AU5721399A - Ironing board cover - Google Patents

Description

WO 00/26462 PCT/AU99/00701 1 Ironing board cover The present invention relates to an ironing board cover and in particular to an ironing board cover including a tensioning means to assist in keeping the cover taut over an ironing board. 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Domestic ironing boards generally include an ironing table mounted on a pair of pivoting legs that adjust the height of the table. The ironing table also includes a pad to assist in dissipating the heat from an iron, the pad itself covered by a suitable material cover. This cover usually not only extends over 10 the surface of the table but also extends around the periphery of the table. A drawstring or an elastic binding is known to be used around the periphery to assist in keeping the cover in place. The problem with these is that they are not very effective in keeping the cover taut across the table especially in the longitudinal direction. Through use the cover generally moves or rotates 15 requiring continuos adjustment. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ironing board cover which overcomes some of the abovementioned problems or at least provides the public with a useful alternative. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 20 Therefore, in one form of the invention though this need not be the only or indeed the broadest form there is proposed an ironing board cover for an ironing board having an ironing table, said cover including; a first sheet adapted to extend over said ironing table; and a second elastic sheet secured to said first sheet adapted to extend 25 at least partially under said ironing table to provide tension to the first sheet across said ironing surface. Preferably said second sheet is secured to the periphery of said first sheet. Preferably said second sheet is adapted to extend substantially underneath said table. SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) (RO/AU) WO 00/26462 PCT/AU99/00701 2 Preferably said second sheet includes a slit or placket to enable the cover to be fitted over legs supporting said table. Preferably said slit is closable slit by the use of a fastener means. Preferably said fastener is a zipper. 5 Preferably said second sheet extends substantially underneath said table. In a further form of the invention there is proposed an ironing board cover for covering an ironing table, said cover including a substantially elastic sheet adapted to extend at least partially under said table to thereby provide a tension effect for the portion of the cover extending over said table. 10 Preferably said second sheet extends substantially underneath said table. Preferably said second sheet further includes a plurality of apertures adapted to allow for the legs of the ironing board to extend therethrough. In a still further form of the invention there is proposed an ironing board cover for an ironing board having an ironing table, said cover extending over the 15 surface of said table and at least partially underneath said table, said cover including a plurality of sheets secured together, at least some of said sheets being elastic, and wherein said sheets are secured to each other in an arrangement so as to maintain lateral separation of each elastic sheet. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 20 To further assist in understanding the invention reference is made to the following drawings in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical ironing board with twin with a cover; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the underside of an ironing board, 25 illustrating an ironing board cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention; SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) (RO/AU) WO 00/26462 PCT/AU99/00701 3 Figure 3 (a) is a perspective view of the underside of an ironing board illustrating an ironing board cover according to a second embodiment of the invention; and (b) is a perspective view of the cover as in (a) with further tensioning attachments; 5 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the underside of an ironing board illustrating a cover according to a third embodiment and including a zip to assist in the tensioning of said cover. Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of one end of the ironing board cover of Figure 4; 10 Figure 6 is a partial perspective view the other end of the ironing board cover of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a perspective view of an ironing board having single pivotable legs and a cover according to yet another embodiment of the invention; and Figure 8 is a partial perspective underside view of the cover of Figure 7. 15 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the figures there is shown in Figure 1 an ironing board 10 of a conventional construction includes an ironing table or surface 12 supported by a pair of pivoted leg assemblies 14 and 16. The ironing table extends longitudinally from a tapered end or nose 18 to the other end or heel 20. The 2 0 leg assembly 14 is pivotably engaged to the ironing board at a position nearer the nose 18, while leg assembly 16 is slidably engaged to the ironing board nearer the heel 20. The ironing board is adapted to be folded to a stored position in which the leg assemblies assume a position substantially flush against the underside of the table or surface 12. To achieve this, the outer end 25 22 of leg assembly 14 is folded upwards in direction 24 whilst the outer end 26 of leg assembly 16 is folded upwards in direction 28. Since the leg assembly 16 is pivotably fixed to the heel end 20, this folding action causes the inner end 30 of the leg assembly 14 to slide towards the nose in direction 32. The ironing table 12 includes a peripheral edge 34 usually of an 'L' shape. 30 Located on the underside 36 of the table 12 are various supporting structures SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) (RO/AU) WO 00/26462 PCT/AU99/00701 4 that may include support rails (not shown) that enable the table to be used for ironing purposes. Generally an ironing board cover 38 extends across the top surface of the table 12, around the peripheral edge 34 with the edge of the cover 38 located close to the proximity of the 'L' shaped peripheral edge 34. A 5 drawstring or the like (not shown) is known to extend around the edge of the cover 38 which is then drawn together to thus keep the cover in place over the table. It is also known to place a layer of material (not shown) between the table and the cover so as to provide a better ironing surface. According to a first embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figure 2, the 10 cover 38 includes a first sheet 40 extending over the upper surface of table 12 around the edge 34, and a second sheet 42 extending partially underneath the table 12 and secured by appropriate means (such as stitching) to the peripheral edge 44 of the first sheet 40. The second sheet is manufactured from an elastic material to provide a tensioning force to the first sheet 40 and 15 thus keep it taut over the ironing table 12. Suitable materials may include synthetic materials such as those used in wetsuits, where the material is homogeneous in its resilience in all directions. An opening 45 in the second sheet allows the cover to be fitted over the table and for the legs 14 to slidably move along the underside of the table from a storage to a working position. It 20 has been found that even a relatively small surface area of the elastic material provides sufficient tensioning to keep the cover taut in place. Although the elastic material generally has to extend substantially around the periphery of the first sheet constructions where the second sheet is made in part from an elastic material are envisaged in the present invention. 25 Turning now to Figure 3 (a) and (b), it has been found that reducing the total area of the elastic sheet on the nose portion of the underside of the table does not significantly affect the performance of the cover. Thus, instead of a larger underside nose areas as in Figure 2, in the second embodiment, the elastic material is essentially a constant width around the periphery of the first sheet. 3 0 Further assistance in keeping the cover taut may be obtained form the use of straps 47 as shown in Figure 3 (b) and which straddle across the width of the ironing board from their longitudinal sides. These straps can be secured by the use of studs, or hook material fasteners as are commonly known under the trade mark Velcro. SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) (RO/AU) WO 00/26462 PCT/AU99/00701 5 To maximise the tensioning force and provide a neat appearance one may maximise the total surface area of the second sheet by having it extend substantially underneath the board, this exhibited in Figure 4. The second sheet 42 includes two longitudinal slits or openings 46 and 48 allowing the leg 5 assemblies 14 and 16 to pass therethrough. Extending between the two openings is a closable slit 50 that allows the cover to be folded laterally outwards to enable it to be fitted onto the table. Being closable by an appropriate means, such as zipper 52, allows the second sheet to maintain its resilience and thus to keep the cover taut over the ironing table. Since the 10 second sheet is made from a resilient material, when the leg assemblies are being folded, the second sheet around the opening 46 stretches to accommodate the inner end 30 of leg assembly 14 sliding towards the nose 18. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate in more detail the structure of the second sheet 15 around the openings 46 and 48. When the cover is being fitted onto the ironing table the zipper 52 is completely undone allowing the cover to be fitted onto the table. When the cover has been fitted onto the table the zipper 52 is then used to close slit 50 to ensure that the fit is tight and that the resulting tension extending underneath the table keeps the cover taut. Referring to 20 Figure 6, a hook 54 may be attached to the zipper and to strap 56 which is fixed to the periphery of the first sheet ensuring that the opening 48 substantially retains its shape. It also may assist in locating the zipper in place although the zipper is preferably of a construction that is self-locking. Referring now to Figures 7 and 8 there is illustrated yet a further embodiment 25 of the invention to suit ironing boards whose leg assemblies are of a single tubular construction. The openings 46 and 48 thus do not need to be as wide as those shown in the first embodiment. In addition, opening 46 can be closable by the use of two zips, 52 and 58, both closing slit 50 and defining between them opening 46 through which extends the leg assembly 14. This 3 0 enables the leg assembly 14 to slidably move underneath the board whilst keeping the slit closed, except for the aperture between the two slits, this ensuring that the tension on the second sheet is maintained. This moveable opening thus allows the table to be adjusted in height whilst ensuring that the second sheet 42 and thus the cover remains taut. Opening 48 is still of a wider 3 5 construction than the width of the leg assembly to allow for the two leg assemblies to both coexist in that opening when the table is in the stored SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) (RO/AU) WO 00/26462 PCT/AU99/00701 6 position. The cover may include other features that are not essential to the invention but provide additional assisting features. For example, the cover may include opening 60 allowing an iron holder to extend from the table. Further improvements to the invention may be the use of different types of 5 elastic materials, such as ones where the elasticity is in one-dimension only, for example in the weft rather than the warp direction or vice versa. It is to be understood that throughout the specification the intention has been to illustrate the invention and not to limit it thus. Other embodiments and variation to the invention may be performed by the person skilled in the art 10 without deviating from the scope and spirit of the invention. The purpose of the description has thus been to illustrate the invention and not to limit it thus. SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) (RO/AU)

