclosure will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows of a specific embodiment of the disclosure, given as a non-limiting example, referring to the appended drawings in which:

- figure 1 is a side view of an ironing appliance according to an embodiment when the blocking arc is in position for immobilising the iron;

- figure 2 is a perspective view of the appliance of figure 1 with the iron lifted off the base;

- figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the sub-assembly comprising the 25 surface for receiving the iron and the blocking arc;

- figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the sub-assembly of figure 3 with the blocking arc in folded position;

- figure 5 is a plan view of the sub-assembly of figure 3;

- figures 6, 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views along line VI-VI of figure 5 when 30 the blocking arc is respectively in folded position, intermediate position and

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2015201200 31 Oct 2018 immobilisation position.

Only the elements required to understand the disclosure have been shown. To make the drawings easier to understand, the same elements have the same references in all the figures.

Figures 1 and 2 show an ironing appliance, of steam generator type, comprising traditionally an iron 1 resting on a portable base 2 integrating, in a known manner, a tank for producing pressurised steam, not shown on the figures, the base 2 being powered electrically by a cable 24.

The iron 1 comprises a heating soleplate 10 surmounted by a monobloc plastic 10 body integrating a handle 11, the latter extending towards the rear of the iron by two arms 12 comprising a rear side forming the heel of the iron, the body comprising an overhanging part extending between the soleplate 10 and the heel of the iron. The handle 11 extends traditionally towards the front of the iron by a nose covering the front tip of the soleplate 10, the iron 1 being connected 15 to the base 2 by a flexible cord 3 integrating the electrical power supply wires of the heating soleplate 10 as well as a pipe for supplying steam to the soleplate of the iron.

The base 2 comprises a flat lower surface 20 intended to rest on a horizontal plane and has an inclined upper surface 21 comprising a recess forming a 20 location 21A for receiving the iron 1, this location 21A having a flat bottom inclined at about 30° with respect to the lower surface 20 and having projecting pads 21B to thermally insulate the base 2 from the soleplate 10 of the iron.

The upper surface 21 of the base 2 comprises, in front of the location 21A, a panel 23 for controlling the appliance and contains in the space located under 25 the location 21A, a reservoir designed to supply water to the tank for producing steam, the reservoir being equipped with a filling flap 25.

In order to immobilise the iron 1 on the base 2, the base 2 comprises, at the bottom of the location 21A, a stop 22 on which the heel of the iron rests when the iron 1 is placed on the location 21A, the stop 22 having advantageously a 30 projection 22A which inserts in a cavity 13 formed on a lower side of the overhanging part located at the rear of the iron 1 so as to immobilise the rear

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2015201200 31 Oct 2018 part of the iron 1 laterally and vertically in the location 21 A.

The front part of the iron 1 is immobilised on the base 2 by a blocking arc 4 mounted so as to pivot at the part of the location 21A receiving the front tip of the soleplate 10 of the iron, the arc 4 having advantageously a triangular shape fitting the contour of the front end of the location 21 A.

The arc 4 can pivot between a folded position, illustrated on figures 2 and 6, in which the arc 4 is engaged in a reception groove formed on the edge of the location 21 A, being arranged parallel to the upper surface 21 of the base, and a position for immobilising the iron, illustrated on figures 1 and 8, in which the arc 10 4 rests against the upper surface of the nose of the iron 1, the arc 4 comprising advantageously a flexible part 40 formed by overmoulding in the hollow part of the arc 4 coming into contact with the body of the iron 1 when the arc 4 is in immobilisation position.

According to figures 3 to 4, which show separately the sub-assembly defining 15 the upper surface 21 of the base, the arc 4 consists preferably of a plastic part comprising two branches, defining an upturned V, comprising a lower end crossing an opening 26 formed on the upper surface of the base 2 to be mounted so as to pivot about an axis 5 arranged inside the base 2, the axis 5 being supported by lugs 27 projecting under the upper part of the base 2.

More particularly according to an embodiment, the base 2 comprises return means 6 exerting a return torque on the arc 4 whose direction reverses on passing an intermediate position, illustrated on figure 7, located between the folded position and the immobilisation position, the return torque moving the arc to the folded position when the latter lies within an angular position located 25 between the folded position and the intermediate position and moving the arc 4 to the immobilisation position when the latter lies within an angular position located between the intermediate position and the immobilisation position.

The return means consist advantageously of two helical torsion springs 6 arranged near the lower end of the branches of the arc 4, each spring 6 having 30 a first curved end engaging in an orifice 28A formed in a support stud 28 projecting under the upper surface 21 of the base and a second curved end engaging in a notch 41 formed on the edge of the branch of the arc 4.

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According to figures 6 to 8, the notch 41 is formed on the edge of the arc 4 such that the notch 41 is above the line d going through the orifice 28A and the axis 5 of rotation when the arc 4 is in folded position, illustrated on figure 6, and is below the line d when the arc 4 is in immobilisation position illustrated on figure 5 8, in which the arc 4 forms advantageously an angle of about 50° with respect to the bottom of the location 21A, the notch 41 being aligned with the line d when the arc 4 is in an intermediate position, illustrated on figure 7, in which the arc forms advantageously an angle of about 20° with respect to the bottom of the location 21A.

Preferably, the arc 4 also comprises a stop 42 which rests against an edge 26A of the opening 26 to limit the pivoting stroke of the arc 4 in a stop position, not illustrated on the figures, located slightly past the immobilisation position.

