EP3294947B1 - Household electrical ironing apparatus comprising an iron comprising a sole and a handle mounted in a cantilever manner in relation to the sole - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a household ironing appliance comprising a soleplate comprising a flat ironing surface surmounted by a body and a gripping handle arranged cantilevered relative to the soleplate and relates more particularly to an appliance in which a power cord exits the iron through an opening in the handle.

It is known, from the patent application FR 2 929 298 , an ironing appliance comprising an iron provided with a heating soleplate and a base connected to the iron by a power cord, the iron comprising a gripping handle arranged cantilevered relative to sole. In this document, the cord exits the iron through an opening provided under the handle, near the rear end of the latter, so that the cord extends downwards as it exits the handle. This creates a significant risk that the cord will, under the effect of gravity, rub against the edge of the ironing board and crease the laundry when the iron is moved. In addition, the iron also has the disadvantage of being unstable when placed directly on the ironing board, the weight of the cord exerting a downward pull which tends to cause the iron to tip around the iron. rear edge of the sole and dragging it towards the edge of the ironing board with a significant risk that the latter will fall from the ironing board and deteriorate.

Also, an aim of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing an ironing device with improved ergonomics in which the iron, provided with its cantilevered handle, can be used with reduced discomfort. of the cord and be placed firmly on the ironing board.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a household ironing appliance comprising an iron comprising a soleplate comprising a surface of flat iron surmounted by a body, a gripping handle comprising a front end attached to the body, and a power cord exiting from the iron through an opening provided on the handle, the handle being arranged cantilevered by relative to the sole and having a free rear end, characterized in that the opening is provided on an upper surface of the handle.

By upper surface we mean any surface of the handle located in the upper half of the handle.

Such a device has the advantage of offering very good ergonomics of use, the upward exit of the cord preventing the cord from rubbing against the laundry in the vicinity of the iron. In addition, the upward exit of the cord also prevents the cord from engaging under the handle so that the rear end of the handle can rest directly on the ironing board, providing stable support when the iron is placed on the ironing board and it tilts around the rear edge of the soleplate under the effect of the traction exerted by the weight of the cord.

According to one characteristic of the invention, at least three-quarters of the handle, in the direction of the length of the handle, project outside the sole when the handle is projected orthogonally into the plane of the sole.

According to another characteristic of the device according to the invention, the iron automatically tilts around a rear edge of the sole under the effect of the traction exerted by the weight of the cord when the sole of the iron is brought flat on a horizontal plane.

According to another characteristic of the device according to the invention, the opening is arranged near the rear end of the handle, preferably less than 3 cm from the latter.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to optimize the useful surface area of the handle which can be grasped with both hands by the user.

According to another characteristic of the invention, in a sectional view along a cross section of the handle, the opening is provided at the top of the handle.

Such an opening at the top of the handle makes it possible to obtain a cord outlet which is placed on the longitudinal axis of the iron and which provides the same ergonomics of use for a left-handed or a right-handed person.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the iron comprises, at the opening, a cord guide device which maintains the cord at the outlet of the handle in a preferential orientation.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the orientation imposed by the cord guide device is such that the cord comes out of the opening extending in a direction having a positive slope when the iron rests flat on the surface ironing.

Such a technical characteristic makes it possible to maintain the cord with an upward direction at the exit of the handle, which makes it possible to push back the fall of the cord under the effect of its weight as far as possible from the iron and thus to avoid the cord does not come into contact with the laundry during an ironing session.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cord has, at the level of the cord guide device, an inclination relative to the horizontal which is between 20° and 70°, and which is preferably of the order of 45°, when the iron lies flat on the ironing surface.

Such an inclination of the cord makes it possible to optimize the distance between the drop of the cord and the iron.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cord guide device comprises an elastomer reinforcing sheath.

Such a cord guide device has the advantage of being simple and economical to implement.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cord is inclined towards the rear of the iron.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to push the fall of the cord under the effect of its weight as far back as possible from the iron.

According to the invention, the rear end of the handle is beveled, the handle comprising an inclined flat rear surface which forms an obtuse angle α with the plane of the ironing surface of the sole, in order to optimize the stability of the iron. iron when resting on an ironing board with the rear end of the soleplate resting against the ironing board.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cord contains an electric cable and/or a conduit for transporting a fluid.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cord connects the iron to a base.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the base comprises a location for placing the iron in a rest position in which the sole of the iron rests on the location and in which the rear end of the handle comes to rest against the base, the base having a shape such that there results, under the handle, a space allowing the passage of the fingers of the hand to grasp the iron by its handle.