Claims (11)

1. An ironing board cover for an ironing board having an ironing table, said cover including; 5 a first sheet adapted to extend over said ironing table; and a second elastic sheet secured to said first sheet adapted to extend at least partially under said ironing table to provide tension to the first sheet across said ironing surface.

2. An ironing board cover as in claim 1 wherein said second sheet is secured 10 to the periphery of said first sheet.

3. An ironing board cover as in any one of the above claims wherein said second sheet is adapted to extend substantially underneath said table.

4. An ironing board cover as in any one of the above claims wherein said second sheet includes a slit or placket to enable the cover to be fitted over 15 legs supporting said table.

5. An ironing board cover as in claim 4 wherein said slit is closable slit by the use of a fastener means.

6. An ironing board cover as in claim 5 wherein said fastener is a zipper.

7. An ironing board cover as in any one of the above claims wherein said 2 0 second sheet extends substantially underneath said table.

8. An ironing board cover for covering an ironing table, said cover including a substantially elastic sheet adapted to extend at least partially under said table to thereby provide a tension effect for the portion of the cover extending over said table. 25

9. An ironing board cover as in any one of the above claims wherein said second sheet extends substantially underneath said table. SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) (RO/AU) WO 00/26462 PCT/AU99/00701 8

10. An ironing board cover as in claim 9 wherein said second sheet further includes a plurality of apertures adapted to allow for the legs of the ironing board to extend therethrough.

11. An ironing board cover for an ironing board having an ironing table, said 5 cover extending over the surface of said table and at least partially underneath said table, said cover including a plurality of sheets secured together, at least some of said sheets being elastic, and wherein said sheets are secured to each other in an arrangement so as to maintain lateral separation of each elastic sheet. 10 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) (RO/AU)