EP1055024B1 - Ironing board height-locking mechanism - Google Patents

Ironing board height-locking mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1055024B1
EP1055024B1 EP99905360A EP99905360A EP1055024B1 EP 1055024 B1 EP1055024 B1 EP 1055024B1 EP 99905360 A EP99905360 A EP 99905360A EP 99905360 A EP99905360 A EP 99905360A EP 1055024 B1 EP1055024 B1 EP 1055024B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ironing board
locking
legs
stop member
locking bar
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
Application number
EP99905360A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1055024A1 (en
Inventor
Rudolphus Cornelis Henricus Daams
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Brabantia Nederland BV
Original Assignee
Brabantia Nederland BV
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Brabantia Nederland BV filed Critical Brabantia Nederland BV
Publication of EP1055024A1 publication Critical patent/EP1055024A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1055024B1 publication Critical patent/EP1055024B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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 
    • D06F81/02—Ironing boards  with collapsible underframe
    • D06F81/04—Ironing boards  with collapsible underframe with means for adjusting height

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a folding ironing board comprising:
  • Ironing boards are generally used in the household, often continually by the same person, so that the ironing board needs always to be placed at the same working height.
  • the height of the ironing board according to US-A-2.912.775 can be continuously adjusted, however it is not possible to enable a user to restore the ironing board, which has one been placed at a good working height, over and over again to the same unfolded state.
  • the object of the invention is to offer a solution for the problem outlined above and therefore - according to the invention - the folding ironing board according to the preamble is characterised in that the adjusting mechanism has at least one stop member, which is adjustably connected to a locking bar at a position between the upper ends of the legs.
  • the mechanism having a stop member shall determine the adjustment position as the ironing board is unfolded, so that this consequently stands at a proper working height.
  • NL-A-6908428 discloses an ironing board comprising an ironing board table, a supporting frame having legs pivotably mounted with respect to each other, one of said legs having a pivot connection to the board table and the other leg having an upper end being rectilinearly movably mounted with respect to the ironing board in the longitudinal direction thereof.
  • the known ironing board has an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the working height of the board table and this adjusting mechanism has a set of two stop members of which one has an adjustable position as seen in the longitudinal direction of the board table, and of which one is movable with the movable upper end of the other leg.
  • this known ironing board can not be collapsed to a folded position in which both legs extend parallel to the lower side of the ironing board table.
  • the stop members are not adjustably connected to a locking bar at a position between the upper ends of the legs.
  • the locking bar runs through an opening in the stationary locking member and the adjustable stop member can be fastened in the locking bar.
  • adjustable stop member may comprise a clasp which is placed along the locking bar and is displaceable along it and is provided with a screw thread, as well as a nut which interacts with the screw thread and can be manually operated by a user, for fixing said stop member in the desired adjustment position.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show a folding ironing board 1, especially a domestic ironing board, which is provided with an ironing board table 5 mounted in an ironing board rim 3.
  • the ironing board table is borne by a supporting frame having two leg elements 11 and 13 which are pivotable between a folded and an unfolded position.
  • the leg elements are hinged together at 15.
  • At the ends of the leg elements 11 and 13 there are supports having respective parts 11A, 11B and 13A, 13B. With the aid of these supports, the ironing board can be placed firmly on a floor.
  • Interacting with one of the leg elements, namely the leg element 13 is a locking mechanism for locking in the unfolded position shown in Figure 1 and at a working height to be chosen within defined limits the position of the ironing board table 5 above a floor.
  • the locking mechanism comprises one, in the drawn embodiment two, stationary locking element(s) 17, connected in an essentially stationary manner to the ironing board table, and two locking elements 19 which are movable relative to the said stationary locking element(s).
