EP2868798B1 - Household appliance comprising a steam-generating base connected by a steam line to a tool for vertical smoothing of laundry - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a household appliance comprising a steam generating base connected by a steam duct to a tool for the vertical unwinding of laundry, such as a steaming head, and relates more particularly to an appliance comprising at least one bar for hanging a garment, the bar being supported by a single mast extending upwardly from the base and being able to occupy a working position in which the bar is disposed transversely to the mast.

It is known, from the patent US 7,516,565 , an apparatus comprising a steam generating base connected by a steam duct to a steaming head, the apparatus comprising a mast extending vertically from the base and having an upper end supporting a transverse bar allowing the attachment of a hanger.

Such a device has the advantage of allowing the smoothing of a shirt by placing it on the hanger hanging from the crossbar and moving vertically the steaming head along the sleeve.

However, when the hanger is hanging from such a tie bar, it is naturally placed across the latter, in a position in which the vertical mast is disposed behind the garment to be ironed. Thus, the presence of the vertical mast behind the garment hinders the user when he wants to straighten the back of the garment. In addition, when pressure is exerted by the steaming head on the garment, it retreats against the vertical mast which can then interfere with the user in the handling of the head and crumple the garment.

It is known from the document CN101603264 , an apparatus comprising a steam generating base connected by a steam duct to a wrinkling head in which the base comprises a vertical mast which supports a horizontal bar. However such a device is bulky.

Also, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus provided with a fastening device of the garment which makes it possible to solve these disadvantages and which is simple and economical to implement.

To this end, the invention relates to a household appliance comprising a steam generating base connected by a steam duct to a tool for the vertical unwinding of laundry, such as a steaming head, the apparatus comprising at least one bar for the hooking an article to be ironed, the bar being supported by a single mast extending upwardly from the base and able to occupy a working position in which the bar is arranged transversely to the mast and extends on one side of the mast over a length greater than 25 cm, characterized in that the bar is fixed at one of its ends to the mast by means of a fixing device comprising a pivot connection and locking means for locking the pivot connection in the position corresponding to the working position of the bar, the pivot connection allowing the movement of the bar from the working position to a storage position in which the bar is disposed along the mast, and in that the mast is eccentrically disposed on the base.

Such a feature allows to hang a hanger, which usually has a width of about 40 cm at one end of the bar in a position in which the hanger can rotate around its hook without coming into contact with the mast. Thus, the mast no longer represents an inconvenience for the ironing operation, the hanger may advantageously be positioned parallel to the bar so that access to the rear and to the front of the garment is perfectly clear, the mast being then placed on one side of the garment to be ironed.

Such an eccentric mast has the advantage of not cluttering the central space above the base.

According to another characteristic of the invention, in the working position, the bar extends horizontally above the base.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain a better stability of the apparatus, a greater compactness and a better ergonomics of use.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the bar has a length of the order of 40 cm.

Such a length allows to have a bar corresponding substantially to the length of a hanger.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain greater compactness of the apparatus in the storage position.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the fixing device comprises, opposite the bar, a support for placing the tool.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the bar is removably connected to the mast.

Such a characteristic has the advantage of allowing the disassembly of the bar for greater compactness, especially when packaging the device in a carton.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the bar comprises at least one clamp for fixing the article to be straightened.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to unreel an article, such as a pair of trousers or a curtain, by suspending it vertically at the bar by means of the clips.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the bar comprises a hooking tab having a shape adapted to maintain the hook of a hanger in a plane parallel to the hooking bar.

Such holding of the hanger in a plane parallel to the bar makes it possible to ensure an orientation of the garment to be ironed parallel to the bar, for better access to the rear and front sides of the garment during ironing.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the attachment tab has the shape of a half-moon.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises an upper bar disposed near the upper end of the mast and a lower bar disposed near the base.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the lower bar supports two clamps oriented upwards and the upper bar supports two clamps oriented downwards.

Such a feature allows to hang the bar at the bottom of the item to be ironed in order to exert a tension on the latter to ensure a better maintenance and facilitate its wrinkling.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the lower bar is fixed on the mast by means of a spring clip, the lower bar can be moved vertically on the mast by exerting pressure on a handle of the clamp.

