EP0328727B1 - Laundry ironing or pressing apparatus - Google Patents
Laundry ironing or pressing apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0328727B1 EP0328727B1 EP19880112545 EP88112545A EP0328727B1 EP 0328727 B1 EP0328727 B1 EP 0328727B1 EP 19880112545 EP19880112545 EP 19880112545 EP 88112545 A EP88112545 A EP 88112545A EP 0328727 B1 EP0328727 B1 EP 0328727B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- platform
- pressure plate
- ironing board
- electrical
- board
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F81/00—Ironing boards
- D06F81/08—Ironing boards incorporating heating, steaming, or forced ventilation means
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G25/00—Household implements used in connection with wearing apparel; Dress, hat or umbrella holders
- A47G25/72—Garment-pressing devices
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F71/00—Apparatus for hot-pressing clothes, linen or other textile articles, i.e. wherein there is substantially no relative movement between pressing element and article while pressure is being applied to the article; Similar machines for cold-pressing clothes, linen or other textile articles
- D06F71/18—Apparatus for hot-pressing clothes, linen or other textile articles, i.e. wherein there is substantially no relative movement between pressing element and article while pressure is being applied to the article; Similar machines for cold-pressing clothes, linen or other textile articles specially adapted for pressing particular garments or parts thereof
- D06F71/28—Apparatus for hot-pressing clothes, linen or other textile articles, i.e. wherein there is substantially no relative movement between pressing element and article while pressure is being applied to the article; Similar machines for cold-pressing clothes, linen or other textile articles specially adapted for pressing particular garments or parts thereof for pressing sleeves, trousers, or other tubular garments or tubular parts of garments
- D06F71/29—Trousers
Definitions
- the present invention relates to domestic equipment primarily for use in performing laundry tasks such as pressing and ironing clothing, but which is also adaptable for other uses. Although it has long been recognised in commercial laundries that pressing of clothes can most effectively and quickly be performed by means of apparatus which applies heat to both sides of the fabric, this fact has not in the main been taken into account in the domestic laundry. Pressing or ironing tasks are almost always performed in a domestic situation by applying a heated flat iron to the upper surface of garments supported on an unheated platform in the form of an ironing board or table.
- Apparatus previously tried in an attempt to speed up the process includes heated rollers between which the domestic items are intended to be passed in order to effect pressing thereof.
- Such equipment has failed to gain general acceptability however because the rather complex shapes of garments of wearing apparel cannot satisfactorily be accommodated by such a roller arrangement.
- FR-A 2128966 describes a sleeve-board with a heatable surface having a series of holes or ducts for the passage of steam, and an articulated pressure plate attached thereto at one end of the said heatable surface.
- the present invention seeks, therefore, to provide an improved apparatus capable of enabling domestic ironing or pressing operations to be performed more quickly and easily than has hithertofore been possible, whilst at the same time providing comfort and security for the user.
- domestic laundry equipment comprising a heatable ironing board having a substantially flat working platform, platform support means for supporting the working platform spaced from the ground, a heater for raising the temperature of the platform surface, and a pressure plate for cooperation with the heatable platform to form a static press assembly for pressing garments such as trousers, characterised in that means are provided for detachably connecting the pressure plate to the heatable platform.
- the present invention preferably includes a working platform in the form of an ironing board or table having 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 120°C.
- the electrical resistance element may be provided in one of a number of different ways.
- the electrical resistance element may be embedded in the material of the platform, which for this purpose may be a suitable ceramic or plastics insulating material, or may be of metal with suitable ceramic or plastics insulators, or insulators of 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 element may be carried by a cover which overlies the surface of the platform.
- a cover may be formed as a separate laminar sheet or as a sleeve which can be held in position on the platform by suitable means such as tie straps or press studs, or by bolt ropes engaged in cooperation grooves in the board or table. It is preferred that there are provided means for connecting the said electrical control circuit to the platform electrical heater whereby the said electrical control circuit exercises simultaneous independent temperature control of said flat iron and the said heatable platform by regulating the electrical supply thereto.
- the electrical control circuit means comprises an energy regulator, means for connecting the said energy regulator to a source of electrical supply and means for connecting said energy regulator to the said electrical resistance heater of the said platform.
- Means may be provided to detect the temperature of the surface of the working platform. Such means may comprise one or more sensors, and this temperature detection can be used to control the energy supplied to the resistance element.
- the temperature sensors may be of a conventional bi-metal strip type or may be thermocouples.
- the present invention therefore provides apparatus by means of which a domestic ironing board may be used as a trouser press by cooperatively adapting it with a pressure plate and means for heating the trousers or other garment pressed between the board and the plate.
- the ironing board is heated but optionally the pressure plate may additionally be provided with heater means, in which case both the pressure plate and the ironing board platform have heaters, whereby garments are pressed by heat applied to both sides simultaneously.
- the present invention provides a heated ironing board having end portions which fold under the platform to reduce the length of the ironing board and allow it to be used as a food warming hot plate.
- the said electrical platform heater comprises two separate heater elements extending over different areas of said platform, the said platform being formed in two parts substantially co-extensive with said two heater elements respectively, one said platform part being foldable with respect to the other said platform part between a first position where it lies substantially coplanar with said other platform part and a second position where it is folded to a position out of the plane of said second platform part.
- Coupling means may be provided on the said plate for mounting the latter to the said platform of the ironing board, the said coupling means including resilient biasing means for urging the said plate into contact with the said platform under pressure when said plate means is mounted thereon, and heater means on the said pressure-applying plate.