  • An adjusting mechanism is present, having a stop member 21 which can be placed and fixed adjustably by a user in the adjustment position shown in Figure 2 and which interacts with one of the stationary locking elements 17, the design of which stop member is to be discussed in greater detail, primarily with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Whenever the ironing board is unfolded, this stop member limits the movement of the two movable locking elements 19 and thereby determines the working height of the ironing board 1 in dependence upon the said adjustment position.
  • the stop member 21 is continuously adjustable for a continuous adjustment of the working height of the ironing board table 5.
  • the two leg elements 11 and 13 possess a free end, in Figure 2 the free end is [lacuna], which via the supports 11A, B and 13A, B, in the unfolded state of the ironing board, make contact with the floor. Also visible is an opposing ironing board end connected to the ironing board table, in Figure 2 the ironing board end 23 of the leg element 13 can be seen. At the ironing board end the leg element 11 is pivotably connected at a fixed place to the ironing board table. A connection of this type is commonly known and, for the sake of simplicity, is not shown in the drawing.
  • the other leg element 13 is transportable between a starting position when the ironing board is folded up (not shown) and an end position (also not shown) when the ironing board is unfolded and set in the highest working position.
  • the said essentially stationary locking element 17 is limitedly movable.
  • the locking element 17, or preferably the two stationary locking elements 17, are namely connected to a bar 27, which is hinge-mounted in two longitudinal ties 29 fitted for stiffening purposes beneath the ironing board table 5.
  • the bar 27 is connected to a bar portion 31 which stands perpendicular thereto and ends in a control knob 33.
  • the locking members 17 are provided with an elongated slot-shaped opening 35.
  • the movable locking element or preferably the two movable locking elements present, comprise a plate-shaped locking bar 37 which fits with small play into the opening 35 in the locking members 17.
  • the ironing board end 23 of the leg element 13 is connected to the two locking bars 37.
  • a bar 41 which is mounted at the end in grooves 43 in the longitudinal ties 29, whilst the bars 37 in turn, at one of their ends, pivotally enclasp the bar 41.
  • Figure 2 shows that on only one of the locking bars 37 is their stop member 21 mounted. It is likewise also possible to provide both locking bars 37 with a stop member 21.
  • the stop member 21 comprises a clasp 21A which is placed around the locking bar 37 and is displaceable along it and is provided with screw thread 45, as well as a nut 21B which interacts with a screw thread and can be manually operated by a user and which in the shown embodiment, for example, consists of a suitable thermohardening plastic.
  • the clasp 21A can be fixed on the locking bar 37, sec primarily Figure 4, thereby enabling the stop member to be fixed at any chosen place in the desired adjustment position.
  • the working of the locking mechanism is briefly as follows.
  • the leg element 13 pivots about the hinge pin 15 and the ironing board end 23 moves according to the path 25 along the bottom edge of the ironing board.
  • the other leg element 11 is hinged at a fixed place to the bottom edge of the ironing board.
  • the two stationary locking elements 17 allow the locking bars 37 to pass through the openings 35 until the stop member 21 butts against the stationary locking element 17.
  • the ironing board is placed by the user onto the floor, possibly even pressed down somewhat, whereby the two locking bars 37, by virtue of the generated friction, to some extent tilt the two locking elements 17 about the axis of the bar 27, causing the two locking bars 37 to be clamped in place as the result of a sheering effect.
  • the ironing board can be refolded by operating the control element 33 and thereby twisting the bar 27 over a small angle, thereby releasing the sheering effect and enabling the ironing board end 23 of the leg element 13 to return to the starting position, again via the path of transport 25.
  • a spring can be present, which pressurizes the control element 33 and hence the bar 27 towards the position shown in Figure 2.
  • the stop member can have a totally different shape from that reproduced in the figures.
  • the shown stop member 21 should only be regarded as one possible embodiment.
  • Another simple embodiment might comprise an insert pin which is able to be inserted in an opening specially made for it in the locking bar 37.
  • a clamp of this type can be mounted on the locking element in such a way that it is displaceable but cannot be lost, for example.
  • the locking element too, can possess a totally different shape and can comprise, for example, a round rod or pipe or the like.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Irons (AREA)

