EP3421658B1 - Steam ironing and/or crease-recovery apparatus including an ironing board which can be immobilised at various angles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ironing and / or steaming appliance comprising an ironing board against which a garment can be placed for its treatment using steam and relates more particularly to an appliance in which the the ironing board is pivotally mounted by means of an articulation device making it possible to immobilize the ironing board at different inclinations.

It is known, from demand US 2010/095565 A1 , an ironing apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1.

It is known from the patent application WO2016116298 , a steam ironing apparatus comprising a base containing a steam generator connected by a conduit to a steaming brush comprising steam outlet orifices. In this document, the base comprises two telescopic masts which support an ironing board against which the garment to be ironed can be pressed during the treatment of the garment using steam, the ironing board being pivotally mounted by means of a hinge device for immobilizing the ironing board at different inclinations. Such an ironing / steaming appliance has the advantage of having an ironing board, the inclination of which can be modified by means of the articulation device, for greater ergonomics of use. However, such an apparatus has the drawback of having an articulation device provided with a spring locking system which is relatively expensive to manufacture. In addition, to unlock the articulation device and allow the ironing board to pivot, the user is forced to actuate the unlocking button while grasping the ironing board to modify its inclination. Such manipulation is not easy because the unlocking button is located at the level of the articulation device, that is to say at a place which is both distant from the ironing board and hidden by the latter. . Finally, there is a risk that the user will find himself with one of his fingers pinched by the return of the button. unlocking under the effect of its return spring.

Also, an object of the present invention is to provide an ironing device which overcomes these drawbacks which is both simple and economical to produce.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an ironing and / or steaming appliance comprising an ironing board against which an ironing garment can be placed for its treatment using steam, the ironing board being pivotally mounted by means of an articulation device making it possible to immobilize the ironing board at different inclinations, the articulation device comprising a first part which is movable in rotation relative to a second part, the first part comprising at at least one notch in which engages at least one locking element carried by the second part to immobilize in rotation the articulation device, characterized in that the second part is movable in translation relative to the first part according to a stroke and a direction allowing the engagement and disengagement of the locking element in the notch.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to ensure locking and unlocking by simply moving the ironing board in translation relative to the rest of the appliance so as to engage or disengage the locking element through the notch. Thus, to modify the inclination of the board, the user can simply grasp the ironing board with both hands to move it in translation in order to unlock the articulation device, then rotate the ironing board to the desired position and finally lock the articulation device in the new position by moving the ironing board back in translation to bring the locking element into a new notch or bring a new locking element into the notch.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the notch has a position and a shape suitable for the locking element to automatically engage in the notch under the effect of the weight of the ironing board.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain an automatic locking of the articulation device in the different tilting positions of the ironing board under the sole effect of gravity, that is to say without using a device to spring. This gives a lock which provides very good ergonomics of use and which is simple and economical to implement.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the locking element is stationary in translation on the second part.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the locking element is fixedly mounted on the second part.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to have a locking element simply fixed on the second part, or integrated directly into the body of the second part, providing very simple construction.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the articulation device allows immobilization of the ironing board in at least one horizontal position, a vertical position and an intermediate position between the vertical position and the horizontal position.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to optimize the ergonomics of use of the device by proposing three positions providing very different ergonomics of use.

According to another characteristic of the device, in the intermediate position, the ironing board forms an angle between 15 ° and 60 ° relative to the vertical plane, and preferably of the order of 40 °.

Such an intermediate position has the advantage of allowing both good positioning of the garment to be ironed on the ironing board under the effect of gravity and of providing good comfort to the user who wishes to carry out the ironing operation. . In fact, this intermediate position offers good visual access to the garment and makes it possible to apply significant tension to the garment using a smoothing tool, such as a smoothing brush or an iron.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the second part comprises several locking elements.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to have several locking elements cooperating with the same notch of the first part of the device. of articulation to ensure the immobilization of the articulation device in different angular positions.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the locking element has the shape of a cylindrical finger or a tooth.

