EP0531207B1 - Ironing plant with an ironing board incorporating steaming and an associated iron - Google Patents

Description

• une table à repasser constituant un plan de travail;
• un fer à repasser;
• des moyens de production de vapeur à partir de moyens d'élévation de la température d'une réserve d'eau, ou d'un système de projection d'eau sur parois chaudes;
• des moyens de diffusion de la vapeur; et
• des moyens de commande pour l'obtention d'une phase active de vaporisation pour un repassage à la vapeur.

The present invention relates to an ironing installation comprising:

• an ironing board constituting a work plan;
• Iron;
• means for producing steam from means for raising the temperature of a water reserve, or from a system for spraying water onto hot walls;
• vapor diffusion means; and
• control means for obtaining an active vaporization phase for steam ironing.

Different types of steam ironing installations are known, of which the most well known consist essentially of integrating the means of production and distribution of steam into the iron proper, the latter also incorporating the reserve of 'water.

It is easy to understand that if an autonomous iron is thus obtained, on the other hand such a principle has the major drawback of making the iron enormously heavy, when it is filled with water. In addition, the volume of water thus contained in the iron is necessarily limited according to the volume of the iron itself, which results in frequent filling.

In order to remedy this drawback, it has been proposed to transfer the water reserve to a tank separate from the iron in which the transformation of water into steam is also carried out by means of raising the temperature, the steam being then channeled to the iron by a flexible pipe connecting the latter to the tank.

Of course, in this case the volume of the water reserve may be greater, but it will nevertheless be limited as a function of the resulting increase in weight. This remains a drawback, since it is difficult to find a compromise between an acceptable weight for transporting the iron-tank assembly and a volume of water such as to give it great autonomy.

In addition, whatever the design principle of the installation, the steam diffusion means are arranged on the heating soleplate of the iron, so as to bring the steam onto the linen to be ironed immediately under said soleplate.

These means consist of diffusion orifices, of calibrated diameter, of small dimensions and therefore suitable for scaling, which represents another source of drawback.

In order to resolve these various problems, it was essential to completely rethink this type of ironing installation, using an iron and which therefore excludes press ironing installations.

To arrive at the invention, it was therefore necessary to overcome a prejudice which consists in thinking that the steam must come from the soleplate of the iron so as to simultaneously implement the three factors: steam-heat-pressure, necessary for a ironing.

If these factors have not been called into question, however, and in order to solve the aforementioned problems by eliminating their cause, an arrangement of a different order has been devised in which the steam necessary for ironing is no longer diffused by the iron, so as to lighten it as much as possible for better comfort of use and also eliminate any scaling problem.

With this in mind, the iron only performs a function of pressure and heat, or even only pressure.

Document WO-91/10770 proposes a device comprising a vaporizing table for domestic use. The table is equipped with a tray covered with vapor permeable layers, and with at least one vapor diffusion element, disposed in the table and supplied by a steam generator coupled to control means.

One drawback of this device is that the control means must be actuated by the user in synchronization with ironing. This need is all the more laborious when the device comprises several diffusion elements, each of them being controlled by separate means such as pedals.

What is more, the distribution of the vapor diffusion at the level of the work plan is predefined, so that it is either too localized, which prejudices ironing, or too extensive, which causes a vapor diffusion in pure loss.

The object of the invention is an ironing installation in which the steam is diffused by the ironing board, which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks.

It also targets the table and an associated iron.

• une table à repasser constituant un plan de travail;
• un fer à repasser;
• des moyens de production de vapeur à partir de moyens d'élévation de la température d'une réserve d'eau, ou d'un système de projection d'eau sur parois chaudes;
• des moyens de diffusion de la vapeur; et
• des moyens de commande pour l'obtention d'une phase active de vaporisation pour un repassage à la vapeur, lesdits moyens de diffusion de la vapeur étant incorporés à la table à repasser, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens de diffusion s'étendent sensiblement sur toute la surface de son plan supérieur correspondant à son plan de travail et sont associés à des moyens de commande pouvant être activés directement par le fer lors de son déplacement pour commander une émission de vapeur localisée dans la zone de passage du fer.

