EP2933372B1 - Household appliance comprising an iron and a portable base including an area for setting the iron - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an appliance with an iron and a portable base comprising a location for placing the iron in which the base comprises means for immobilizing the iron on the location for transporting the iron. set of the device by a handle of the iron.

It is known from the patent application EP 0 682 142 , an iron with a removable base to improve the stability of the iron on his heel. However, in this document the capital resources are supported on the soleplate of the iron so that the forces applied to the soleplate can be important when the base is relatively heavy and that the entire apparatus is transported by the handle of the iron.

It is known, patent applications FR 2,874,628 and EP 1 612 321 filed by the applicant, an ironing apparatus comprising an iron and a portable steam generating base provided with a suitable location for placing the iron. In this document, the base comprises a bumper covering the rear part of the iron, to immobilize the latter in position, and a rotating mobile hoop immobilizing the front part of the iron so that the appliance can to be transported by the handle of the iron.

The documents CN 103 614 893 , CN102 965 897 and CN202359423U disclose appliances having an iron and a portable base including a location for laying the iron. In these documents, the base also comprises a bumper covering the rear portion of the iron, to immobilize the latter in position, and a movable member immobilizing the front portion of the iron.

However, such bumpers covering the rear part of the iron have the drawbacks of being bulky, leading to the realization of a relatively bulky base. In addition, these bumpers have the disadvantage of having a massive appearance that can affect the aesthetics of the device.

Also, an object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages by providing a household appliance comprising an iron and a portable base comprising a location for laying the iron, wherein the means for immobilizing the iron are to both compact and reliable.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a household appliance comprising an iron and a portable base comprising a location for laying the iron, the iron having a sole surmounted by a body comprising a part carrying overhang extending behind the soleplate, the base having means for immobilizing the iron on the location allowing the entire apparatus to be transported by a handle of the iron, characterized in that the immobilizing means comprise a holding member which is inserted into a cavity of complementary shape formed on a lower face of the iron. cantilevered part of the body of the iron extending behind the sole and in that the holding member is hidden by the iron when the iron rests on the location of the base.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to ensure that the rear portion of the iron is held securely with a compact holding member and having the advantages of being masked by the iron when it is resting on the base, allowing the obtain a device with a compact base and improved aesthetics.

According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the holding member is constituted by a fixed protrusion extending longitudinally towards the center of the location, from a raised edge of the location, the cavity comprising a return of material coming to position under the protrusion when the iron is arranged on the site.

Such a feature has the advantage of ensuring engagement of the protrusion of the iron in the cavity by a simple movement of the iron back on the site, and prevent the lifting of the rear part of the iron relative to the location when the protrusion is engaged in the cavity.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the protuberance has a convergent shape with rounded edges.

Such a feature facilitates the engagement and positioning of the iron on the location, the convergent and rounded shape of the protrusion ensuring the centering of the iron on the site.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the location comprises a flat bottom, advantageously receiving raised pads, the protrusion extending substantially parallel to the bottom of the location.

Such a feature allows the outgrowth to ensure a perfect fit the rear part of the iron in the location, in particular in a direction transverse to the bottom of the location. The presence of the pads also has the advantage of thermally isolating the sole of the bottom of the slot to prevent excessive heating of the base.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the immobilization means comprise a second protrusion extending transversely to the protuberance engaging in the cavity, the second protrusion coming into a dedicated space provided on a rear face of the cavity. iron.

Such a feature allows to have a second protrusion which provides centering and additional support of the rear portion of the iron on the site.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the immobilizing means comprise a movable locking element between a folded position in which the iron can be extracted from the base and an immobilization position in which the locking element comes to immobilize the front part of the iron on the base.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the base comprises biasing means exerting a torque on the locking element whose direction reverses when passing from an intermediate position between the immobilization position and the folded position, the torque exerted by the return means tending to return the locking element to the folded position when the locking element is in a first angular range between the intermediate position and the folded position and tending to bring the locking to the immobilization position when the locking element is in a second angular range between the intermediate position and the immobilization position.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to have a device for immobilizing the iron on the site which is reliable and very ergonomic in use.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the return means hold the locking element in contact with the iron when the locking element is in the immobilization position.

Such a feature has the advantage of eliminating any play between the blocking element and the iron for better maintenance of the latter on the base.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the locking element is rotatably mounted about an axis and the return means are constituted by at least one helical torsion spring comprising a first end connected at a point of the base and a second end connected at a point of the locking member, the point of the locking member being located between the point of the base and the axis, being aligned therewith, when the locking member occupies the intermediate position.