- a resilient foam cover means may be provided for said working platform to cover the hard upper surface thereof and provide a resilient flexible surface suitable for pressing or ironing garments by means of the flat iron, and quick release attachment means for securing said resilient foam cover means in position over the said working platform whilst allowing ready removal thereof to expose the said hard upper surface for use as a food-warming platform or other heating uses.
- the ironing board 11 comprises a generally planar approximately rectangular platform 12, tapered at one end, and carried by an underlying support frame generally indicated 13 and comprising two legs 14, 15 pivotally connected at a point intermediate therein by a pivot 16, and each having a transverse foot 17 for engaging the ground when the board 11 is erected for use.
- Suitable means for inter-engaging the support frame legs 14, 15 with the underside of the platform 12 to effect variation in the height of the platform above the ground are provided, but such may be conventional and are not described in further detail herein.
- a socket 23 for receiving a cooperating plug of an electrical lead of a pressing iron to be described in more detail below.
- a changeover switch 22 and an isolating switch 24 are also provided for purposes which will be described in more detail below, and an indicating lamp 25 is provided, which lamp illuminates when the apparatus is plugged in.
- the electrical lead 20 is applied via a fuse 26 to a circuit junction 27 in a lead 29 with the lamp 25 being connected directly across between the positive and neutral terminals of the lead 20 to provide an indication at all times that the apparatus is plugged in.
- a timer 28 is connected between the lead 29 and a lead 30 which in turn is connected to an energy regulator 31 which is connected via a second lead 32 to the neutral wire 33 of the lead 20, and via a lead 34, to the switch 24, which latter is connected in series with the electrical resistance element 18 of the platform 12.
- a line 38 leads from a junction point 39 in the line 30, between the timer 28 and the energy regulator 31, to a terminal 40 of the switch 22 which also has a contact 42 in the line 34 between the energy regulator 31 and the switch 24 and a contact 43 constituting the movable contact of the changeover switch 22.
- the movable contact 43 is connected to a line 44 leading to one contact pin of the socket 23 the other contact pin of which is connected to the neutral line 33.
- An electrical iron having a resistance heating element but no temperature control mechanism can be provided for use with the ironing board of the present invention.
- Such an iron is connected to the socket 23 by means of a suitable cooperating plug with which can be provided, and the combined energy consumption of the resistance heating element of the iron, taken via the socket 23, and the electrical resistance element 18 of the ironing board 12 is controlled by the energy regulator 31 which can be suitably set by a control knob 36 on the power supply control panel 19.
- the electrical resistance element 18 can be disconnected leaving the power supply extending only through the socket 23 to the iron enabling greater control of the equipment when handling delicate fabrics such as silk.
- the changeover switch 22 By commuting the changeover switch 22 to the opposite position from that shown in Figure 3 the energy regulator is cut out of the supply to the socket 23.
- An electric iron having its own thermostat can then be used either alone or in combination with the energy regulated heated platform 12.
- the support frame 13 is provided with a lug 40 and stay 41 so that the platform 12 can be positioned in a generally upright orientation.
- a hook-shape channel 42 which receives one end of a flat pressure plate 44 having a pair of spring loaded connector arms 45 with hooked ends for interconnection with cooperating catches 46 on the platform 12.
- the pressure plate 44 can be used to apply pressure for example to a pair of trousers which can be introduced between the pressure plate 43 and the platform 12, the pressure being maintained by the springs 47 of the connector arms 45.
- the equipment When a pair of trousers has been positioned between the pressure plate 44 and the platform 12 the equipment is switched on and it automatically switches off after a predetermined time set by the timer 28.
- the pressure plate 44 may be provided with its own heater element and a lead which can be plugged into the mains or the socket 23 so that heat can be applied to both sides of a pair of trousers at once.
- the trouser press although shown in operation in a vertical position, may alternatively be used in a horizontal position for such items as pleated skirts, curtains or like such items.
- the present invention also comprehends trouser pressing apparatus comprising an electrically heated pressure plate adapted to be attached by pressure-applying means to a conventional unheated ironing board and to be plugged directly into the mains supply.
- resistance heater elements which can be used after removal of a protective cover to provide a firm surface and a higher temperature so that the apparatus can serve double duty as a food hotplate to maintain food at the right temperature after cooking. This can be controlled by an additional light or lamp. Operation of such a switch would also disconnect the outlet socket 23 for safety reasons.
- the trouser press plate When the apparatus is used as a food hotplate the trouser press plate, with its own fabric cover removed (if it has one), can be used as a cold shelf by fitting it to supports under the platform 12, in a manner which will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 5 to 7 below.
- This circuit is provided for control of a special flat iron (not shown) and is intended to be mounted on the board of Figures 1 to 3 or on the board of Figures 5 to 9 and to control the specially adapted flat iron connected thereto via a socket such as the socket 23 of Figure 1 but which would be formed as a five pin socket instead of the three pin socket shown in Figure 1.
- a socket is connected to form electrical leads 48, 49, 50, 51 and to a safety earth wire (not shown).
- the leads 50, 51 are in use connected via this socket to wires leading to a thermistor in the iron and the leads 48, 49 are in use connected via the socket to wires leading to the resistance element of the iron.
- the circuit is supplied from a source connected to terminals 58, 59. Across these input terminals are connected the contacts 60 of a relay the coil 61 of which is connected across the terminals 58, 59 with a protection resistor 62 in series therewith and the collector-emitter junction of a transistor 63 controlling the energisation of the relay coil.