To this end, the invention relates to an ironing installation comprising:

• an ironing board constituting a work plan;
• Iron;
• means for producing steam from means for raising the temperature of a water reserve, or from a system for spraying water onto hot walls;
• vapor diffusion means; and
• control means for obtaining an active vaporization phase for steam ironing, said steam diffusion means being incorporated into the ironing board, characterized in that said diffusion means extend substantially over the entire surface of its upper plane corresponding to its work plane and are associated with control means that can be activated directly by the iron during its movement to control a vapor emission located in the zone of passage of the iron.

According to this principle, one could imagine producing steam from means for raising the temperature and from a reserve of water to supply steam to a vaporization chamber distinct from the table connected to its diffusion means. by an adequate conduit.

According to a characteristic of the invention, it has been preferred to arrange the means for diffusing the vapor on the upper plane of a sealed box constituting the work surface of the ironing board, said box constituting in itself a vaporization chamber. , supplied with steam by the means of steam production from the water reserve.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the means for diffusing the vapor consist of a plurality of orifices opening onto the work surface of the table and in relation to the vaporization chamber, said orifices being closed at rest and sensitive during the opening of the iron for a phase active spraying, under the action of the control means.

According to alternative embodiments, the steam production means and the water reserve constitute a separate steam generator or incorporated into the ironing board. Likewise, the heat necessary for ironing can be supplied by an electric heating element incorporated in the soleplate of the iron, or in the worktop of the table or both elements at the same time.

• la figure 1 est une vue d'une installation de repassage selon l'invention;
• les figures 2 à 7 sont des vues en coupe longitudinale à échelle agrandie d'une table à repasser de la figure 1, avec un fer à repasser en action, selon différents modes de réalisation;
• la figure 8 est une vue en coupe longitudinale partielle d'une table à repasser, et d'un fer muni de moyens d'aspiration;
• la figure 9 est une vue agrandie du détail A de la figure 8;
• la figure 10 est une vue partielle semblable à la figure 1, avec arrachements, d'un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention.

The invention will be further illustrated, without being in any way limited, by the following description, given with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a view of an ironing installation according to the invention;
• Figures 2 to 7 are views in longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of an ironing board of Figure 1, with an iron in action, according to different embodiments;
• Figure 8 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of an ironing board, and of an iron provided with suction means;
• Figure 9 is an enlarged view of detail A of Figure 8;
• Figure 10 is a partial view similar to Figure 1, with parts broken away, of another embodiment of the invention.

The ironing installation represented in FIG. 1 comprises an ironing table 1 designated as a whole generally made up of a device of folding feet 2 ensuring its stability and supporting a work surface 3.

According to the present example, the work surface 3 of the table 1 is constituted by a sealed box 4 on the upper plane of which are arranged, according to the invention, means 5 for diffusing the vapor. The upper plane of the box 4 actually corresponds to the work plan 3 of the table 1.

These diffusion means 5 extend substantially over the entire surface of the work surface 3 and are capable of being activated locally by control means when passing an iron 6 and directly above it. during an ironing operation, to obtain an active vaporization phase.

In this case, it will be a so-called "dry" iron, but it is obvious that the use of a steam iron is not excluded. In the latter case, the steam function having become useless, only the heat-pressure or pressure-only functions will be provided by such an iron.

The watertight box 4 constitutes a vaporization chamber, supplied with steam by means for producing steam from means for raising the temperature of a water reserve constituting a steam generator 7 designated as a whole.

This is incorporated into table 1 as shown in FIG. 1, but it can also be separate from it. The steam thus generated is stored in the vaporization chamber 4 while waiting to be released from it by means of the diffusion means 5, constituted (see FIG. 2) by a plurality of orifices 8 opening onto the work surface. 3 on the table 1 and in relation to said chamber 4. Said orifices 8 are closed at rest and sensitive in opening when the iron 6 passes for an active vaporization phase, under the action of control means 9 acting in opening or in closure on said orifices 8.

The control means 9 are constituted by valves, each of which comprises a pin 10 capable of closing a corresponding diffusion orifice 8 of the table 1 and of which an upper part or head 11 is in prominence relative to the plane 3 of the said table and act when opening on the valve 9 during the passage of the iron 6 by retracting elastically, so as to let the vapor pass from the vaporization chamber 4 through said openings 8 and to close automatically after this passage.

The pins 10 are obtained from a material with a sheet 12 of elastomer resistant to heat and humidity, placed immediately under an element 13 forming a closure plane of the box 4 comprising the diffusion orifices 8, each of the heads 11 of the pins 10 being housed hermetically in each of the diffusion orifices 8 and extending by a tail 14 bearing on the bottom 4a of the vaporization chamber 4 in a state of compression sufficient to ensure the closure of a tongue 15 of the retractable head 10 elastically with the passage of iron 6 to let the steam escape.

