EP1741825A1

EP1741825A1 - Ironing board

Info

Publication number: EP1741825A1
Application number: EP06115729A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Adriano Miola
Original assignee: Gimi SpA
Current assignee: Gimi SpA
Priority date: 2005-07-06
Filing date: 2006-06-20
Publication date: 2007-01-10
Also published as: ITPD20050205A1

Abstract

An ironing board, of the type constituted by a frame (11, 111, 211) with supporting legs (12), for supporting an ironing surface (13, 213), comprising a laundry holder means and a means for supporting an iron or a heated tank, the laundry holder means being able to be extracted at least partially and reversibly from a configuration in which it is closed and concealed below the ironing surface (13, 213) or below the supporting means for the iron or its heated tank, to an active configuration, which is external to the volume of the ironing surface (13, 213) and of the supporting means.

Description

The present invention relates to an ironing board.
Currently known ironing boards are constituted generally by a frame with supporting legs, which supports an ironing surface and comprises a laundry holder means and a means for supporting an iron or a heated tank.
The laundry holder means, generally a rack, is usually fixed to the supporting legs and can be arranged below the ironing surface of the board, within the footprint delimited by the perimeter of the ironing surface.
Such position for the laundry holder means, although being widely used and appreciated, forces the board user who has to take from said means an item of clothing to be ironed or store thereon an ironed item, to move albeit slightly away from the board and bend down.
These movements are repeated as many times as there are items to be ironed, and over time the inconvenience for the user is manifested for example as backache or in any case as the onset of physical tiredness, which adds to the mental tiredness imposed by a repetitive activity such as ironing.
The aim of the present invention is to provide an ironing board that improves the working conditions of the user, alleviating at least part of the user's effort.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide an ironing board provided with a laundry holder means positioned in a manner that is more conveniently accessible for a user.
Another obj ect of the present invention is to provide an ironing board that at the same time is capable of supporting an iron, with or without a heated tank.
Another obj ect of the present invention is to provide an ironing board that is easy to handle and optionally can be compacted at least as much as conventional ironing boards.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an ironing board that is easy to use even for a user who lacks particular prior training.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an ironing board that can be manufactured cheaply with known systems and technologies.
This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an ironing board, of the type constituted by a frame with supporting legs, for supporting an ironing surface, and comprising a laundry holder means and a means for supporting an iron or a heated tank, characterized in that said laundry holder means can be extracted at least partially and reversibly from a configuration in which it is closed and concealed below said ironing surface or said supporting means for the iron or heated tank, to an active configuration, which is external to the volume of said ironing surface and of said supporting means.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of three preferred but not exclusive embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ironing board according to the invention in a first embodiment;
Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of a detail of the ironing board in the first embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of an ironing board according to the invention in a second embodiment, in a first configuration;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a detail of the invention in the second embodiment of Figure 3, in a second configuration;
Figure 5 is a bottom perspective view of the detail of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of an ironing board according to the invention, in a third embodiment thereof;
Figure 7 is a bottom view of a detail of the board according to the invention in the third embodiment of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a top perspective view of the ironing board in the third embodiment, illustrating in exploded view an accessory that can be associated therewith.