Such a feature allows the user to adjust the position of the lower bar depending on the size of the garment to be ironed and allows a slight pull on the garment to iron.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the mast is a telescopic mast.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to modulate the height of the mast, and thus the positioning of the upper bar according to the size of the user and the clothing to be ironed. Such a feature also allows to have a compact device when the mast is reduced to its minimum size for storage.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the mast extends vertically.

• les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues en perspective d'un appareil de repassage comprenant un dispositif pour l'accrochage d'un vêtement selon un mode particulier de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective du dispositif d'accrochage équipant l'appareil des figures 1 et 2, représenté seul, les barres étant représentées en position de travail et le mât télescopique en position déployée ;
• La figure 4 est une autre vue en perspective du dispositif d'accrochage de la figure 3 avec les barres représentées en position de rangement ;
• La figure 5 est une vue en perspective du dispositif d'accrochage des figures 3 et 4 avec le mât télescopique en position repliée et les barres en position de rangement.

The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which :

• the Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of an ironing apparatus comprising a device for fastening a garment according to a particular embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 3 is a perspective view of the attachment device equipping the device with Figures 1 and 2 , shown alone, the bars being shown in the working position and the telescopic mast in the deployed position;
• The figure 4 is another perspective view of the shackle of the figure 3 with the bars shown in the storage position;
• The figure 5 is a perspective view of the shackle of Figures 3 and 4 with the telescopic mast in the folded position and the bars in the storage position.

Only the elements necessary for the understanding of the invention have been represented. To facilitate the reading of the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another.

The Figures 1 and 2 represent a steam ironing apparatus comprising a base 1 containing, in a manner known per se, a steam generator connected by a cord 2 of steam to a steaming head 3, the base 1 comprising two wheels, allowing easy movement of the by tilting the base, and a removable 1A tank with a handle for easy extraction.

More particularly according to the invention, the apparatus comprises a device for hanging a garment comprising a single mast 4 extending vertically from the base 1, the mast 4 advantageously comprising four telescopic sections and extending, when fully deployed , on a height of the order of 1.2 m.

The mast 4 is advantageously fixed on the edge of one of the lateral faces of the base 1 and supports an upper bar 5 and a lower bar 6 having a length of the order of 40 cm, the upper bar 5 and lower 6 can occupy a working position, illustrated on the Figures 1 to 3 in which they extend horizontally above the base 1.

The upper bar 5 comprises two elastically deformable clamps 51 arranged on either side of a hooking tab 50 attached to the center of the upper bar 5, the tab 50 and the two clamps 51 being advantageously fixed on the upper bar 5 by means of clamping jaws to modify their positioning on the upper bar 5.

Preferably, the hooking tab 50 has a half-moon shape on which can be arranged the hook of a hanger 7, the half-moon shape ensuring the maintenance of the hanger 7 in the plane of the upper bar 5 as this is illustrated on the figure 1 .

The upper bar 5 is fixed to an upper end of the mast 1 by means of a fastening device 8 comprising a pivot connection 80 allowing the upper bar 5 to pivot downwards to reach a position of storage, illustrated on Figures 4 and 5 , wherein the upper bar 5 is arranged vertically along the mast 4. The attachment device 8 of the upper bar 5 is advantageously removably fitted to the upper end of the mast and comprises locking means constituted by a nut butterfly head 81, for immobilizing the upper bar in the working position or in the storage position, the fixing device 8 comprising, opposite the upper bar 5, a support 82 U-shaped to ask the steaming head 3.

The lower bar 6 comprises two elastically deformable grippers 60 that can be displaced laterally along the lower bar 6, and is fixed on the mast 4 by means of a fastening device comprising a gripper 9 brought back in the closed position by a spring, the clamp 9 can be opened by pressing a lever 92 to move the fastener along the mast 4, the actuation of the lever 92 also for removing the lower bar 6 of the mast 4.

Advantageously, the fixing device of the lower bar 6 also comprises a pivot connection 90 allowing the lower bar to pivot upwards, to reach a storage position, illustrated on the Figures 4 and 5 , in which the lower bar 6 is arranged vertically along the mast 4. This fastening device comprises, like that of the upper bar 5, locking means constituted by a butterfly nut 91, visible only on the figure 5 , to immobilize the lower bar 6 in the working position or in the storage position.