As also shown in Figure 2, the heads 11 of pins 10 are covered with a finishing fabric 16 permeable to steam. In addition, it can be noted that the soleplate 6a of the iron 6 is surrounded by a peripheral recess 6c of small amplitude, so as to precede the opening of the orifices 8 in one ironing direction or the other, in order to avoid the rising steam around the periphery of said sole 6a. By way of non-limiting example, each of the heads 11 can form a projection of 0.3 to 0.5 mm relative to the external surface of the closure plane 13.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 differs essentially from the previous one in that the elastomeric sheet 12A of the table lA is not glued under the closing plane 13A of the box 4A, but mechanically clamped between said plane 13A and a plywood 17 .

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 essentially differs from the previous ones in that the table 1B is provided with flat heating elements 18 providing the heat required for full ironing, or in addition to that provided by an electric heating resistor incorporated in the soleplate 6 has iron 6.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 essentially differs from the previous ones in that the closure element 13C of the waterproof box 4C, under which the ply 12C of elastomer provided with pins 10C projecting upwardly, is constituted by a sheet struck on an external face of a multitude of depressions forming honeycomb cells 19, some of them identified by 19a being fully perforated and having a diffusion orifice 8C closable by a pin 10C of said sheet 12C under - adjacent. As seen in the figure, each pin 8c is mounted on an elastic tongue cut on three sides in the sheet 12c. When the iron passes, the insertion of the tongues 9C and the pins 10C releases the passage of steam. The cells can be in the form of hexagons or circles, for example with a diameter of 1 to 1.2 mm maximum.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 essentially differs from the previous ones in that the valves 9D are obtained from a material with a sheet 12D of elastomer resistant to heat and humidity, placed immediately under a closure element 13D of the box 4D comprising the 8D diffusion orifices, each of the 9D valves being constituted by a head 20 comprising a cell and capable of closing a corresponding 8D diffusion orifice of the table 1D and arranged projecting relative to the plane of said table 1D.

A central slot 21 closed at rest is formed at the bottom of said cell and capable of opening by deformation when the iron 6 passes over the cell head 20 to open into a lower skirt 22 extending said head 20 and having days 23 in communication with the 4D vaporization chamber.

The bottom 4a of the box 4D, offers support points 24 to the skirt 22 to cause the passage of the iron 6 the elastic deformation of the skirt and the opening of the slot 21.

By way of nonlimiting example, the heads 20 can be configured so as to form projections of substantially constant height, between 0.3 and 0.5 mm, relative to the external surface of the planar element 13D.

The embodiment represented in FIG. 7, unlike the previous one, is based on a principle of opening and closing of the valves 9E taking place not by pressure of the iron 6, but by a magnetic field established between said iron 6E and the table 1E and located, as before, exclusively under its sole 6b.

In this particular case, the valves 9E are produced from a stamped sheet forming the closure plane 13E of the box 4E and defining wells 25, in communication on the one hand at its upper part with the diffusion orifices 8E of the table 1E and on the other hand at its lower part with the vaporization chamber 4E by a second orifice 26, the latter being closed at rest by a ball 27 composed at least of a ferrous core and capable of being attracted by the iron 6E during its passage thanks to its sole 6 b with permanent or electro-permanent magnetization, to cause the release of the lower orifice 26, thus allowing the steam to escape through the orifice 8E broadcast superior.

The balls 27 are coated with a thin layer of plastic or elastomer having an anti-leakage, antioxidant and anti-noise role. These balls are free to move with limited play.

Without limitation, a clearance of at least 0.5 mm may be taken on the radius.

According to an improvement of this latter embodiment, the magnetization of the sole 6b of the iron 6E is obtained by electromagnetic means supplied by means of a switch for an unlimited control of the release of the vapor by the user.

According to a simplified embodiment (not shown) but operating according to the same principle of diffusion of the vapor by the table and which is triggered by the very presence of the iron at the level of its sole, the waterproof box constitutes in itself the reserve of water and the vapor diffusion means consist of a textile material covering the work surface 3 of the table 1 and in relation to the water reserve to absorb it and humidify the work surface 3 of the table 1 by capillary action.