Such return means have the advantage of being effective and simple and economical to achieve.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the locking element has the shape of a hoop.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the base contains a tank and a tank for generating steam under pressure.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the base comprises an upper surface comprising a control panel, the control panel being arranged in a plane parallel to the plane of the location.

Such a feature has the advantage of ensuring very good visibility to the control panel for better ergonomics of use.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the location for placing the iron is inclined with respect to the lower plane of the base.

Such inclination provides better ergonomics of use of the device.

• la figure 1 est une vue de côté d'un appareil de repassage selon un mode particulier de réalisation de l'invention lorsque l'arceau de blocage est en position d'immobilisation du fer ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective de l'appareil de la figure 1 avec le fer à repasser soulevé de la base ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective éclatée du sous-ensemble comprenant l'emplacement pour poser le fer et l'arceau de blocage ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective agrandie du sous-ensemble de la figure 3 avec l'arceau de blocage en position repliée ;
• la figure 5 est une vue de dessus du sous-ensemble de la figure 3 ;
• Les figures 6, 7 et 8 sont des vues en coupe selon la ligne VI-VI de la figure 5 lorsque l'arceau de blocage est respectivement en position repliée, en position intermédiaire et en position d'immobilisation.

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 accompanying drawings in which :

• the figure 1 is a side view of an ironing machine in a fashion particular embodiment of the invention when the locking arch is in the immobilization position of the iron;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view of the device from the figure 1 with the iron raised from the base;
• the figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the subassembly comprising the location for laying the iron and the locking arch;
• the figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the subset of the figure 3 with the locking bar in the folded position;
• the figure 5 is a top view of the subset of the figure 3 ;
• The Figures 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views along the line VI-VI of the figure 5 when the locking arch is respectively in the folded position, in the intermediate position and in the immobilized 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 figure 1 and 2 represent an ironing apparatus, of the steam generator type, conventionally comprising an iron 1 to be ironed resting on a portable base 2 incorporating, in a manner known per se, a vessel for producing steam under pressure, not shown in the figures, the base 2 being electrically powered by means of a cable 24.

The iron 1 comprises a heating soleplate surmounted by a one-piece plastic body incorporating a handle 11, the latter extending towards the rear of the iron by two arms 12 comprising a rear face constituting the heel of the iron, the body having a portion of cantilever extending between the sole 10 and the heel of the iron. The handle 11 is conventionally extended towards the front of the iron by a nose covering the front tip of the sole 10, the iron 1 being connected to the base 2 by a flexible cord 3 incorporating electrical supply wires of the heating soleplate 10 as well as a steam supply duct 10 of the iron soleplate.

As can be seen on the figure 2 , the base 2 has a flat bottom surface 20 intended to rest on a horizontal plane and has a inclined upper surface 21 comprising a recess constituting a location 21A for resting the iron 1, this location 21A having an inclined plane bottom of the order of 30 ° relative to the lower surface 20 and 21B having protruding pads to isolate thermally the base 2 of the soleplate 10 of the iron.

The upper surface 21 of the base 2 comprises, in front of the location 21A, a control panel 23 of the apparatus, advantageously arranged in a plane parallel to the plane of the location 21A, and encloses in the space under the location 21, a tank for supplying water to the tank for the production of steam, the tank being provided with a filler door 25.

In order to allow the immobilization of the iron 1 to be ironed on the base 2, the base comprises a stopper 22 disposed at the foot of the location 21A, on which the heel of the iron comes to bear when it is placed on the bottom inclined plane of location 21A.

More particularly according to the invention, the stopper 22 has a first protrusion 22A inserted into a cavity 13 formed on a lower face of the cantilevered portion located at the rear of the iron 1 to be ironed.

Preferably, the first protrusion 22A extends parallel to the bottom of the location 21A and towards the center of the location 21A, from a raised border of the location 21A, the cavity 13 comprising a return of material 13A coming from to position itself under the protrusion 22A when the iron 1 to be ironed is disposed on the location 21A so as to ensure the vertical immobilization of the rear part of the iron 1 in the location 21A, the protrusion 13A advantageously having a convergent shape with rounded edges to facilitate engagement and ensure centering of the iron on location 21A.

In the particular embodiment illustrated in the figures, the buffer 22 also comprises a second protrusion 22B having a shape similar to the first protrusion 22A, this second protrusion 22B being arranged slightly set back from the edge of the location 21A and extending transversely to the first protrusion 22A, upwards, so as to fit into a space 12A formed between the two arms 12 and ensure a lateral setting of the iron 1 to iron in the location 21A, in addition to the guidance and maintenance already carried out by the first protrusion 22A.

The front part of the iron 1 is immobilized on the base 2 by means of a hoop 4 pivotally mounted at the portion of the location 21A receiving the front tip of the sole 10 of the iron, the hoop 4 having advantageously a triangular shape conforming to the contour of the front end of the location 21A.