Description

The invention relates to a folding ironing board comprising:
  • an ironing board table,
  • a supporting frame having two legs interpivoted intermediate their ends, one of said legs having a pivot connection to the board table and the other of said legs having an upper end rectilinearly movable with respect to the ironing board in the longitudinal direction thereof, and
  • an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the working height of the board table, comprising at least one stationary locking member and a locking bar which has a pivot connection with the movable upper end of one of the legs.
Such an ironing board is disclosed in US-A-2.912.775.
Ironing boards are generally used in the household, often continually by the same person, so that the ironing board needs always to be placed at the same working height. The height of the ironing board according to US-A-2.912.775 can be continuously adjusted, however it is not possible to enable a user to restore the ironing board, which has one been placed at a good working height, over and over again to the same unfolded state.
The object of the invention is to offer a solution for the problem outlined above and therefore - according to the invention - the folding ironing board according to the preamble is characterised in that the adjusting mechanism has at least one stop member, which is adjustably connected to a locking bar at a position between the upper ends of the legs.
Upon subsequent usage, the mechanism having a stop member shall determine the adjustment position as the ironing board is unfolded, so that this consequently stands at a proper working height.
It is pointed out that NL-A-6908428 discloses an ironing board comprising an ironing board table, a supporting frame having legs pivotably mounted with respect to each other, one of said legs having a pivot connection to the board table and the other leg having an upper end being rectilinearly movably mounted with respect to the ironing board in the longitudinal direction thereof. Further the known ironing board has an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the working height of the board table and this adjusting mechanism has a set of two stop members of which one has an adjustable position as seen in the longitudinal direction of the board table, and of which one is movable with the movable upper end of the other leg. However, this known ironing board can not be collapsed to a folded position in which both legs extend parallel to the lower side of the ironing board table. The stop members are not adjustably connected to a locking bar at a position between the upper ends of the legs.
Preferably the locking bar runs through an opening in the stationary locking member and the adjustable stop member can be fastened in the locking bar.
Further the adjustable stop member may comprise a clasp which is placed along the locking bar and is displaceable along it and is provided with a screw thread, as well as a nut which interacts with the screw thread and can be manually operated by a user, for fixing said stop member in the desired adjustment position.
The invention shall now be explained in greater detail with reference to the drawing, in which:
  • Fig. I shows a perspective view of an unfolded ironing board.
  • Fig. 2 shows a partially perspective bottom view of the ironing board of Fig. 1,
  • Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of a stop member, consisting of two parts, used in the ironing board according to the previous figures,
  • Fig. 4 reproduces a detailed view of individual components of the ironing board.
    • Figures 1 and 2 show a folding ironing board 1, especially a domestic ironing board, which is provided with an ironing board table 5 mounted in an ironing board rim 3. The ironing board table is borne by a supporting frame having two leg elements 11 and 13 which are pivotable between a folded and an unfolded position. The leg elements are hinged together at 15. At the ends of the leg elements 11 and 13 there are supports having respective parts 11A, 11B and 13A, 13B. With the aid of these supports, the ironing board can be placed firmly on a floor. Interacting with one of the leg elements, namely the leg element 13, is a locking mechanism for locking in the unfolded position shown in Figure 1 and at a working height to be chosen within defined limits the position of the ironing board table 5 above a floor. The locking mechanism comprises one, in the drawn embodiment two, stationary locking element(s) 17, connected in an essentially stationary manner to the ironing board table, and two locking elements 19 which are movable relative to the said stationary locking element(s). An adjusting mechanism is present, having a stop member 21 which can be placed and fixed adjustably by a user in the adjustment position shown in Figure 2 and which interacts with one of the stationary locking elements 17, the design of which stop member is to be discussed in greater detail, primarily with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Whenever the ironing board is unfolded, this stop member limits the movement of the two movable locking elements 19 and thereby determines the working height of the ironing board 1 in dependence upon the said adjustment position.