In this case, the vapor diffusion control means are constituted by the very heat of the iron 6, causing in its passage the vaporization of the water retained by the textile material, which is carried out simultaneously with ironing.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the iron 30 comprises a chamber 31 which is under high vacuum thanks to a suction pump located outside the iron or incorporated therein.

This chamber 31 opens onto the outer face of the sole 32 through holes 33.

The ironing board 34 includes (see also FIG. 9) an upper sheet 35 provided with holes 36 under which an elastic sheet 37 is applied, having slots 38 under the holes 36.

Due to the vacuum prevailing in the chamber 31, when the holes 33 of the soleplate of iron arrive at the level of the slots 38, the sheet 37 is sucked up, which has the effect of controlling the opening of the slots 38 in letting the steam pass upwards, as shown in Figure 9. The passage of steam is thus forced through the fabric to be ironed.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the steam generator 7, which includes a heating resistor 41, is connected by a solenoid valve 42 to a flexible tube 43 which leads to the iron 44, on the one hand, and by solenoid valves 45a, 45b, to pipes 46a, 46b which lead respectively to steam distributors 47a, 47b located under the ironing board 48 at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the board 48. The upper ply 49 of the board 48 is pierced with holes 50 in line with the distributors 47a, 47b.

The iron 44 includes, in the vicinity of the plane of the soleplate 51, a powerful magnet or electromagnet 52 with a wide field which actuates a flexible blade switch 53 placed near the work surface 3 under the table 48 in the vicinity of each distributor 47a, 47b. Each flexible reed switch 53 is arranged so as to have its longitudinal axis parallel to the magnetic field lines symbolized at 54. In the example shown, it is arranged like the magnet 52 substantially perpendicular to the work plane. Each switch 53 is electrically connected to the corresponding solenoid valve 45a, 45b by conductors 55, 56. Each flexible blade switch 53 controls the start-up of the corresponding solenoid valve 45a, 45b which causes the emission of steam into the distributor 47a, 47b associated with this solenoid valve 45a, 45b.

This achievement is not limiting. Any means known to those skilled in the art may be suitable for starting the solenoid valve 45a, 45b (for example a sealed mechanical contact placed under the ironing felt).

In order not to require too precise positioning of the iron 44 relative to the vaporization zone 47a, 47b, the solenoid valve 45a, 45b can be controlled by several detectors 53 (flexible reed switches preferably) in parallel located in the immediate vicinity of the distributor 47a, 47b, but regularly distributed for example at its periphery. The distributor 47b is thus associated with two switches 53 connected in parallel to the solenoid valve 45b by conductors not shown.

Obviously, we can multiply the number of dispensers such as 47a, 47b, and add as many solenoid valves such as 45a, 45b, to cover a wider area of ironing. This system allows steam consumption always limited to the ironing area.

• efficacité de repassage améliorée;
• pas de nécessité de chauffer la table autrement que pour éviter la recondensation de vapeur;
• pas de pertes de vapeur en repassage;
• augmentation de la vitesse de traversée du linge par la vapeur augmentant la vitesse de repassage;
• économie d'eau et d'énergie et grande autonomie si on admet de recycler la vapeur après son utilisation en la retournant dans la table sous forme de vapeur ou dans le réservoir sous forme recondensée.

The advantages of this achievement are as follows:

• improved ironing efficiency;
• no need to heat the table other than to avoid recondensation of steam;
• no steam losses during ironing;
• increase of the speed of passage of the linen by the steam increasing the speed of ironing;
• saving water and energy and great autonomy if it is allowed to recycle the steam after its use by returning it to the table in the form of steam or to the tank in recondensed form.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described, and many changes and modifications can be made to them without departing from the scope of the invention.

One could for example combine together several of the devices described separately above, in particular controlling a switch with a pin 9 of the type described in FIG. 4 to supply a distributor such as 47a, 47b.