The hoop 4 can pivot between a folded position, illustrated on the figures 2 and 6 , in which the hoop 4 is engaged in a receiving groove formed at the edge of the location 21A, being arranged parallel to the upper surface 21 of the base, and a position of immobilization of the iron, illustrated on the figures 1 and 8 , in which the arch 4 bears against the upper surface of the nose of the iron 1, the arch 4 advantageously comprising a flexible portion 40 attached by overmolding in the hollow portion of the arch 4 coming into contact with the body of the iron 1 to iron when the arch 4 is in the immobilization position.

In accordance with Figures 3 to 4 , which represent in isolation the sub-assembly defining the upper surface 21 of the base, the hoop 4 is preferably constituted by a plastic part comprising two branches, defining an inverted V, having a lower end passing through an opening 26 formed on the surface upper of the base 2 to be pivotally mounted on an axis 5 disposed inside the base 2, the axis 5 being carried by tabs 27 projecting under the upper surface of the base 2.

The base 2 comprises return means 6 exerting a torque on the hoop 4 whose direction reverses when passing from an intermediate position, illustrated on the figure 7 , located between the folded position and the immobilization position, the restoring torque bringing the hoop 4 to the folded position when the latter is in an angular position between the folded position and the intermediate position and bringing the hoop 4 to the immobilization position when the latter is in an angular position between the intermediate position and the immobilization position.

The return means are advantageously constituted by two helical torsion springs 6 arranged near the lower end of the branches of the arch 4, each spring 6 having a first curved end engaging in a hole 28A formed in a support stud 28 protruding under the upper surface 21 of the base and a second curved end engaging in a notch 41 formed at the edge of the leg of the arch 4.

In accordance with Figures 6 to 8 , the notch 41 is formed along the edge of the arch 4 so that the notch 41 is above the line passing through the orifice 28A and the axis 5 of rotation when the arch 4 is is in the folded position, illustrated on the figure 6 , and is below the line d when the arch 4 is in the immobilization position illustrated on the figure 8 , in which the arch 4 advantageously forms an angle of the order of 50 ° with respect to the bottom of the location 21A, the notch 41 being aligned with the line d when the arch 4 occupies an intermediate position, illustrated on the figure 7 , in which the arch advantageously forms an angle of the order of 20 ° with respect to the bottom of the location 21A.

Preferably, the arch 4 also comprises a stop 42 which abuts against an edge 26A of the opening 26 to limit the pivoting stroke of the arch 4 in a stop position, not shown in the figures, located slightly beyond the immobilization position.

The operation of the immobilizing means iron 1 to iron on the base 2 will now be described.

When the user wishes to immobilize the iron 1 to iron on the base 2, he brings the iron 1 to iron on the 21A location by placing the sole 10 on the pads 21B so that the rear part of the iron 1 to be ironed slightly away from the stopper 22. The user then slightly drag the iron 1 to iron to the stopper 22 so that the first protrusion 22A engages in the cavity 13 formed at the rear of the iron, this slip being favored, or even taking place automatically under the effect of gravity, thanks to the pronounced inclination of the location 21A and the non-stick coating that can be arranged on the pads 21B.

The iron 1 to be ironed is then automatically positioned on the stopper 22, under the effect of the guide provided by the insertion of the first protrusion 22A in the cavity 13 and the second protrusion 22B engages in the space 12A formed between the arms 12 of the iron so that the rear portion of the iron 1 to be ironed is wedged laterally on the base 2.

The user then manually grasps the arch 4 so as to raise it towards the intermediate position illustrated on the figure 7 , by counteracting the return torque exerted by the springs 6 in the direction R ₁ , the return torque gradually decreasing to become zero at the passage of the intermediate position. When the hoop 4 is manually brought above the intermediate position, the return torque exerted by the springs 6 is reversed, the springs 6 then exerting a restoring torque in the direction R ₂ which increases progressively as and when as the arch 4 approaches the blocking position in which it abuts against the nose of the iron 1 to iron.

Thus the user can release the hoop 4 when the latter is raised beyond the intermediate position, the springs 6 then automatically bring the hoop 4 against the nose of the iron 1.

In the locking position, the hoop 4 is applied against the upper face of the body of the iron 1 and pushing the iron 1 to iron to the stopper 22, so that a perfect immobilization results, without deflection, iron 1 on the base 2, the lifting of the rear part of the iron 1 to be ironed being prevented by the insertion of the protrusion 22A into the cavity 13 of the iron 1 to be ironed while the lifting of the front part of the iron 1 to be ironed is prevented by the presence of the blocking arch 4. The user can then transport the device safely by grasping the handle 11 of the iron.