    As will be discussed in greater detail below, especially with reference to Figures 2 and 4, the stop member 21 is continuously adjustable for a continuous adjustment of the working height of the ironing board table 5.
    The two leg elements 11 and 13 possess a free end, in Figure 2 the free end is [lacuna], which via the supports 11A, B and 13A, B, in the unfolded state of the ironing board, make contact with the floor. Also visible is an opposing ironing board end connected to the ironing board table, in Figure 2 the ironing board end 23 of the leg element 13 can be seen. At the ironing board end the leg element 11 is pivotably connected at a fixed place to the ironing board table. A connection of this type is commonly known and, for the sake of simplicity, is not shown in the drawing.
    At the ironing board end 23, along a path of transport directed essentially in the longitudinal direction of the ironing board table 5 and indicated by an arrow 25 denoted by dashed lines, the other leg element 13 is transportable between a starting position when the ironing board is folded up (not shown) and an end position (also not shown) when the ironing board is unfolded and set in the highest working position. The said essentially stationary locking element 17 is limitedly movable. The locking element 17, or preferably the two stationary locking elements 17, are namely connected to a bar 27, which is hinge-mounted in two longitudinal ties 29 fitted for stiffening purposes beneath the ironing board table 5. At one end, the bar 27 is connected to a bar portion 31 which stands perpendicular thereto and ends in a control knob 33. By reaching beneath the top surface of the ironing board, a user is able, with the aid of the control knob 33, to tilt the locking members 17 over a small angle.
    The locking members 17 are provided with an elongated slot-shaped opening 35. The movable locking element, or preferably the two movable locking elements present, comprise a plate-shaped locking bar 37 which fits with small play into the opening 35 in the locking members 17. The ironing board end 23 of the leg element 13 is connected to the two locking bars 37. To the ironing board end 23 there is welded, namely via a platelet 39, a bar 41, which is mounted at the end in grooves 43 in the longitudinal ties 29, whilst the bars 37 in turn, at one of their ends, pivotally enclasp the bar 41. Figure 2 shows that on only one of the locking bars 37 is their stop member 21 mounted. It is likewise also possible to provide both locking bars 37 with a stop member 21.
    As is primarily evident in the figure, the stop member 21 comprises a clasp 21A which is placed around the locking bar 37 and is displaceable along it and is provided with screw thread 45, as well as a nut 21B which interacts with a screw thread and can be manually operated by a user and which in the shown embodiment, for example, consists of a suitable thermohardening plastic. Using this nut, the clasp 21A can be fixed on the locking bar 37, sec primarily Figure 4, thereby enabling the stop member to be fixed at any chosen place in the desired adjustment position.
    The working of the locking mechanism is briefly as follows. When the ironing board is folded, the leg element 13 pivots about the hinge pin 15 and the ironing board end 23 moves according to the path 25 along the bottom edge of the ironing board. The other leg element 11 is hinged at a fixed place to the bottom edge of the ironing board. The two stationary locking elements 17 allow the locking bars 37 to pass through the openings 35 until the stop member 21 butts against the stationary locking element 17. At this point the ironing board is placed by the user onto the floor, possibly even pressed down somewhat, whereby the two locking bars 37, by virtue of the generated friction, to some extent tilt the two locking elements 17 about the axis of the bar 27, causing the two locking bars 37 to be clamped in place as the result of a sheering effect. Following ironing, the ironing board can be refolded by operating the control element 33 and thereby twisting the bar 27 over a small angle, thereby releasing the sheering effect and enabling the ironing board end 23 of the leg element 13 to return to the starting position, again via the path of transport 25. If so desired, in support of the operation of the locking elements 17 and the working thereof, a spring can be present, which pressurizes the control element 33 and hence the bar 27 towards the position shown in Figure 2.
    Although the invention has been explained with reference to just a single illustrative embodiment, the invention is by no means limited thereto. Thus the stop member can have a totally different shape from that reproduced in the figures. The shown stop member 21 should only be regarded as one possible embodiment. Another simple embodiment might comprise an insert pin which is able to be inserted in an opening specially made for it in the locking bar 37. It is even possible to use a stop member which clamps itself to the movable locking element, for example in the form of a clamp which is easily operable by a user. A clamp of this type can be mounted on the locking element in such a way that it is displaceable but cannot be lost, for example. The locking element, too, can possess a totally different shape and can comprise, for example, a round rod or pipe or the like.