With reference to the figures, an ironing board according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in its first embodiment, shown in Figures 1 and 2.
The ironing board 10 is constituted by a frame 11 with supporting legs 12, for supporting an ironing surface 13.
The board 10 further comprises a laundry holder means and a supporting means for an iron or a heated tank.
Such supporting means is constituted by a tray 14 made of fireproof material, which is provided with a central opening 15 with flaps 16 which are folded downward.
At one of the flaps 16, a bow 13 is pivoted to the tray 14 and is adapted to co-operate with the flaps 16 in order to arrange an iron in an inclined inactive configuration.
The bow 31 can be collapsed in order to arrange a heated tank, instead of an iron, on the tray 14.
The tray 14 is arranged at the same height as the ironing surface 13 and is supported by a cantilever support 17, which protrudes from the frame 11 and is rigidly coupled thereto.
The laundry holder means can be extracted reversibly from a configuration in which it is closed and concealed below the supporting tray 14 for the iron or heated tank, to an active configuration which is external to the volume of the ironing surface 13 and of the tray 14.
Such laundry holder means is formed by a rack 18, which can be extracted and retracted, by way of sliding means, from below the tray 14.
The rack 18 can be extracted in the longitudinal direction of the ironing surface 13.
In a variation of the first embodiment, not shown, the rack 18 can be extracted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ironing surface 13, so as to improve the balance of the board by moving the load of the items to be ironed or already ironed closer to the center of gravity of said board.
The rack 18, in the active configuration, is contiguous to the tray 14 in the longitudinal direction of the ironing surface 13.
The sliding means are constituted by a first pair of longitudinal bars 19, the free ends 19a of which are arranged so as to slide in corresponding seats 20 formed in a block 21 which is fixed to the frame 11, below the ironing surface 13.
The sliding means further comprise a second pair of bars 22, which are parallel to the first bars 19 and can slide in corresponding slots 23 provided in respective tabs 24, which protrude downward from the tray 14.
The first bars 19 and the second bars 22 form part of the rack 18, which, as mentioned, provides the laundry holder means.
The slots 23 of the tabs 24 are located so as to support in an optimum manner the rack 18 in the active configuration, ensuring that the first bars 19 do not flex downward under the weight of the laundry.
A tilt-down side wall 25 for carrying coat hangers is associated with the rack 18.
The tilt-down side wall 25 is constituted by a substantially U-shaped element, which is pivoted to a perimetric transverse bar 26 of the rack 18 by means of two annular clips 27.
In the inactive configuration, the tilt-down side wall 25 is shaped and positioned so as to not interfere with the retractability of the rack 18 below the tray 14.
The ironing board 10 according to the invention therefore has the laundry holder means arranged externally with respect to the volume of the ironing surface 13 and in a position for convenient access on the part of a user, who can store or remove the items to be ironed thereat without having to bend down and stand up, with advantages for the health of the back and in terms of general well-being of the user.
In a second embodiment of the ironing board according to the invention, designated by the reference numeral 110 and shown in Figures 3 to 5, the supporting means for the iron or its heated tank is constituted by a part 114 of the extractable rack 118.
The part 114 is delimited by a retention wall 115, which is rigidly coupled to the frame 111 and is designed to avoid unwanted movements of any heated tank held thereon.
The bottom of the supporting means for the iron or heated tank is formed by the longitudinal bars 119 and 122 of the extractable rack 118 that lie below the area delimited by the retention wall 115 and by the transverse bars 129, which protrude between the two opposite sides 115a and 115b of the retention wall 115.
The transverse bars 129 are also adapted to support the sliding of the longitudinal bars 119 and 122.
The outermost longitudinal bars 122 are rigidly coupled so as to slide on the transverse bars 129 by way of engagement and sliding means 130, which are fixed at one end by snap action to the transverse bars 129 and are provided, at the opposite end, with a sliding receptacle for the longitudinal bars 122.
The supporting means, i.e., the part 114 of the rack 118 that is delimited by the retention wall 115, has an additional tilt-down side wall 131 for positioning an iron in the inclined inactive configuration.
The tilt-down side wall 131, constituted by a bow, is pivoted to one of the central longitudinal bars 119.