Claims (29)

1. Ironing equipment comprising :

   - an ironing board (1, 1A-1E, 34, 48) constituting a working surface (3);

   - an iron (6, 6E, 30, 44);

   - means (7) for generating steam based on temperature rising means of a water reserve;

   - diffusion means (5, 5A-5E, 38, 50) for said steam; and

   - control means (9, 9A-9E, 38, 50) for providing an active vaporization phase for steam ironing,

   said steam diffusion means (5, 5A-5E, 38, 50) being included in the ironing board (1, 1A-1E, 34, 48), characterized in that said diffusion means (5, 5A-5E, 38, 50) essentially extend over the whole surface of its upper plane corresponding to its working surface (3) and are associated with control means capable of being directly activated by the iron (6, 6E, 30, 44) upon its moving to control a localized steam emission in the area over which the iron passes.
2. Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that steam diffusion means (5, 5A-5E, 38) are arranged on the upper plane of a sealed box (4, 4A-4E, 39, 47a, 47b) constituting the working surface (3) of the ironing board (1, 1A-1E, 34, 48).
3. Equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that the sealed box (4, 4A-4E, 39, 47a, 47b) constitutes a vaporization chamber, fed with steam from the water reserve.
4. Equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that the steam diffusion means (5, 5A-5E, 38)are constituted by a plurality of ports (8, 8A-8E, 38) emerging on the working surface (3) of the board (1, 1A-1E, 34) and communicating with the vaporization chamber (4, 4A-4E, 39), said ports (8,8A-8E, 38) being closed at rest and open-sensitive to the passing of the iron (6, 6E, 30) for an active vaporization phase under the effect of the control means (9, 9A-9E, 38).
5. Equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that the control means (9, 9A-9E, 38) for opening or closing said steam diffusion ports (8, 8A-8E, 38) of the ironing board (1, lA-lE, 34) are constituted by valvules.
6. Equipment according claim 5, characterized in that each valvule (9, 9A-9C) comprises a pin (10, 10A-10C) arranged for closing a corresponding diffusion port (8, 8A-8C) of the board (1, 1A-AC) and an upper part or head of which (11, 11A-11C) protrudes relatively to the plane (3) of said board (1, 1A-1C) and acts for opening the valvule (9, 9A-9C) as the iron (6) passes, by elastically retracting, thereby allowing steam from the vaporization chamber (4, 4A-4C) to pass through said apertures (8, 8A-8C) and by closing automatically after this passing.
7. Equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that the pins (10, 10A, 10B) are made of a single piece with a heat resistant and moisture resistant elastomer layer (12, 12A, 12B), laid just beneath a unit (13, 13A, 13B) forming a box-closing surface (4, 4A, 4B) comprising the diffusion ports (8, 8A, 8B), each of the heads (11, 11A, 11B) of the pins (10, 10A, 10B) being tightly accommodated in each of the diffusion ports (8, 8A, 8B) and extending with a tail (14, 14A, 14B) pressing on this bottom (4a) of the vaporization chamber (4, 4A, 4B) in a state of sufficient compression to ensure closing of a tab (15) of the elastically retractable head (10, 10A, 10B) upon passing of the iron (6) to allow steam to escape.
8. Equipment according to any of the claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the closing unit (13C) of the sealed box (4C) under which the layer (12C) provided with elastomer pins (10C) is laid is constituted by a metal sheet embossed on an external surface with a plurality of recesses (19) forming honeycomb cells (19, 19a), said cells (19a) being completely apertured and exhibiting a diffusion port (8C) stoppable with a pin (10C) of said underlying layer (12C).
9. Equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that the valvules (9D) are made of material from a heat resistant and moisture resistant elastomer layer (12D), laid just beneath a closing unit (13D) of the box (4D) comprising said diffusion ports (8D), each of the valvules (9D) being constituted by a head (20) including a cell and arranged for closing a corresponding diffusion port (8D) of the board (1D) and protruding from the plane of said board (1D), a central slot (21) closed at rest being provided at the bottom of said cell and capable of opening through strain as the iron (6) passes on the head with a cell (20) leading into a lower skirt (22) which extends from said head (20) and includes apertures (23) communicating with said vaporization chamber (4D).
10. Equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that the valvules (8E) are constituted by a housing forming a well (25) communicating, on one hand, at its upper part with said diffusion ports (8E) of the board (1E) and, on the other hand, at its lower part with said vaporization chamber (4E) through a second port (26), the latter being closed at rest by a ball (27) formed at least by an iron core capable of being attracted by the iron (6E) as it passes owing to the fact that its soleplate (6b) is provided with permanent or electrically continuous magnetization, for causing the lower port (26) to be freed, thereby allowing steam to escape through the upper diffusion port (8E).
11. Equipment according to claim 10, characterized in that the soleplate magnetization (6b) of the iron (6E) is obtained by electromagnetic means powered through a switch for on-demand control of steam release by the user.