- the transistor 63 forms part of a Darlington pair with a second transistor 64 the base of which is connected between two resistors 65, 66 in a voltage dividing circuit arrangement at the output of an amplifier 67 connected to a differential summing amplifier, the non-inverting input of which receives signals from a bridge circuit comprising the thermistor which is connected across lines 50, 51 and is in series with a resistor 68 between the positive voltage line 69 connected to the input terminal 58 and the negative line 70 connected to the input terminal 59.
- the other arm of the bridge comprises resistors 71 and 72 connected between the positive line 69 and the negative line 70 and the junction between which is connected via a resistor 73 to the inverting input of the amplifier 67.
- the resistor 72 is a variable resistor the adjustment of which determines the selected temperature of operation of the system.
- the circuit also includes a capacitor 75 the function of which will be described below.
- the operation of the circuit is as follows. Depending on the selected resistance of the resistor 72 the temperature variation experienced by the thermistor in the flat iron once the heating element in the iron is energised will change the balance conditions of the bridge comprising the thermistor itself, the resistor 71, the resistor 68, and the resistor 72 which are connected, as described above, in pairs across the non-inverting and inverting inputs of the amplifier 67.
- the resistance of the thermistor falls until the bridge passes a balance point allowing the capacitor 75 to discharge through the thermistor causing a surge in the current which is amplified by the differential amplifier 67 applying a control signal to the base of the transistor 64 causing it, and therefore the transistor 63, to conduct completing the circuit through the coil 61, energising it and thereby opening the normally closed contacts of the relay 60.
- the ironing board comprises a platform having a main portion 76 and an end portion 77 hingedly connected thereto so as to be turnable between an erected position illustrated in Figure 5 and a folded position illustrated in Figure 6.
- a control panel 78 which is also hingedly mounted to the main portion 76 by means of a piano-type hinge 79 so that it can turn between an erected or extended position as illustrated in Figure 5 and a folded position as illustrated in Figure 6.
- Suitable spring clips or other retaining means 80 are provided for retaining the control box 78 in its extended position and likewise, suitable retaining means (not illustrated) are provided for holding the end portion 77 of the platform in its extended position so that it remains substantially coplanar with the main portion 76 when pressure is applied from above in use of the ironing board.
- the platform comprising the main panel portion 76 and the end portion 77, together with the control box 78 is supported on two pairs of legs identified as a near pair 81 adjacent the control box 78 and a distal pair 82 nearer the far end of the panel 76.
- the distal legs 82 are spaced closer together than the near legs 81 and all the legs are pivotally mounted to the underside of the panel 76 so that they can be folded to a collapsed position or to a partly collapsed position as illustrated in Figure 7.
- the legs 81, 82 are provided with retaining means (not shown) for supporting a subsidiary shelf 83 which, as can be seen in Figure 7, can be fitted to the main panel portion 76 of the platform in a suitable manner to act as a trouser plate like the pressure plate 44 in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3.
- the platform 76 comprises a supporting base 84 to one end of which the control box 78 is hingedly mounted by the piano hinge 79 ( Figure 6) whilst at the other end a distal support panel 85 is correspondingly hinged by a suitable piano hinge (not shown).
- the electrical resistance element is formed in two parts 86, 87 each of which respectively overlies the support platform 84 and distal portion 85 to which they are secured by a heat distribution cover panel, again formed in two parts 88, 89.
- the material used for the heat distribution cover panel 88, 89 is preferably a light metal such as aluminium or an aluminium alloy or other material having a high thermal conductivity.
- the operating surface temperature range envisaged for the surface of the board is between 90°C and 120°C, which gives faster and better ironing results when used with a domestic pressing iron having a temperature lying in the range of 120° to 210°C. It is envisaged that the temperature control of the ironing board surface will be adapted to the temperature control of a domestic pressing iron such that a temperature of 90°C at the board surface will be provided with an iron temperature of 120°C and, at the other end of the range, an ironing board surface temperature of approximately 120°C will be matched by an iron temperature of about 210°C. Corresponding adjustments, which may be incremental or infinitely variable, may be provided by the temperature control mechanism.
- the board operating temperatures are achieved by employing electrical resistance elements 86, 87 having the appropriate electrical resistance to give an electrical loading in the region of 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 electrical loading would thus be 900 Watts.
- the heat-up time of 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 at the same time as the pressing iron assuming that both are switched on at the same time.
- the 900 Watts electrical load when considered in combination with the 1100 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 331/3% the overall electrical energy consumption is in many cases less than that consumed with an unheated board over the long time period taken to complete the pressing and ironing operations.
- the heat distribution elements 88, 89 shown in Figure 8 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 longitudinal expansion to take place upon heating.
- the element 88 is provided with retaining legs 91 (either by attachment or by cutting out a suitable peripheral shape) for attaching the element 88 to the platform 86.
- Narrow slots 92 across the periphery from one edge to a position near to but not reaching the opposite edge are additionally provided to accommodate longitudinal expansion of the heat distribution plate 88 if this is considered necessary, but even this expansion can be accommodated by the resilience of the legs 91 with a suitable structure.
- the important feature is that the plate 88 should be freely movable over the underlying support to allow expansion and contraction with the increase and decrease in temperature during use and storage without being restrained in a manner likely to cause buckling or bowing.
- the electrical resistance element is formed in two pairs, 86, 87 with the element 87 being approximately one third of the total area of the ironing board surface.
- a microswitch 101 ( Figure 7) is provided to disconnect the resistance element 87 from the control box 78 and thus from the supply of electricity when the end portion 77 is folded for example for use with the pressure plate 93 as a trouser press.