    Claims (3)

    1. Folding ironing board comprising:
      an ironing board table (5),
      a supporting frame having two legs (11, 13) interpivoted intermediate their ends, one (11) of said legs having a pivot connection to the board table (5) and the other (13) of said legs having an upper end rectilinearly movable with respect to the ironing board in the longitudinal direction thereof, and
      an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the working height of the board table (5), comprising a locking bar (37) which has a pivot connection with the movable upper end of one of the legs (13), and at least one stationary locking member (17) which is connected to the board table (5) in a stationary position with respect to the longitudinal direction of said board table (5) and is limitedly tiltable between a position in which it engages the locking bar and prevents moving thereof and a position in which the locking of the locking bar is perished and legs (11, 13) may be collapsed.
      characterised in that the adjusting mechanism has at least one stop member (21), which is adjustably connected to a locking bar (37) at a position between the upper ends of the legs (11, 13).
    2. Folding ironing board according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking bar (37) runs through an opening (35) in the stationary stop member (17).
    3. Folding ironing board according to claim 2, characterised in that the stop member (21) comprises a clasp (21A) which is placed around the locking bar (37) and is displaceable along it and is provided with a screw thread (45), as well as a nut (21B), which interacts with the screw thread (45) and can be manually operated by a user, for fixing the stop member in the desired adjustment position.
    EP99905360A 1998-02-13 1999-02-11 Ironing board height-locking mechanism Expired - Lifetime EP1055024B1 (en)

    Applications Claiming Priority (3)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    NL1008292 1998-02-13
    NL1008292A NL1008292C2 (en) 1998-02-13 1998-02-13 Ironing table height lock.
    PCT/NL1999/000071 WO1999041443A1 (en) 1998-02-13 1999-02-11 Ironing board height-locking mechanism

    Publications (2)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP1055024A1 EP1055024A1 (en) 2000-11-29
    EP1055024B1 true EP1055024B1 (en) 2003-05-02

    Family

    ID=19766530

    Family Applications (1)

    Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
    EP99905360A Expired - Lifetime EP1055024B1 (en) 1998-02-13 1999-02-11 Ironing board height-locking mechanism

    Country Status (7)

    Country Link
    EP (1) EP1055024B1 (en)
    AU (1) AU2551799A (en)
    DE (1) DE69907413T2 (en)
    DK (1) DK1055024T3 (en)
    HK (1) HK1034751A1 (en)
    NL (1) NL1008292C2 (en)
    WO (1) WO1999041443A1 (en)

    Families Citing this family (3)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    DE10137126B4 (en) * 2001-04-03 2007-04-26 Alfred Kärcher Gmbh & Co. Kg ironing board
    WO2002086221A1 (en) * 2001-04-03 2002-10-31 Alfred Kärcher Gmbh & Co. Kg Ironing board
    US10710800B2 (en) 2017-11-17 2020-07-14 Kohler Co. Trash can

    Family Cites Families (3)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    FR1097286A (en) * 1954-02-15 1955-07-04 Couvertures Chauffantes Florid Ironing board
    US2912775A (en) * 1954-09-07 1959-11-17 Arvin Ind Inc Ironing tables
    NL6908428A (en) * 1969-06-03 1970-12-07

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    DE69907413T2 (en) 2004-02-26
    NL1008292C2 (en) 1999-08-16
    WO1999041443A1 (en) 1999-08-19
    HK1034751A1 (en) 2001-11-02
    AU2551799A (en) 1999-08-30
    DE69907413D1 (en) 2003-06-05
    EP1055024A1 (en) 2000-11-29
    DK1055024T3 (en) 2003-07-21

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