EP0796943A2

EP0796943A2 - Flat iron with a handle and an ironing plate

Info

Publication number: EP0796943A2
Application number: EP97104151A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giuseppe Giannelli
Original assignee: Femix di Giannelli Stefano
Current assignee: Femix di Giannelli Stefano
Priority date: 1996-03-19
Filing date: 1997-03-12
Publication date: 1997-09-24
Also published as: EP0796943A3; ITCO960010V0; IT242275Y1; ITCO960010U1

Abstract

This flat-iron has the characteristic of a rear structure (17) suitable for supporting a small electric motor (12) associated with an impeller (11) blowing through lower holes (23) the air drawn from an upper channel, comprising radial holes (13) in the tubular surface of the handle, and further holes (14) to the front of, and holes (18) to the rear of, said region which are sufficient to provide the necessary intake cross-section and to facilitate air circulation through the handle (13A) even in the absence of motorized ventilation, the air leaving the lower holes (23) cooling that which has already been ironed to the front, by virtue of its rear location with reference to the usual direction of ironing movement.

Description

This invention relates to a flat-iron of blown fresh air type, with a ventilated handle and an interchangeable ironing plate.
The handles of traditional flat-irons, although being of various shapes and materials, have the drawback of favouring hand perspiration during use.
Traditional flat-irons are provided only with heating means, so that in order to stabilize the ironing by cooling, appropriate tables with suction holes have to be used. Finally, traditional flat-irons have a fixed ironing plate, so that any damage to it is equivalent to damaging the iron itself.
An object of the present invention is to define a flat-iron with a handle able to reduce or prevent hand perspiration.
A further object is to define a flat-iron able to cool the article which it has ironed.
A further object is to define a flat-iron, the ironing plate of which can be replaced if damaged.
These and further objects will be see to have been attained on reading the following detailed description of a flat-iron, characterised by a rear structure able to support a small electric motor associated with an impeller which through lower holes blows air drawn from an upper channel, comprising radial holes in the tubular surface of the handle and, to the front and rear of said region, further holes sufficient to provide the necessary intake cross-section and to facilitate air circulation through the handle even if motorized ventilation is absent, the air leaving the lower holes cooling that which has already been ironed to the front, by virtue of its rear location with reference to the usual direction of ironing movement.
A characteristic of the flat-iron is that its upper plate allows water to be vaporized, or steam already produced, to pass into channels having their lower surface consisting of a flat underplate which is provided for the purpose of ironing the fabric and is fixed by simple screws.
The invention is illustrated by way of non-limiting example on the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partly sectional side view of a flat-iron;
Figure 2 shows the upper region of a flat-iron plate;
Figure 3 shows the lower side of the plate of Figure 2;
Figure 4 shows the lower side of an under-plate to be associated with the plate of Figures 2 and 3;
Figure 5 shows the under-plate of Figure 4 associated with the plate of Figures 2 and 3 in a view perpendicular to that of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a partly sectional side view of a flat-iron of different form front that of Figure 1, and typical of flat-irons provided with a water container;
Figure 7 is a partly sectional schematic side view with the ironing part in exploded view, showing a flat-iron without the equipment for spraying steam.

Figure 1 shows the cold structure 10 of a flat-iron with a series of holes 13 in a substantially tubular handle 13A. There is also an electric motor 12 secured to a support 17 fixed to a part located to the rear of the handle 13A. The motor 12 directly operates the impeller 11 which blows fresh air downwards, causing it to emerge through appropriate holes 23 to strike an already ironed fabric T.
This air is drawn through the holes 13 and also through further holes 14 and 18 which, relative to the position of the handle 13A, can be considered as front and rear holes.
Their position facilitates air circulation through the holes 13 by the effect of the to-and-fro ironing movement even without the aid of the impeller 11. The impeller operating motor 12 can be operated by a pushbutton positioned on the top of the handle. The reference numeral 16 indicates a plate provided with usual electrical heating resistance elements 24 and labyrinth channels 28 for generating and distributing steam (Figures 2, 3).
This plate is associated with an under-plate 15, which constitutes the lower surface of said labyrinth channels. It can be fixed to the plate 16 by usual screws 19 via holes 41 which extend to the plate in the form of threaded holes 40.
Figures 2 and 3 show the positions of a heat storage and levelling mass 25, the electrical resistance element 24 powered by an electric cable 22, and fixing columns for the upper "cold structure" 10 of the iron.
The reference numeral 26 indicates a hole for the entry of water or steam which, by passing through the channels 28, can emerge to the outside, or onto the fabric T to be ironed, through holes 30 present in the under-plate 15.
With reference to Figure 6, this differs from Figure 1 by comprising a cold water container 50 and an electric cable 51 similar to the cable 22. The reference numeral 19 indicates the position of the under-plate fixing screws, which are better seen in the "exploded" part of Figure 7. Figure 7 comprises neither the impeller 11 nor its motor, so indicate a flat-iron handle which is ventilated only by the effect of the to-and-fro ironing movements.

Claims

A flat-iron characterized by a tubular handle (13A) provided within the hand-gripping region with a plurality of small holes (13) through which there can flow the air transiting with to-and-fro movement deriving from the typical ironing movements by virtue of exit mouths (14, 18) positioned to the front and rear of said region.
A flat-iron characterised by comprising a rear structure (17) suitable for supporting a small electric motor (12) associated with an impeller (11) blowing through lower holes (23) the air drawn from an upper channel, comprising radial holes (13) in the tubular surface of a handle (13A), and further holes (14) to the front of, and holes (18) to the rear of, said region which are sufficient to provide the necessary intake cross-section and to facilitate air circulation through the handle (13A) even in the absence of motorized ventilation, the air leaving the lower holes (23) cooling that which has already been ironed to the front, by virtue of its rear location with reference to the usual direction of ironing movement.
A flat-iron as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised by comprising an upper plate (16) allowing water to be vaporized, or steam already produced, to pass into channels (28) having their lower surface consisting of a removable flat under-plate (15) which is provided for the purpose of ironing the fabric and is fixed by simple screws (42).
A flat-iron as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised by a heating plate (16), the steam transit tracks (28) of which have their lower surface formed by an under-plate fixed to the lower surface (16A) by usual means (19).