- An electrical switch (not shown) in series with the resistance heater element 87 may alternatively or additionally be provided, which can be mechanically actuated by a cooperating member on the trouser press pressure plate 83 so that when this pressure plate is fitted to the board the electrical connection to the element 87 is broken even if it is not folded to the position illustrated in Figure 6.
- the electrical resistance element 86, 87 comprise electrical resistance wires encased in mica, but may be made of other material such as lead/tin foil elements encapsulated in Mylar plastics film which has a temperature resistance of up to 130-150°C. In alternative embodiments electrical resistance wires may be embedded directly (with suitable insulation) into the material of the heat distribution element 88.
- Heat resistance insulated leads 89 extend from the surface of the board to the control box 78 which also serves as an iron rest.
- a cover 96 for the board has a flexible bolt rope 104 attached to the longitudinally periphery of the cover 96, which latter comprises two layers 102, 103, of fabric encasing a reticulated foam 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 thin high quality tightly woven cotton or like material whilst 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 whilst retaining the foam element 94.
- This latter may be a reticulated polyethylene or like foam which is silicon coated by a vulcanization technique to make it resilient to high temperatures.
- the foam material layer 94 is directly secured to the heat distribution plate 88 by means of suitable heat resistance adhesive, the whole then being covered with a single layer of fabric as a cover.
- distal legs 82 are provided with folding hooked feet 98 which can be used when the ironing board is folded as illustrated in Figure 7 to engage in suitable sockets 99 of a wall plate 100 which serves as a mounting bracket allowing the ironing board to be suspended from a wall in a tidy space saving manner.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Irons (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to domestic equipment primarily for use in performing laundry tasks such as pressing and ironing clothing, but which is also adaptable for other uses. Although it has long been recognised in commercial laundries that pressing of clothes can most effectively and quickly be performed by means of apparatus which applies heat to both sides of the fabric, this fact has not in the main been taken into account in the domestic laundry. Pressing or ironing tasks are almost always performed in a domestic situation by applying a heated flat iron to the upper surface of garments supported on an unheated platform in the form of an ironing board or table.
- Although previous attempts have been made to produce a heated ironing board or table these have not been technically entirely satisfactory and for this reason have not met with significant commercial success. For example, 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 sufficiently high, there were inadequate safeguards to prevent the user from becoming burned 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, and although various attempts have been made to automate the processes concerned in order to reduce the time involved, 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 the domestic items are intended to be passed in order to effect pressing thereof. Such equipment has failed to gain general acceptability however because the rather complex shapes of garments of wearing apparel cannot satisfactorily be accommodated by such a roller arrangement.
- By way of example of another prior proposal, FR-A 2128966 describes a sleeve-board with a heatable surface having a series of holes or ducts for the passage of steam, and an articulated pressure plate attached thereto at one end of the said heatable surface.
- The present invention seeks, therefore, to provide an improved apparatus capable of enabling domestic ironing or pressing operations to be performed more quickly and easily than has hithertofore been possible, whilst at the same time providing comfort and security for the user.
- According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided domestic laundry equipment comprising a heatable ironing board having a substantially flat working platform, platform support means for supporting the working platform spaced from the ground, a heater for raising the temperature of the platform surface, and a pressure plate for cooperation with the heatable platform to form a static press assembly for pressing garments such as trousers, characterised in that means are provided for detachably connecting the pressure plate to the heatable platform.
- The present invention preferably includes a working platform in the form of an ironing board or table having 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 120°C. The electrical resistance element may be provided in one of a number of different ways. For example, the electrical resistance element may be embedded in the material of the platform, which for this purpose may be a suitable ceramic or plastics insulating material, or may be of metal with suitable ceramic or plastics insulators, or insulators of other suitable material between the metal and the electrical resistance elements, or may be aluminium or other material having high thermal conductivity.
- Alternatively the electrical resistance element may be carried by a cover which overlies the surface of the platform. Such a cover may be formed as a separate laminar sheet or as a sleeve which can be held in position on the platform by suitable means such as tie straps or press studs, or by bolt ropes engaged in cooperation grooves in the board or table. It is preferred that there are provided means for connecting the said electrical control circuit to the platform electrical heater whereby the said electrical control circuit exercises simultaneous independent temperature control of said flat iron and the said heatable platform by regulating the electrical supply thereto.
- In a preferred embodiment the electrical control circuit means comprises an energy regulator, means for connecting the said energy regulator to a source of electrical supply and means for connecting said energy regulator to the said electrical resistance heater of the said platform.
- Means may be provided to detect the temperature of the surface of the working platform. Such means may comprise one or more sensors, and this temperature detection can be used to control the energy supplied to the resistance element. The temperature sensors may be of a conventional bi-metal strip type or may be thermocouples.
- The present invention therefore provides apparatus by means of which a domestic ironing board may be used as a trouser press by cooperatively adapting it with a pressure plate and means for heating the trousers or other garment pressed between the board and the plate. The ironing board is heated but optionally the pressure plate may additionally be provided with heater means, in which case both the pressure plate and the ironing board platform have heaters, whereby garments are pressed by heat applied to both sides simultaneously.
- In another aspect the present invention provides a heated ironing board having end portions which fold under the platform to reduce the length of the ironing board and allow it to be used as a food warming hot plate.
- The control circuit on the board may include a timer which automatically switches off the resistance heating element of the platform after a predetermined period of time. This allows the user to set up the static press assembly comprising the board and the pressure plate, and leave the equipment in operation to attend to other matters. Means are provided for resiliently urging the pressure plate firmly into contact with the platform. For convenience the support frame or legs of the ironing board may be adapted with a spacer stay so as to hold the platform in a generally upright orientation with one end in contact with the ground where in normal operation the support frame holds the platform generally horizontally.