The operation of the blocking arc return means will now be described.

When the arc 4 is in the folded position illustrated on figure 6, the spring 6 15 exerts a return torque applied in direction Ri, tending to maintain the arc 4 in the folded position.

If the user wants to lock the iron 1 on the base 2, he places the iron 1 on the location 21A by resting the soleplate 10 on the pads 21B and by engaging the projection 22A of the stop 22 in the cavity 13 located at the rear of the iron, then 20 manually takes the arc 4 so as to lift it towards the intermediate position illustrated on figure 7, acting against the return torque exerted by the springs 6, the return torque decreasing progressively to become zero as the arc passes the intermediate position. When the arc 4 is moved manually above the intermediate position, the return torque exerted by the springs 6 is reversed, the 25 springs 6 now exerting a return torque in direction R2 which increases progressively as the arc 4 approaches the blocking position in which it comes up against the nose of the iron 1.

The user can therefore release the arc 4 when it is raised past the intermediate position, allowing the springs 6 to automatically move the arc 4 against the nose 30 of the iron 1.

In the blocking position, the arc 4 is applied against the upper side of the body

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2015201200 31 Oct 2018 of the iron 1, such that the iron 1 is immobilised perfectly, without play, on the base 2. The user can then carry the generator using the handle 11 of the iron.

If the arc 4 is raised above the intermediate position when the iron 1 is not placed on the location, the arc 4 pivots under the effect of the torque of the return springs 6 until the stop 42 at the bottom of the arc 4 rests against the edge 26A of the opening 26, thereby preventing the arc 4 from tilting too much towards the rear of the base 2.

When the user wants to use the iron 1, he simply takes the arc 4 to move it away from the nose of the iron 1, exerting a force greater than the return torque 10 exerted by the return springs 6, this force progressively decreasing as the arc 4 approaches the intermediate position. When the arc is below the intermediate position, the user can release the arc 4, which is moved automatically by the return springs 6 to the folded position.

Such a device for blocking the iron on the generator base therefore offers the 15 advantage of being both simple in design and very ergonomic to use. In particular, the risk of damaging the blocking device when the user applies excessive force on the arc to move it from the blocking position to the folded position is eliminated.

Obviously, the disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described and 20 illustrated, which has only been given as an example. Other modifications remain possible, particularly from the point of view of the structure of the various elements or the substitution of technical equivalents, without going beyond the scope of protection of the disclosure.

Thus, in an alternative embodiment not shown on the figures, the arc stop could 25 be arranged such that the stop position of the arc in which the stop rests against the edge of the opening, corresponds to a position where the iron is immobilised in which the arc is very close to the iron without however touching it.

Thus, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the tank for generating pressurised steam could be replaced by an instantaneous vaporisation chamber 30 that can be arranged in the base or in the iron and be connected by a water pipe to a reservoir contained in the base.

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Thus, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the iron could be replaced by a smoothing brush.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to 10 preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments.

Claims

1) Household electrical appliance comprising an ironing and/or smoothing device intended to be held by hand and a portable base comprising a

5 surface for receiving the ironing and/or smoothing device, the base comprising at least one blocking element that can be rotated between a folded position in which the ironing and/or smoothing device can be taken off the base and an immobilisation position in which the ironing and/or smoothing device is immobilised on the base by the blocking element, 10 wherein the base comprises return means exerting a torque on said blocking element whose direction reverses on passing an intermediate position located between the immobilisation position and the folded position, said torque exerted by the return means tending to move the blocking element towards the folded position when the blocking element lies within a first 15 angular range between the intermediate position and the folded position and tending to move the blocking element towards the immobilisation position when the blocking element lies within a second angular range between the intermediate position and the immobilisation position.

2) Household electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the ironing 20 and/or smoothing device comprises a gripping handle and in that the entire appliance can be carried with the handle when the ironing and/or smoothing device is immobilised on the base by the blocking element.

3) Household electrical appliance according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the blocking element is kept in contact with the ironing and/or smoothing device

25 by the return means when the blocking element is in immobilisation position.

4) Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said blocking element is arranged substantially in the plane of the surface for receiving the ironing and/or smoothing device when it is in the folded position.

30

5) Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the return means consist of at least one spring.

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6) Household electrical appliance according to claim 5, wherein the blocking element is mounted so that it can be rotated about an axis and wherein the spring is a helical torsion spring having a first end connected to a point on the base and a second end connected to a point on the blocking element,

5 the point on the blocking element being located between the point on the base and the axis, being aligned with them, when the blocking element is in intermediate position.

7) Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said blocking element has the shape of an arc.

10

8) Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the base comprises a stop immobilising the rear part of the ironing and/or smoothing device laterally and in that the blocking element immobilises the front part of the ironing and/or smoothing device laterally when it is in the immobilisation position.

15

9) Household electrical appliance according to claim 8, wherein the ironing and/or smoothing device is an iron comprising a soleplate surmounted by a body comprising an overhanging part extending between the soleplate and a rear side of the body and in that the stop has a projection which inserts in a cavity of complementary shape formed in a lower side of the overhanging 20 part of the iron.

10) Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the base contains a reservoir and a tank for generating pressurised steam.

11) Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 10, 25 further comprising a stop device limiting the stroke of the blocking element beyond or at the immobilisation position.