The operation and advantages provided by the apparatus thus produced will now be described.

When the user wishes to perform an ironing session, he places the lower bar 6 and upper 5 horizontally, as is illustrated on the Figures 1, 2 and 3 , then puts the ironing article on the hanger 7 hanging from the hooking tab 50, if the article is a shirt, or fixes the article between the clamps 51, 60 of the upper and lower bars so that the the article is held with a slight tension, if the article is a trouser or a curtain.

The user then starts the steam generator and then takes the lead of stripping 3 to come apply steam by moving vertically the steaming head 3 along the article to iron.

During this vertical movement of the head 3, the user can perform straightening of both sides of the article without being disturbed by the mast 1, which saves time and provides greater comfort of use. In addition, the article can move back under the pressure exerted by the head without any obstacle hindering the movement of the steaming head 3.

The apparatus provided with such a hooking device thus has the advantage of providing excellent ergonomics of use by minimizing the inconvenience provided by the vertical mast.

When the user has finished the ironing session, he / she can reduce the size of the appliance by loosening the wing nuts 81, 91 of the fixing devices of the lower bar 6 and upper bar 5 so as to tilt the lower bars. 6 and above 5 to their storage position, as shown on the figure 4 .

The user also has the possibility of making the apparatus even more compact both in height and in width by folding the telescopic mast 1 and by pivoting the lower bar 6 180 ° on the mast 1 before tilting the bars lower 6 and upper 5 towards their storage position, as is illustrated on the figure 5 .

The apparatus thus produced thus has a hooking device having the advantage of being extremely compact in the folded position.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given by way of example. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Thus, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the mast can be made in one piece.

Thus, in another variant embodiment not shown, the lower and upper bars may be telescopic.

In yet another variant embodiment not shown, the half-moon shaped hooking tab for holding the hanger can be replaced by a hooking lug provided with a hole for the passage of the hook of the hanger.

In another alternative embodiment not shown, the lower and upper bars can be removably attached to the mast and occupy the only working position when attached to the mast.

In another variant not shown, the steaming tool is an iron.

Claims (13)

1. Appliance comprising a base (1) generating steam connected by a steam duct (2) to a tool (3) for the vertical steaming of laundry, such as a steaming head, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one bar (5,6) for fastening an article to be ironed, wherein the bar (5, 6) is supported by a single pole (4) extending upwards from the base (1) and able to adopt a working position in which the bar (5,6) is arranged transversely to the pole (4) and extends on one side of the pole (4) over a length greater than 25 cm, characterised in that the bar (5,6) is secured at one of its ends to the pole (4) by means of a fastening device comprising a pivot connection (80, 90) and locking means (81, 91) for locking the pivot connection (80, 90) in the position corresponding to the working position of the bar (5, 6), the pivot connection (80, 90) allowing the movement of the bar (5, 6) from the working position to a storage position in which the bar (5, 6) is arranged along the pole (4), and wherein the pole (4) is offset on the base (1).
2. Appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that, in the working position, the bar (5,6) extends horizontally above the base (1).
3. Appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that the bar (5,6) has a length of about 40 cm.
4. Appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the fastening device comprises, opposite the bar (5, 6), a support (82) for installing the tool (3).
5. Appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the bar (5,6) is removably connected to the pole (4).
6. Appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the bar (5,6) comprises at least one clamp (51, 60) for fastening the article to be ironed.
7. Appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the bar (5) comprises a latching tab (50) having a shape designed to maintain the hook of a hanger (7) in a plane parallel to the bar (5).
8. Appliance according to claim 7, characterised in that the fastening tab (50) has the shape of a half-moon.
9. Appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the device comprises an upper bar (5) arranged near the upper end of the pole (4) and a lower bar (6) arranged near the base (1).
10. Appliance according to claim 9, characterised in that the bottom bar (6) supports two upwardly directed clamps (60), while the upper bar (5) supports two downwardly directed clamps (51).
11. Appliance according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterised in that the lower bar (6) is fixed to the pole by means of a spring clamp, while the lower bar (6) may be moved vertically on the pole (4) by exerting pressure on a handle (92) of the clamp.
12. Appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the pole (4) is a telescopic pole.
13. Appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the pole (4) extends vertically.

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