- According to further optional features of the invention, the said electrical platform heater comprises two separate heater elements extending over different areas of said platform, the said platform being formed in two parts substantially co-extensive with said two heater elements respectively, one said platform part being foldable with respect to the other said platform part between a first position where it lies substantially coplanar with said other platform part and a second position where it is folded to a position out of the plane of said second platform part. Coupling means may be provided on the said plate for mounting the latter to the said platform of the ironing board, the said coupling means including resilient biasing means for urging the said plate into contact with the said platform under pressure when said plate means is mounted thereon, and heater means on the said pressure-applying plate.
- A resilient foam cover means may be provided for said working platform to cover the hard upper surface thereof and provide a resilient flexible surface suitable for pressing or ironing garments by means of the flat iron, and quick release attachment means for securing said resilient foam cover means in position over the said working platform whilst allowing ready removal thereof to expose the said hard upper surface for use as a food-warming platform or other heating uses. Various embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention shown in its normal operating position;
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 adapted for use as a trouser press;
- Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electrical circuit for controlling the energy supplied to the resistance heater element of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2;
- Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of a control circuit suitable for use in an embodiment of the present invention;
- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in its fully erected position;
- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 5, shown in a partly collapsed position and with a cooperating pressure plate fitted thereto;
- Figure 8 is an exploded view of some of the components of the embodiment of Figure 5; and
- Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IX-IX of Figure 7.
- Referring now to the drawings, the embodiment shown in Figure 1 is externally very similarly formed to a conventional ironing board and is generally indicated with the
reference numeral 11. Theironing board 11 comprises a generally planar approximatelyrectangular platform 12, tapered at one end, and carried by an underlying support frame generally indicated 13 and comprising twolegs pivot 16, and each having atransverse foot 17 for engaging the ground when theboard 11 is erected for use. Suitable means for inter-engaging thesupport frame legs platform 12 to effect variation in the height of the platform above the ground are provided, but such may be conventional and are not described in further detail herein. - A
platform 12 is provided with aresistance heater element 18, made from an insulated electrical element embedded in the material of theplatform 12 and connected to a power supply panel generally indicated 19 carried at one end of theplatform 12. Thepower supply 19 has anelectrical lead 20 terminating in aconventional plug 21 for connection to a mains wall socket of normal type. Theplatform 12 may be constituted by one or a plurality of elements or units of a ceramic or glass material with heating elements embedded in them, or alternatively may be any other suitable, perfectly electrical insulating material having a high thermal conductivity capable of withstanding continuous use of the high temperatures involved in operation. Such temperatures may be, for example, in the region of 90°C to 120° and may reach even higher values locally, for example in the immediate vicinity of the heater elements. A cover element of material having thermal insulating properties to meet the criteria discussed below in relation to the embodiments of Figures 5 to 9 is also employed but is not illustrated in Figure 1. - On one side of the
power supply panel 19, namely the side facing the observer in Figure 1, there is provided asocket 23 for receiving a cooperating plug of an electrical lead of a pressing iron to be described in more detail below. Achangeover switch 22 and anisolating switch 24 are also provided for purposes which will be described in more detail below, and an indicatinglamp 25 is provided, which lamp illuminates when the apparatus is plugged in. - As can be seen from Figure 3 the
electrical lead 20 is applied via afuse 26 to acircuit junction 27 in alead 29 with thelamp 25 being connected directly across between the positive and neutral terminals of thelead 20 to provide an indication at all times that the apparatus is plugged in. Atimer 28 is connected between thelead 29 and alead 30 which in turn is connected to anenergy regulator 31 which is connected via asecond lead 32 to the neutral wire 33 of thelead 20, and via alead 34, to theswitch 24, which latter is connected in series with theelectrical resistance element 18 of theplatform 12. Aline 38 leads from ajunction point 39 in theline 30, between thetimer 28 and theenergy regulator 31, to aterminal 40 of theswitch 22 which also has acontact 42 in theline 34 between theenergy regulator 31 and theswitch 24 and acontact 43 constituting the movable contact of thechangeover switch 22. Themovable contact 43 is connected to aline 44 leading to one contact pin of thesocket 23 the other contact pin of which is connected to the neutral line 33. - An electrical iron having a resistance heating element but no temperature control mechanism can be provided for use with the ironing board of the present invention. Such an iron is connected to the
socket 23 by means of a suitable cooperating plug with which can be provided, and the combined energy consumption of the resistance heating element of the iron, taken via thesocket 23, and theelectrical resistance element 18 of theironing board 12 is controlled by theenergy regulator 31 which can be suitably set by acontrol knob 36 on the powersupply control panel 19. - By opening the
switch 24 theelectrical resistance element 18 can be disconnected leaving the power supply extending only through thesocket 23 to the iron enabling greater control of the equipment when handling delicate fabrics such as silk. By commuting thechangeover switch 22 to the opposite position from that shown in Figure 3 the energy regulator is cut out of the supply to thesocket 23. An electric iron having its own thermostat can then be used either alone or in combination with the energy regulatedheated platform 12. - For use as a trouser press the