In this second embodiment of the board 110, the sliding means are constituted by the central longitudinal bars 119 and the external longitudinal bars 122, the ends of which are arranged so as to slide in corresponding seats 120 formed in blocks which are fixed to the frame 111 below the ironing surface.
There are three blocks, two lateral ones 132 and a central one 121: the first blocks have two seats 120a for the sliding of corresponding lateral longitudinal bars 122 and the second ones are provided with two seats 120b for the central bars 119.
A third embodiment of the ironing board is shown in Figures 6 and 7 and is designated therein by the reference numeral 210.
In said third embodiment, the supporting means and the laundry holder means are both formed by the same single reversibly extractable rack 218.
The supporting means is formed by a first part 218a of the single rack 218, which lies closest to the ironing surface 213.
The laundry holder means is formed by the remaining second part 218b of the rack 218.
The single rack 218 has a tilt-down side wall 231 for arranging an iron in an inclined inactive configuration.
The tilt-down side wall 231 can perform a longitudinal translational motion on the bar 219 to which it is pivoted, so that it can be positioned on the rack 218 according to the extent to which it is extracted from below the ironing surface 213.
The side wall 231 is shaped so as to not interfere, in the inactive configuration, with the retractability of the rack 218 below the ironing surface 213.
The sliding means are constituted by the four central longitudinal bars 219 of the single rack 218, the ends of which are arranged so as to slide in corresponding seats 220b formed in a central block 221, and by two lateral bars 222, which are arranged so as to slide in corresponding seats 220a which are open on respective lateral blocks 232.
The blocks 221 and 232 are fixed to the frame 211 below the ironing surface 213.
Through openings for the tubular frame 215 of the rack 218 are also formed in the lateral blocks 232.
The free ends of the tubular frame 215, which is substantially U-shaped, are supported by additional sliding seats 233, which are fixed to the frame 211 and are adapted to prevent the rack 218 from tilting downward under the weight of the items to be ironed or of the iron or of the heated tank.
The rack 218 further has, in its central region, a transverse bar 235, which in addition to acting as a reinforcement for the longitudinal bars 219 and 222 is designed to act as a stroke limit for the sliding of the side wall 231, thus preventing a user from resting the iron at an excessive distance from the ironing surface 213 such as to cause the imbalance and tipping of the board 210.
This third embodiment also has a variation, not shown for the sake of simplicity, in which the rack 218 can be extracted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ironing surface 213, so as to improve the balance of the board, moving the load of the items to be ironed or already ironed or the load of the heated tank or of the iron closer to the center of gravity of said board.
In this third embodiment of the board 210, an extension deck 236 for the ironing surface 213 can be associated with the single rack 218.
In order to be able to associate the extension deck 236 with the rack, the side wall 231 must be stored in the inactive configuration.
The extension deck 236 has contoured edges 237 for resting on the corresponding perimetric tubular frame 215 of the single rack 218.
In this third embodiment, the versatility of the ironing board 210 is enhanced by the single rack 218, which in addition to performing the dual function of laundry holder and support for the iron or heated tank, is shaped so that it can accommodate the extension deck 236, which is particularly useful when one has to iron curtains, sheets, trousers and any other particularly long item of clothing.
In practice it has been found that the invention thus described solves the problems noted in conventional ironing boards.
In particular, the present invention provides an ironing board that improves the working conditions of the user, alleviating at least part of the user's effort.
Moreover, the present invention provides an ironing board that is provided with a laundry holder means arranged in a manner which is more conveniently accessible for a user.
Further, the present invention provides an ironing board that at the same time is capable of supporting an iron with or without a heated tank.
Moreover, the present invention provides an ironing board that can be handled easily and optionally can be compacted at least as much as known types of ironing board.
Further, the present invention provides an ironing board that is easy to use even for a user who does not have particular prior training.
Further, the present invention provides an ironing board that can be manufactured cheaply with known systems and technologies.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2005A000205 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