Such a characteristic has the advantage of further improving the ergonomics of use by offering a device equipped with a base with a dedicated location for placing the iron in complete safety.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the location has a concave shape.

Such a location has the advantage of having a recessed shape which helps guide the iron to the location to automatically ensure its correct positioning.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the base comprises means for immobilizing the iron on the base comprising a fixed blocking element coming to cooperate with the rear end of the handle and a movable blocking element coming to bear on a part of the body located opposite the handle, the blocking element being movable in rotation between a folded position in which the iron can be extracted from the base and an immobilization position in which the iron is immobilized on the location. Such locking means make it possible to immobilize the iron on the location to allow the transport of the entire device by grasping the handle of the iron.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the fixed blocking element is constituted by a crosspiece under which the rear end of the handle engages.

Such a technical solution has the advantage of being simple and economical to implement while providing good ergonomics of use when installing or removing the iron from the location.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the sole has a pointed front end.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the sole has a length of less than 15 cm and a width of less than 10 cm.

Such a characteristic ensures great maneuverability of the iron during ironing work thanks to the reduced dimensions of the soleplate.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un appareil de repassage selon un mode particulier de réalisation de l'invention avec l'arceau de blocage représenté en position d'immobilisation ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective de l'appareil de la figure 1 avec le fer à repasser soulevé de la base et l'arceau de blocage en position repliée;
• les figure 3 est une vue en perspective du fer à repasser représenté seul ;
• les figures 4 et 5 sont des vues de côté du fer à repasser de la figure 4 représenté respectivement avec la semelle reposant à plat sur une surface horizontale et avec la semelle basculée autour de son bord arrière;
• La figure 6 est une vue de côté de l'appareil de la figure 1.

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 drawings appended in which :

• there figure 1 is a perspective view of an ironing appliance according to a particular embodiment of the invention with the locking bar shown in the immobilized position;
• there figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of the figure 1 with the iron raised from the base and the locking bar in the folded position;
• THE Figure 3 is a perspective view of the iron shown alone;
• THE figures 4 And 5 are side views of the iron of the Figure 4 shown respectively with the sole resting flat on a horizontal surface and with the sole tilted around its rear edge;
• There Figure 6 is a side view of the device of the figure 1 .

Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention have been represented. To make the drawings easier to read, the same elements carry the same references from one figure to another.

THE figures 1, 2 And 6 represent an ironing appliance conventionally comprising an iron 1 and a portable base 2 connected by a cord 3 to the iron 1, the base 2 being electrically connected to a domestic network by a cable, not visible in the figures.

The base 2 comprises a lower plane 22 intended to rest flat on a horizontal surface, such as an ironing board, a removable reservoir 20 and a pump 21, illustrated schematically in dotted lines on the Figure 6 , which draws water from the tank 20 to send it to the iron 1 through a pipe integrated into the cord 3.

In accordance with the Figure 3 , the iron 1 comprises a flat sole 10 surmounted by a body 11 and it comprises a gripping handle 12 comprising a front end attached to the body 11 and a free rear end projecting laterally from the body 11. The handle 12 is arranged cantilevered relative to the sole 10 and it advantageously has a length of the order of 12 cm, the body 11 and the handle 12 being preferably made in a single piece of plastic material, obtained by molding.

The body 11 contains in a manner known per se a foundry, not visible in the figures, which is in thermal contact with the sole 10 and which comprises a heating resistance, regulated by means of a non-adjustable thermostat, making it possible to maintain the temperature of the sole 10 around a set temperature of around 135°C.

The foundry is advantageously made of aluminum and it comprises an instantaneous vaporization chamber into which water from the reservoir 20 is injected by the pump 21, the operation of the pump 21 being controlled by a trigger 13 placed under the front end of the handle 12. The pump 21 and the vaporization chamber are advantageously sized to allow the production of a steam flow rate of around 25 gr/min continuously when the trigger 13 is actuated.

The steam produced by the vaporization chamber is diffused through steam outlet holes 14 opening into two grooves arranged in a V and formed on a flat ironing surface of the soleplate 10. The soleplate 10 is advantageously made of stainless steel and has a pointed front end 10A arranged opposite the handle 12 as well as a rounded rear end 10B at which the sole 10 has its greatest width.

Advantageously, the sole 10 has a length of less than 15 cm, and preferably of the order of 14 cm and a width of less than 10 cm, and preferably of the order of 8 cm, in order to provide great maneuverability to the iron. to iron 1.