12. Equipment according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means for generating steam based on said temperature raising means and the water reserve define a steam generator (7) separate from the table (1, 1A-1E, 34).
13. Equipment according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said means for generating steam based on said temperature raising means and the water reserve define a steam generator (7) integrated into the board (1, 1A-1E, 34).
14. Equipment according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that heat needed for ironing is provided by a heating electrical resistor integrated into the soleplate (6a, 6b) of the iron (6, 6E, 30).
15. Equipment according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that heat needed for ironing is provided by a heating electrical resistor integrated into the working surface (3) of the ironing board (1, 1A-AE, 34).
16. Equipment according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that heat necessary for ironing is provided by both a heating electrical resistor integrated into the soleplate (6a, 6b) of the iron (6, 6E, 30) and a heating electrical resistor integrated into the working surface (3) of the ironing board (1, 1A-AE, 34).
17. Equipment according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the iron (30) comprises means (31) for sucking up steam which it frees from the board (34) as it passes, thereby increasing steam flow rate and contributing to the effect of the control means in the opening of the ports (38).
18. Equipment according to claim 17, characterized in that suction means comprise a suction pump.
19. Equipment according to claim 18, characterized in that the suction pump is integrated into the ironing board.
20. Equipment according to claim 18, characterized in that the suction pump is apart from the ironing board.
21. Equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that the sealed box forms the water reserve.
22. Equipment according to claims 1 and 21, characterized in that steam diffusion means are made of a textile material covering the working surface (3) of the board (1) and communicating with the water reserve for absorbing the latter and moistening the working surface (3) of the board (1) through capillarity.
23. Equipment according to claims 1, 21, 22, characterized in that said steam diffusion control means are formed from the heat per se of the iron (6), causing as it passes vaporization of water retained by the textile material, which takes place concurrently to ironing.
24. Equipment according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the soleplate (6a) of the iron (6) is surrounded by a peripheral rim (6c) having a low amplitude, to thereby precede the localized emission of steam in one ironing direction or the other, in order to avoid steam flowing up on the periphery of said soleplate (6a).
25. Ironing board (1, 1A-1E, 34, 48) constituting a working surface (3), provided with steam (7) diffusion means (5, 5A-5E, 38, 50) integrated into said board (1, 1A-1E, 34, 48) and control means (9, 9A-9E, 38, 50) for producing an active steaming phase for steam ironing, characterized in that said diffusion means (5, 5A-5E, 38, 50) essentially extend over the whole surface of the working surface (3) and are associated with said control means (9, 9A-9E, 38, 50), said control means being capable of being directly activated by the passing of an iron (6, 6E, 30, 44) upon its moving for controlling a localized steam emission in the area through which the iron passes (6, 6E, 30, 44).
26. Ironing board according to claim 25, characterized in that it is covered with a finished fabric (16) pervious to steam.
27. Iron (6E, 30, 44) comprising a soleplate (6b, 32, 51) characterized in that it also comprises activation means (31, 33, 52) associated with said soleplate (6B, 32, 51), capable of activating, upon moving of said iron (6E, 30, 44), control means (9, 9A-9E, 38, 50) associated with steam (7) diffusion means (5, 5A-5E, 38, 50) integrated into an ironing board (1, 1A-1E, 34, 48) having a working surface (3), said diffusion means (5, 5A-5E, 38, 50) essentially extending over the whole surface of said working surface (3), for controlling a localized steam emission (7)in the area through which the iron (6E, 30, 44) passes.
28. Equipment according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises, under the ironing board (48), several steam distributors (47a, 47b) connected to the steam generator through an electrovalve (45a, 45b), and in that the board comprises above each distributor (47a, 47b) at least one steam diffusion hole (50), and in the vicinity of each distributor (47a, 47b), means suitable for detecting the presence of the iron and causing the electrovalve (45a, 45b) to open for causing steam to be admitted into said distributor (47a, 47b).
29. Equipment according to claim 28, wherein the iron (44) comprises a magnet or an electromagnet (52) near its soleplate (51), characterized in that it includes in the vicinity of each distributor (47a, 47b) at least one magnetic relay (53) electrically connected to the electrovalve (45a, 45b) for causing said electrovalve (45a, 45b) to open as the passing of the iron operates said magnetic relay (53).

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