An ironing board, of the type constituted by a frame (11, 111, 211) with supporting legs (12), for supporting an ironing surface (13, 213), and comprising a laundry holder means and a means for supporting an iron or a heated tank, characterized in that said laundry holder means can be extracted at least partially and reversibly from a configuration in which it is closed and concealed below said ironing surface (13, 213) or below said supporting means for the iron or heated tank, to an active configuration, which is external to the volume of said ironing surface (13, 213) and of said supporting means.
The ironing board according to claim 1, characterized in that said laundry holder means can be extracted along the longitudinal direction of the ironing surface.
The ironing board according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said laundry holder means, in the active configuration, is contiguous to said supporting means for the iron or heated tank in the longitudinal direction of the ironing surface (13, 213).
The ironing board according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said laundry holder means is formed by a rack (18), which can at least partially retract, by way of sliding means, below said supporting means for said iron or heated tank.
The ironing board according to claim 4, characterized in that said supporting means for the iron or heated tank is constituted by a tray (14) made of fireproof material, provided with a central opening (15) with flaps (16) which are folded downward for arranging an iron in an inclined inactive configuration, said tray (14) being arranged at the same height as said ironing surface (13) and being supported by a cantilever support (17), which protrudes from said frame (11) and is rigidly coupled thereto.
The ironing board according to claim 5, characterized in that a bow (31) is pivoted to the tray (14) at one of said flaps (16) and is adapted to cooperate with said flaps (16) for arranging an iron in an inclined inactive configuration, said bow (31) being collapsible in order to arrange a heated tank on the tray (14).
The ironing board according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sliding means are constituted by a first pair of longitudinal bars (19), the free ends (19a) of which are arranged so as to slide in corresponding seats (20) formed in a block (21) which is fixed to the frame (11) below the ironing surface (13), and by a second pair of bars (22), which are parallel to said first bars (19) and can slide in corresponding slots (23), which are provided in respective tabs (24) which protrude downward from said tray (14), said first and second bars (19, 22) forming at least part of the rack that provides said laundry holder element.
The ironing board according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that a tilt-down side wall (25) for supporting coat hangers is associated with said laundry holder rack (18) and in the inactive configuration is shaped and positioned so as to not interfere with the retractability of the rack (18) below the iron or heated tank supporting tray (14).
The ironing board according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said supporting means is constituted by a part (114) of said extractable rack (118) that is delimited by a retention wall (115) for a heated tank, which is rigidly coupled to said frame (111), the bottom of said supporting portion being formed by the longitudinal bars (119, 122) of the extractable rack (118) that lie below the area delimited by said retention wall (115), and by the transverse bars (129) that lie between the two opposite sides (115a, 115b) of said retention wall (115), said transverse bars (129) being also adapted to support the sliding of said longitudinal bars (119, 122).
The ironing board according to one or more of claims 1 to 4 and 9, characterized in that said part (114) that forms the supporting means is provided with a tilt-down side wall (131) for arranging an iron in the inclined inactive configuration.
The ironing board according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, 9 and 10, characterized in that said sliding means are constituted by at least one pair of longitudinal bars (119, 122), the ends of which are arranged so as to slide in corresponding seats (120a, 120b) formed in one or more blocks (121, 132) which are fixed to the frame (111) below the ironing surface.
The ironing board according to claim 11, characterized in that said sliding means comprise three blocks, two lateral ones (132) and a central one (121), each of which is provided with at least one seat (120a, 120b) for the sliding of a corresponding longitudinal bar (122, 119).
The ironing board according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said supporting means and said laundry holder means are both formed by a same single rack (218) which can be extracted reversibly, said supporting means being formed by a first part (218a) of said single rack (218) that lies closest to the ironing surface (213), said laundry holder means being formed by the remaining second part (218b) of said rack (218).
The ironing board according to one or more of claims 1 to 4 and 13, characterized in that said single rack (218) has a tilt-down side wall (231) for positioning an iron in an inclined inactive configuration, said tilt-down side wall being able to perform a longitudinal translational motion on the bar (219) of the rack to which it is pivoted, said side wall (231) being shaped so as to not interfere, in the inactive configuration, with the retractability of the rack (218) below the ironing surface (213).
The ironing board according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, 13 and 14, characterized in that said sliding means are constituted by at least one pair of longitudinal bars (219, 222) of said single rack (218), the ends of which are arranged so as to slide in corresponding seats (220a, 220b) which are formed in one or more blocks (221, 232) fixed to the frame (211) below the ironing surface (213).
The ironing board according to claim 15, characterized in that said sliding means comprise three blocks, two lateral ones (232) and a central one (221), each of which has at least one seat (220a, 220b) for the sliding of a corresponding longitudinal bar (222, 219).
The ironing board according to one or more of claims 1 to 4 and 14 to 16, characterized in that an extension deck (236) for the ironing surface (213) can be associated with said single rack (218).
The ironing board according to claim 17, characterized in that said extension deck (236) is provided with edges (237) which are shaped for resting on the perimetric tubular frame (215) of the single rack (218).
The ironing board according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rack (18, 118, 218) can be extracted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ironing surface (13, 213), so as to improve the balance of the board (10, 110, 210) by moving the load of the items to be ironed or already ironed closer to the center of gravity of said board.