In accordance with the Figure 4 , the cord 3 exits the iron 1 through an opening 15 provided on an upper surface of the handle 12, the opening 15 being preferably arranged slightly set back from the rear end of the handle 12, for example at a distance of the order of 1 to 2 cm.

The opening 15 advantageously receives a cord guide device 4 which envelops the cord 3 and maintains the latter in a preferential direction D at the exit from the opening 15.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, the cord guide device is constituted by a reinforcing sheath 4 in elastomer which keeps the cord 3 inclined towards the rear of the handle 12, in a direction D which forms an angle β of the order of 45° relative to the horizontal plane H when the iron 1 rests flat on the ironing surface of the soleplate 10.

The rear end of the handle 12 advantageously has a beveled shape comprising a rear surface 12A forming, with the plane of the sole 10, a V which has an obtuse angle α of the order of 145° illustrated on the Figure 5 .

In accordance with the figure 2 , the base 2 has at its upper end a concave location 24 on which the iron 1 can be placed in a rest position during inactive ironing phases or during storage iron 1.

This location 24 comprises a bottom consisting of a front plane 24A and a rear plane 24B arranged in a V, the front plane 24A comprising projecting pads 25 intended to receive the sole 10 of the iron 1 and the rear plane 24B being intended to receive the flat posterior surface 12A of the handle 12, the latter having an inclination adapted to come to rest flat against the posterior plane 24B when the sole 10 rests against the anterior plane 24A.

Location 24 also includes a peripheral wall 24C which extends in height along the edge of the rear end of the posterior plane 24B as well as along the sides of the posterior 24B and anterior 24A planes. This peripheral wall 24C laterally guides the sole 10 of the iron 1 on the location 24 and constitutes an obstacle against which the rear end of the handle 12 abuts when the iron 1 is placed in the rest position on the location 24.

Preferably, the peripheral wall 24C comprises, at the rear end of the base 2, a blocking crosspiece 27 extending above the rear plane 24B, the rear end of the handle 12 engaging under the blocking crosspiece 27 when the iron 1 is placed in the rest position on location 24.

In accordance with figures 1 and 2 , the front end of the base 2 is advantageously provided with a locking hoop 28 of triangular shape pivotally mounted on the edge of the front plane 24A and arranged near the front end of the location 24.

The arch 28 can pivot between a folded position, illustrated on the figure 2 , in which the arch 28 is arranged parallel to the anterior plane 24A, on the edge of the location 24, and an immobilization position, illustrated on the figures 1 And 6 , in which the arch 28 rests against the body 11, above the front tip of the sole 10.

In a manner known per se, the base 2 contains return means, not visible in the figures, exerting on the arch 28 a return torque whose direction reverses when passing an intermediate position located between the folded position and the immobilized position, the return torque bringing the arch 28 towards the folded position when the latter is in the vicinity of the folded position and bringing back the arch 28 towards the immobilization position when the latter is in the vicinity of the immobilization position. Such recall means are illustrated in more detail in the patent application FR 14 52469 filed by the plaintiff.

The ironing device thus produced has the advantage of providing very good ergonomics of use.

In fact, the outlet of the cord on the upper surface of the handle and its orientation upwards allows the cord to be kept high in the vicinity of the iron, which prevents the cord from coming into contact with the laundry and do not crease it, in particular by rubbing against the edge of the ironing board.

In addition, the iron thus produced has the advantage of being very easy to handle thanks to the presence of the overhanging handle on one side of the body, which makes it possible to amplify the movement of the sole, and to low weight of the iron obtained thanks to the reduced size of the sole.

Such a device also has the advantage of having an iron 1 whose stability is improved when the user decides to place the iron 1 directly on the ironing board during inactive ironing phases, thus limiting the risk of fall.

Indeed, the exit of the cord 3 on the upper surface of the handle 12 makes it possible to release the rear end of the handle 12 which can therefore come to rest directly on the horizontal plane H of the ironing board, as is illustrated on there figure 5 , when the iron 1 tilts around the rear edge of the sole 10 under the effect of the traction exerted by the weight of the cord 3. However, the inclination of the rear surface 12A of the handle 12 allows the latter to rest substantially flat on the horizontal plane H, the slight difference in inclination being filled by the crushing of the fleece usually covering the floor to be ironed.

The user can also choose to place the iron 1 in the rest position on location 24 of the base 2 during inactive ironing phases, such an operation being carried out in a very ergonomic manner by sliding the rear end of the handle 12 against the rear plane 24B, towards the rear of the base 2, until the handle 12 engages under the blocking crosspiece 27 and comes to abut against the peripheral wall 24C. The user then only has to release the iron 1, or accompany it with a movement of the hand, so that it pivots forward, under the effect of its weight , and that the sole 10 comes to rest on the pads of the anterior plane 24A.