support frame 13 is provided with alug 40 and stay 41 so that theplatform 12 can be positioned in a generally upright orientation. Between theplatform 12 and the powersupply control panel 19 is a hook-shape channel 42 which receives one end of aflat pressure plate 44 having a pair of spring loadedconnector arms 45 with hooked ends for interconnection withcooperating catches 46 on theplatform 12. When suitably positioned on theplatform 12 thepressure plate 44 can be used to apply pressure for example to a pair of trousers which can be introduced between thepressure plate 43 and theplatform 12, the pressure being maintained by thesprings 47 of theconnector arms 45. When a pair of trousers has been positioned between thepressure plate 44 and theplatform 12 the equipment is switched on and it automatically switches off after a predetermined time set by thetimer 28. Although not illustrated, thepressure plate 44 may be provided with its own heater element and a lead which can be plugged into the mains or thesocket 23 so that heat can be applied to both sides of a pair of trousers at once. Likewise the trouser press, although shown in operation in a vertical position, may alternatively be used in a horizontal position for such items as pleated skirts, curtains or like such items. The present invention also comprehends trouser pressing apparatus comprising an electrically heated pressure plate adapted to be attached by pressure-applying means to a conventional unheated ironing board and to be plugged directly into the mains supply. - In the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 to 9, there are provided resistance heater elements which can be used after removal of a protective cover to provide a firm surface and a higher temperature so that the apparatus can serve double duty as a food hotplate to maintain food at the right temperature after cooking. This can be controlled by an additional light or lamp. Operation of such a switch would also disconnect the
outlet socket 23 for safety reasons. - When the apparatus is used as a food hotplate the trouser press plate, with its own fabric cover removed (if it has one), can be used as a cold shelf by fitting it to supports under the
platform 12, in a manner which will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 5 to 7 below. - First, however, the circuit of Figure 4 will be described. This circuit is provided for control of a special flat iron (not shown) and is intended to be mounted on the board of Figures 1 to 3 or on the board of Figures 5 to 9 and to control the specially adapted flat iron connected thereto via a socket such as the
socket 23 of Figure 1 but which would be formed as a five pin socket instead of the three pin socket shown in Figure 1. Such a socket is connected to form electrical leads 48, 49, 50, 51 and to a safety earth wire (not shown). The leads 50, 51 are in use connected via this socket to wires leading to a thermistor in the iron and theleads - In operation the circuit is supplied from a source connected to
terminals contacts 60 of a relay thecoil 61 of which is connected across theterminals protection resistor 62 in series therewith and the collector-emitter junction of atransistor 63 controlling the energisation of the relay coil. Thetransistor 63 forms part of a Darlington pair with asecond transistor 64 the base of which is connected between tworesistors amplifier 67 connected to a differential summing amplifier, the non-inverting input of which receives signals from a bridge circuit comprising the thermistor which is connected acrosslines resistor 68 between thepositive voltage line 69 connected to theinput terminal 58 and thenegative line 70 connected to theinput terminal 59. The other arm of the bridge comprisesresistors positive line 69 and thenegative line 70 and the junction between which is connected via aresistor 73 to the inverting input of theamplifier 67. Theresistor 72 is a variable resistor the adjustment of which determines the selected temperature of operation of the system. The circuit also includes acapacitor 75 the function of which will be described below. - The operation of the circuit is as follows. Depending on the selected resistance of the
resistor 72 the temperature variation experienced by the thermistor in the flat iron once the heating element in the iron is energised will change the balance conditions of the bridge comprising the thermistor itself, theresistor 71, theresistor 68, and theresistor 72 which are connected, as described above, in pairs across the non-inverting and inverting inputs of theamplifier 67. As the temperature experienced by the thermistor due to the heating effect of the elements 55 and 51 (the iron will of course be applied to the board during use with the item being ironed being located between the boards and the iron) the resistance of the thermistor falls until the bridge passes a balance point allowing thecapacitor 75 to discharge through the thermistor causing a surge in the current which is amplified by thedifferential amplifier 67 applying a control signal to the base of thetransistor 64 causing it, and therefore thetransistor 63, to conduct completing the circuit through thecoil 61, energising it and thereby opening the normally closed contacts of therelay 60. Power is thus cut off to the heater element connected acrosslines amplifier 67 from conducting and thereby switching off thetransistors coil 61 and allowing thecontacts 60 to reclose and allow current to pass again to the heating element which therefore again starts to heat up. - Turning now to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 to 9, the ironing board comprises a platform having a
main portion 76 and anend portion 77 hingedly connected thereto so as to be turnable between an erected position illustrated in Figure 5 and a folded position illustrated in Figure 6. At the opposite end of themain platform portion 76 is acontrol panel 78 which is also hingedly mounted to themain portion 76 by means of a piano-type hinge 79 so that it can turn between an erected or extended position as illustrated in Figure 5 and a folded position as illustrated in Figure 6. Suitable spring clips or other retaining means 80 are provided for retaining thecontrol box 78 in its extended position and likewise, suitable retaining means (not illustrated) are provided for holding theend portion 77 of the platform in its extended position so that it remains substantially coplanar with themain portion 76 when pressure is applied from above in use of the ironing board. - The platform comprising the
main panel portion 76 and theend portion 77, together with thecontrol box 78 is supported on two pairs of legs identified as anear pair 81 adjacent thecontrol box 78 and adistal pair 82 nearer the far end of thepanel 76. Thedistal legs 82 are spaced closer together than thenear legs 81 and all the legs are pivotally mounted to the underside of thepanel 76 so that they can be folded to a collapsed position or to a partly collapsed position as illustrated in Figure 7. - The
legs subsidiary shelf 83 which, as can be seen in Figure 7, can be fitted to themain panel portion 76 of the platform in a suitable manner to act as a trouser plate like thepressure plate 44 in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3. - Referring now to Figure 7 the
platform 76 comprises a supportingbase 84 to one end of which thecontrol box 78 is hingedly mounted by the piano hinge 79 (Figure 6) whilst at the other end adistal support panel 85 is correspondingly hinged by a suitable piano hinge (not shown). The electrical resistance element is formed in twoparts support platform 84 anddistal portion 85 to which they are secured by a heat distribution cover panel, again formed in twoparts - The material used for the heat
distribution cover panel - The board operating temperatures are achieved by employing
electrical resistance elements - The 900 Watts electrical load, when considered in combination with the 1100 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 33¹/₃% the overall electrical energy consumption is in many cases less than that consumed with an unheated board over the long time period taken to complete the pressing and ironing operations.