If the hoop 4 is raised beyond the intermediate position while the iron 1 is not disposed on the location, the hoop 4 pivots under the effect of the couple of springs 6 of return until the abutment 42 at the base of the arch 4 bears against the edge 26A of the opening 26, thus preventing the arch 4 from tilting too far towards the rear of the base 2.

When the user wishes to use the iron 1 to iron, it is sufficient for him to grasp the arch 4 to move it away from the nose of the iron 1, exerting a force greater than restoring torque exerted by the return springs 6, this force gradually decreasing as the arch 4 approaches the intermediate position. When the hoop is below the intermediate position, the user can release the hoop 4, the latter being automatically returned by the return springs 6 in the folded position.

The user can then grasp the iron 1 to be ironed by the handle 11 so as to move it away from the stopper 22 and to disengage the protrusion 22A of the cavity 13.

Such an iron locking device on the base of the device thus has the advantage of being both simple design and very ergonomic use. In particular, the bumper immobilizing the rear part of the iron has the advantage of being bulky and therefore space-saving.

In addition, the cavity receiving the protrusion being disposed on the underside of the body of the iron, it has the advantage of being substantially invisible to the user when the iron rests on its sole. Such a technical solution therefore makes it possible to have a compact device with improved aesthetics.

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 in the figures, the stop of the bow can be arranged in such a way that the stop position of the bow in which the stop abuts on the edge of the opening corresponds to at an immobilization position of the iron in which the hoop is in the immediate vicinity of the iron without affecting the latter.

Thus, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the tank for the generation of pressurized steam may be replaced by an instantaneous vaporization chamber, the latter may be arranged in the base or in the iron being connected to a reservoir contained in the base by a water pipe.

Claims (10)

1. Household electrical appliance including an iron (1) and a portable base (2) comprising a stand (21A) for receiving the iron (1), the iron (1) including a soleplate (10) underlying a body comprising a cantilevered-out portion extending behind the soleplate (10), the base (2) including locking means for holding the iron (1) stationary on the stand (21A) and enabling the appliance as a whole to be transported by a handle (11) of the iron (1), the locking means comprising a locking element (4) mounted to be movable between a retracted position in which the iron (1) can be extracted from the base (2), and a locking position in which the moving locking element comes to hold the front portion of the iron (1) stationary on the base (2), said household electrical appliance being characterized in that said locking means comprise a stationary projection (22A) extending longitudinally towards the centre of the stand (21A), from a raised rim of the stand (21A), the projection (22A) coming to be inserted into a cavity (13) of complementary shape provided in a lower face of the cantilevered-out portion of the body of the iron (1) that extends behind the soleplate (10), the projection (22A) being masked by the iron (1) when the iron is standing on the stand (21A) of the base (2), engagement of the projection (22A) in the cavity (13) preventing the rear portion of the iron (1) from being lifted relative to the stand (21A).
2. Household electrical appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection (22A) has a converging shape with rounded edges.
3. Household electrical appliance according to any one of claim 1 to 2, characterized in that the stand (21A) includes a plane floor, advantageously receiving projecting pads (21B), and in that the projection (22A) extends substantially parallel to the floor of the stand (21A).
4. Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking means comprise a second projection (22B) extending transversely to the projection (22A) that engages in the cavity (13), said second projection (22B) coming to be engaged in a dedicated space (12A) provided in a rear face of the iron (1).
5. Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the base (2) includes return means (6) exerting torque on said locking element (4), the direction of which torque reverses on going through an intermediate position situated between the locking position and the retracted position, said torque exerted by the return means (6) urging the locking element to return to the retracted position when the locking element (4) is in a first angular range lying between the intermediate position and the retracted position, and urging the locking element (4) to return to the locking position when the locking element (4) is in a second angular range lying between the intermediate position and the locking position.
6. Household electrical appliance according to claim 5, characterized in that the return means hold the locking element (4) in contact with the iron (1) when the locking element (4) is in the locking position.
7. Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that the locking element (4) is mounted to pivot about a shaft (5), and in that the return means (6) are constituted by at least one helical torsion spring having a first end connected to a point (28A) on the base (2) and a second end connected to a point (41) on the locking element (4), the point (41) on the locking element being situated between the point (28A) on the base and the shaft (5), while being aligned with said point on the base and with said shaft, when the locking element (4) is in the intermediate position.
8. Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that said locking element is in the form of a bow-shaped or arch-shaped bar (4).
9. Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the base (2) encloses a reservoir and a vessel for generating steam under pressure.
10. Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the base (2) includes an upper surface comprising a control panel (23), the control panel (23) being disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of the stand (21A).

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