When the iron 1 is in the rest position on the base 2, as illustrated on the figures 1 and 2 , the iron 1 rests stably, without risk of tipping backwards, due to the support point obtained at the rear end of the handle 12. In addition, an empty space then results under the handle 12 allowing the user to easily grasp the handle 12 with the whole hand by sliding the fingers of the hand into this space.

Finally, the device thus produced has the advantage of allowing the fixing of the iron 1 on the base 2 such that the entire device can be transported by the handle 12 of the iron 1.

Indeed, the iron 1 can be easily immobilized in the rest position on the base 2 by tilting the locking bar 28 from the folded position, illustrated on the figure 2 , to the immobilized position, illustrated on the figure 1 , in which the arch 28 rests against the body 11 of the iron 1. In this immobilization position, the return means of the arch 28 exert a force which tends to push the iron 1 towards the rear of the base 2 so that the rear end of the iron 1 is immobilized by the engagement of the handle 12 under the blocking crosspiece 27 while the front end of the iron 1 is immobilized by the hoop 28.

Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given only by way of example. Modifications remain possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without however leaving the domain of protection of the invention.

Thus in a variant embodiment not shown, the base may include a tank for generating steam under pressure and the cord include a conduit for transporting the steam to the iron.

Thus, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the device may not have a base for placing the iron. In this alternative embodiment, the rear surface at the rear end of the handle will advantageously have an inclination adapted so that the rear surface rests perfectly flat on the ironing board when the iron tilts around the rear edge of the sole under the effect of cord traction.

Claims (13)

1. Household electrical ironing apparatus comprising an iron (1) comprising a sole (10) which comprises a planar ironing surface surmounted by a body (11), a handle (12) for holding arranged in cantilever fashion with respect to the sole (10), and a power cord (3) emerging from the iron (1) via an opening (15) made in the handle (12), the handle (12) comprising a front end attached to said body (11) and a rear end that is free, at least three quarters of the handle, in the direction of the length of the handle, protruding outside the sole when the handle is projected orthogonally in the plane of the sole, characterised in that said opening is formed on an upper surface of the handle (12), the rear end of the handle (12) being bevelled, the handle (12) comprising an inclined planar rear surface which forms an obtuse angle α with the plane of the ironing surface of the sole (10) in order to optimise the stability of the iron (1) when the iron (1) rests on an ironing board with the rear end of the sole (10) bearing against the ironing board.
2. Household electrical apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the opening (15) is arranged close to the rear end of the handle (12), preferably less than 3 cm from the latter.
3. Household electrical apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that the iron (1) comprises, at the opening (15), a cord guide device (4) which holds the cord (3) at the outlet of the handle (12) in a preferred orientation.
4. Household electrical apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that the orientation imposed by the cord guide device (4) is such that the cord (3) emerges from the opening (15) extending in a direction having a positive gradient when the iron (1) rests flat on the ironing surface.
5. Household electrical apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the cord (3) has, at the cord guide device, an inclination relative to the horizontal which is between 20° and 70°, and which is preferably in the region of 45°, when the iron (1) rests flat on the ironing surface.
6. Household electrical apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that the cord (3) is inclined towards the rear of the iron (1).
7. Household electrical apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the cord (3) encloses an electric cable and/or a duct for conveying a fluid.
8. Household electrical apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the cord (3) connects the iron to a base (2).
9. Household electrical apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that the base (2) comprises a slot (24) for placing the iron (1) in a rest position in which the sole (10) of the iron (1) rests on the said slot (24) and in which the rear end of the handle (12) rests against the base (2), the base (2) being shaped in such a way as to leave a space under the handle (12) through which the fingers of the hand can pass to grip the iron (1) by its handle (12).
10. Household electrical apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that the slot (24) has a concave shape.
11. Household electrical apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterised in that the base (2) comprises means for immobilising the iron (1) on the base (2), said means comprising a fixed locking element (27) cooperating with the rear end of the handle (12) and a movable locking element (28) bearing on a part of the body (11) situated opposite the handle (12), the locking element (28) being rotationally movable between a folded position in which the iron (1) can be withdrawn from the base (2) and an immobilised position in which the iron (1) is immobilised on the slot (24).
12. Household electrical apparatus according to claim 11, characterised in that the fixed locking element consists of a crosspiece (27) under which the rear end of the handle (12) engages.
13. Household electrical apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the sole (10) has a length of less than 15 cm and a width of less than 10 cm.

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