- The
heat distribution elements holes 90 allowing for firm clamping to theplatform parts element 88 is provided with retaining legs 91 (either by attachment or by cutting out a suitable peripheral shape) for attaching theelement 88 to theplatform 86. - By fixing these
legs 91 to theplatform 76 at a position spaced from their junction with theheat distribution element 88 separate means for accommodating later expansion of the plate are rendered unnecessary.Narrow slots 92 across the periphery from one edge to a position near to but not reaching the opposite edge are additionally provided to accommodate longitudinal expansion of theheat distribution plate 88 if this is considered necessary, but even this expansion can be accommodated by the resilience of thelegs 91 with a suitable structure. The important feature is that theplate 88 should be freely movable over the underlying support to allow expansion and contraction with the increase and decrease in temperature during use and storage without being restrained in a manner likely to cause buckling or bowing. - The electrical resistance element is formed in two pairs, 86, 87 with the
element 87 being approximately one third of the total area of the ironing board surface. A microswitch 101 (Figure 7) is provided to disconnect theresistance element 87 from thecontrol box 78 and thus from the supply of electricity when theend portion 77 is folded for example for use with the pressure plate 93 as a trouser press. An electrical switch (not shown) in series with theresistance heater element 87 may alternatively or additionally be provided, which can be mechanically actuated by a cooperating member on the trouserpress pressure plate 83 so that when this pressure plate is fitted to the board the electrical connection to theelement 87 is broken even if it is not folded to the position illustrated in Figure 6. - The
electrical resistance element heat distribution element 88. - Heat resistance insulated leads 89 extend from the surface of the board to the
control box 78 which also serves as an iron rest. - As illustrated in the cross-sectional view (Figure 9) a
cover 96 for the board has aflexible bolt rope 104 attached to the longitudinally periphery of thecover 96, which latter comprises twolayers reticulated foam 94. Theplatform edge groove 95 into which thebolt rope 104 is introduced to slide thecover 96 onto the board and retain it firmly under tension. Theupper surface layer 102 of thecover 96 is made from thin high quality tightly woven cotton or like material whilst the underside has a looser more open weave. Longitudinal tension is maintained by attaching thebolt rope 104 to resilient fasteners or springs 97 fixed to one end of theplatform 76. - One end of the
cover 96 may be left open so that thefoam element 94 may be withdrawn for replacement of the cover if this should become damaged or worn with long use whilst retaining thefoam element 94. This latter may be a reticulated polyethylene or like foam which is silicon coated by a vulcanization technique to make it resilient to high temperatures. - In another embodiment (not illustrated) the
foam material layer 94 is directly secured to theheat distribution plate 88 by means of suitable heat resistance adhesive, the whole then being covered with a single layer of fabric as a cover. - Finally, the
distal legs 82 are provided with foldinghooked feet 98 which can be used when the ironing board is folded as illustrated in Figure 7 to engage insuitable sockets 99 of awall plate 100 which serves as a mounting bracket allowing the ironing board to be suspended from a wall in a tidy space saving manner.
Claims (4)
- Domestic laundry equipment comprising a heatable ironing board (11) having a substantially flat working platform (12; 76, 77), platform support means (14, 15, 17) for supporting the working platform (12; 76, 77) spaced from the ground, a heater (18; 86, 87) for raising the temperature of the platform surface, and a pressure plate (44; 83) for cooperation with the heatable platform (12; 76, 77) to form a static press assembly for pressing garments such as trousers, characterised in that means (42, 45, 47) are provided for detachably connecting the pressure plate (44; 83) to the heatable platform (12; 76).
- Domestic laundry equipment according to Claim 1, characterised in that the pressure plate (44; 83) includes a separate heater element whereby to apply heat to both sides of a garment simultaneously.
- Domestic laundry equipment according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the said connecting means (42, 45, 47) comprise mechanical connecting members (45) carried on the said pressure plate (44) for engagement with cooperating members (46) on the ironing board platform, resilient biasing means (47) acting between the said pressure plate and the connecting members whereby to urge the said pressure plate (44) into contact under pressure with the platform (12) of the ironing board when the connecting members (45) are engaged with said cooperating members (46).
- Domestic laundry equipment according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the said platform support means comprise a plurality of legs (81, 82) and the said pressure plate (83) is provided with engagement means at or adjacent the edges thereof for cooperative engagement with mounting means carried by the said legs so that the plate (83) can be carried beneath the platform (76) to serve as an additional shelf when it is not being used as a garment press.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP19880112545 EP0328727B1 (en) | 1983-03-28 | 1984-03-28 | Laundry ironing or pressing apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (7)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB838308471A GB8308471D0 (en) | 1983-03-28 | 1983-03-28 | Equipment for performing domestic tasks |
GB8308471 | 1983-03-28 | ||
GB838317053A GB8317053D0 (en) | 1983-03-28 | 1983-06-23 | Pressing/ironing equipment |
GB8317053 | 1983-06-23 | ||
GB848405137A GB8405137D0 (en) | 1984-02-28 | 1984-02-28 | Ironing board and cover |
GB8405137 | 1984-02-28 | ||
EP19880112545 EP0328727B1 (en) | 1983-03-28 | 1984-03-28 | Laundry ironing or pressing apparatus |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP84302099.1 Division | 1984-03-28 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0328727A2 EP0328727A2 (en) | 1989-08-23 |
EP0328727A3 EP0328727A3 (en) | 1989-10-11 |
EP0328727B1 true EP0328727B1 (en) | 1993-11-10 |
Family
ID=27441444
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19880112545 Expired - Lifetime EP0328727B1 (en) | 1983-03-28 | 1984-03-28 | Laundry ironing or pressing apparatus |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0328727B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB8816089D0 (en) * | 1988-07-06 | 1988-08-10 | Housemate Appliances Ltd | Pressing apparatus |
DE9411860U1 (en) * | 1994-07-22 | 1995-04-20 | Planeta Hausgeräte GmbH & Co Elektrotechnik KG, 87719 Mindelheim | Ironing board with detachably attached steam generator |
US5572811A (en) * | 1995-01-06 | 1996-11-12 | Lehrman; David | Ironing board with telescoping storage racks |
US7216444B2 (en) * | 2001-09-12 | 2007-05-15 | Basuki Muljadi | Ironing board |
GB2397072B (en) | 2003-01-10 | 2006-02-22 | George Docker | Trouser Press / Ironing Board |
EP1788144A3 (en) * | 2005-11-22 | 2007-05-30 | Konstantinos Velanis Techniki Ktimatiki S.A. | Ironing press for domestic use combined with ironing board |
CN107938295A (en) * | 2017-12-29 | 2018-04-20 | 海宁市利升制衣厂 | A kind of fast and effectively ironing device |
IT201900002811A1 (en) * | 2019-02-27 | 2020-08-27 | Prencipe Francesco Bruni | Safety device to be used when ironing clothing, linen and fabrics in general. |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2119603A (en) * | 1937-01-02 | 1938-06-07 | Robert H Schwab | Tie press |
US2712702A (en) * | 1952-06-04 | 1955-07-12 | Crociata Nicholas | Steam pressing machine |
US3060603A (en) * | 1960-07-28 | 1962-10-30 | Blanchard Allison Mildred | Necktie press |
FR2128966A5 (en) * | 1971-03-10 | 1972-10-27 | Tassin Jeannine |
-
1984
- 1984-03-28 EP EP19880112545 patent/EP0328727B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0328727A3 (en) | 1989-10-11 |
EP0328727A2 (en) | 1989-08-23 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP0126530B1 (en) | Laundry ironing or pressing apparatus | |
EP0930839B1 (en) | Clothes- and linen-warming or dehumidification apparatus | |
US4108713A (en) | Low mass electric heater | |
US5081339A (en) | Water bed heater | |
FI76485C (en) | Vehicle seat heater | |
US4219724A (en) | Thermostatically controlled electrically heated hand tool for pressing garments | |
US6153862A (en) | Fabric dryer/warmer | |
EP0328727B1 (en) | Laundry ironing or pressing apparatus | |
US3849629A (en) | Towel warmer | |
US3352999A (en) | Electric water heater circuit | |
CA1115318A (en) | Safety circuit for electric bedcover | |
US3244858A (en) | Heating panel | |
GB2297982A (en) | Ironing apparatus | |
US2704803A (en) | Control circuits for electric blankets | |
US2065366A (en) | Electric iron | |
US9181651B2 (en) | Hand-held clothing iron | |
US2768274A (en) | Variable resistor control system | |
US3457389A (en) | Heater for towels | |
GB2241614A (en) | Logic circuit for limited power consumed by an appliance having a plurality of loads | |
GB1586934A (en) | Method and electrical appliance for drying and airing clothes | |
US2985742A (en) | Heating means for toilet seats, bedpans and the like | |
WO1998050836A1 (en) | Thermal appliance having an electrically heated heating plate and a plurality of temperature sensors spaced apart on the heating plate | |
JP3243155B2 (en) | Overcurrent protection device | |
GB1532016A (en) | Electric heater assembly and hairdryer comprising the sam | |
CN213787008U (en) | Constant temperature bag |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
PUAL | Search report despatched |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013 |
|
AC | Divisional application: reference to earlier application |
Ref document number: 126530 Country of ref document: EP |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A2 Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A3 Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19900411 |
|
RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: GEMINI CLOTHESCARE LIMITED |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19911205 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AC | Divisional application: reference to earlier application |
Ref document number: 126530 Country of ref document: EP |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT |
|
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 3486244 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 19931216 |
|
RAP2 | Party data changed (patent owner data changed or rights of a patent transferred) |
Owner name: NUMATIC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED |
|
EN | Fr: translation not filed | ||
ITF | It: translation for a ep patent filed |
Owner name: INT.RIF.: 31/01/96;JACOBACCI CASETTA & PERANI S.P. |
|
ET | Fr: translation filed | ||
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: R1 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: D1 |
|
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
26N | No opposition filed | ||
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 19941222 Year of fee payment: 12 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 19950531 Year of fee payment: 12 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Effective date: 19961129 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Effective date: 19961203 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20010315 Year of fee payment: 18 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: IF02 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20020328 |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20020328 |