Such a locking element has the advantage of being simple and economical to produce.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first part comprises several notches.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to have several notches cooperating with the same locking element of the second part of the articulation device to ensure the immobilization of the articulation device in different angular positions.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the notch is open at its upper end and advantageously has a trapezoidal shape.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to have a notch whose shape and orientation are particularly suitable for the automatic engagement, under the effect of gravity, of the locking element in the notch.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the articulation device comprises a finger, carried by one of the first or second parts, which is slidably mounted in a groove made in the other of the first or second parts, the finger can pivot freely in the groove.

Such a characteristic makes it possible, by a simple, reliable and economical construction to implement, to obtain an articulation allowing mobility in translation and mobility in rotation of the first part relative to the second.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the apparatus comprises at least one mast which supports the ironing board, the first part being fixed to the top of the mast and the second part being fixed to the ironing board.

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

Such a characteristic makes it possible to adapt the height of the ironing board.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the mast is arranged vertically.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises two parallel masts which support the ironing board.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the articulation device comprises two identical articulation systems at the end of each mast.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises a base containing a water tank, the base being connected by a flexible conduit to a steaming tool comprising at least one hole for the emission of steam, such as a ironing brush or iron.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the base contains a steam generator.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the conduit directly connects the smoothing tool with a boiling chamber formed in the base so that the steam produced by the boiling chamber escapes freely towards the tool of steaming.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the base comprises an electric pump making it possible to send water from the reservoir towards the smoothing tool, the smoothing tool comprising an instant vaporization chamber.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to have a base which is very simple to produce and compact, the production of steam being carried out directly in the vaporization chamber carried by the smoothing tool.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the mast or masts are fixed to a base on which the base rests.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to dissociate the structure supporting the board from that of the base, allowing separate construction of these two sub-assemblies.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the base is removably mounted on the base.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to use the base and the smoothing tool which is associated independently of the structure supporting the ironing board.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the ironing board has a generally rectangular shape.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the ironing board has a length greater than 60 cm and a width greater than 30 cm.

• les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues en perspective d'un appareil de repassage selon un premier mode particulier de réalisation de l'invention avec la planche de repassage en position verticale ;
• La figure 3 est une vue de détail, en perspective éclatée, du dispositif d'articulation supportant la planche de repassage de l'appareil des figures 1 et 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de détail, en coupe longitudinale selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 3, du dispositif d'articulation lorsque la planche est verrouillée en position verticale ;
• Les figures 5 et 7 sont des vues en perspective de l'appareil de la figure 1 lorsque la planche de repassage est respectivement verrouillée en position d'inclinaison intermédiaire et en position horizontale ;
• Les figures 6 et 8 sont des vues de détail, en coupe longitudinale, du dispositif d'articulation lorsque la planche est respectivement verrouillée en position d'inclinaison intermédiaire et en position horizontale ;
• Les figures 9 et 10 sont respectivement des vues en perspective et en perspective éclatée d'un système de planche inclinable selon un second mode de réalisation de l'invention destiné à équiper l'appareil de la figure 1.

The objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given below of two particular embodiments of the invention presented by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which :

• the Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of an ironing apparatus according to a first particular embodiment of the invention with the ironing board in a vertical position;
• The figure 3 is a detail view, in exploded perspective, of the articulation device supporting the ironing board of the appliance Figures 1 and 2 ;
• the figure 4 is a detail view, in longitudinal section along line IV-IV of the figure 3 , of the articulation device when the board is locked in the vertical position;
• The figures 5 and 7 are perspective views of the apparatus of the figure 1 when the ironing board is respectively locked in the intermediate tilt position and in the horizontal position;
• The figures 6 and 8 are detailed views, in longitudinal section, of the articulation device when the board is respectively locked in the intermediate tilt position and in the horizontal position;
• The Figures 9 and 10 are respectively perspective and exploded perspective views of a tilting board system according to a second embodiment of the invention intended to equip the device with the figure 1 .

Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention have been shown. To make the drawings easier to read, the same elements have the same references from one figure to another. Note that in this document, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "lower", "upper", "front", "rear" used to describe the device refer to this device when its base rests flat on the ground as illustrated in the figure 1 .

The figures 1, 2 represent a steam ironing apparatus comprising a base 1 for generating steam connected by a flexible duct 2 to a steam brush 3 comprising holes for the emission of steam, illustrated only on the figure 1 .

The base 1 comprises, in a manner known per se, a water tank 10 connected to a boiling chamber, not shown in the figures, allowing the continuous production of a flow of steam saturated with water, the boiling being connected directly to the flexible pipe 2 so that the steam produced by the boiling chamber can escape freely towards the steam brush 3.

Such a base 1 for the generation of steam is well known to those skilled in the art and is for example technically similar to the base for the generation of steam described in detail in the patent application. WO2004 / 023957 .

In accordance with the figure 2 , the apparatus also comprises a base 4 on which the base 1 rests, the base 4 comprising two telescopic masts 40 comprising an upper end supporting an ironing board 5 on which linen to be ironed can be placed, the ironing board 5 advantageously comprising a generally rectangular shape, with a slightly flared upper end adapted to receive a shirt or a jacket in the manner of a hanger.

The ironing board 5 is pivotally mounted on the end of the masts 40 by means of an articulation device 6 making it possible to immobilize the ironing board 5 at different inclinations and advantageously in a vertical position (illustrated on the Figures 1 and 2 ), in a horizontal position (illustrated on the figure 7 ), and in an intermediate position (illustrated on the figure 5 ).

In accordance with the figure 3 , the articulation device 6 comprises, at the end of each mast 40, the same articulation system comprising a first part 61 secured to the upper end of the mast 40 and a second part 62 secured to the ironing board 5 .

Preferably, the first part has the form of a rectangular, vertical plate 61 which has a rounded upper edge and the second part has the form of a housing 62 having two lateral flanges 62A forming between them a space in which comes engage plate 61.

The housing 62 advantageously comprises a lateral opening 63 through which the plate 61 is engaged between the two flanges 62A and comprises, opposite the lateral opening 63, a side wall 64 effecting a rigid connection between the two flanges 62A. The housing 62 comprises, at the foot of the side wall 64, a bottom wall 65 which extends on either side of the flanges 62A and ensures the fixing of the housing 62 on a cross member 50 secured to the rear face of the board ironing 5.

In accordance with the figure 4 , the plate 61 has a vertical groove 66 in which a finger 67 slides, carried by the housing 62, to allow both a vertical translational movement of the housing 62 relative to the plate 61, by translation of the finger 67 in the groove 66, and a pivoting movement of the housing 62 around the plate 61, by rotation of the finger 67 in the groove 66.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the groove 66 extends vertically over a length of around 2 cm and has a width of around 6 mm, the finger being formed by a first cylindrical axis 67 extending perpendicularly between the two lateral flanges 62A, the first axis 67 being disposed near the lateral opening 63 of the housing 62 and having a diameter slightly less than the width of the groove 66 to allow free sliding and free pivoting of the first axis 67 inside the groove 66.

The housing 62 also includes a second cylindrical axis 68 which extends perpendicularly between the two lateral flanges 62A, this second axis 68 being disposed in the vicinity of the side wall 64 of the housing 62 and moving along the periphery of the end upper of the plate 61 when the housing 62 is moved in a pivoting movement around the plate 61.

As we can see on the figures 4 and 6 , the upper edge of the plate 61 has first and second notches 69A, 69B which have advantageously a trapezoidal shape and a depth slightly greater than 6 mm. The first notch 69A is disposed in alignment with the groove 66 and is intended to receive the second cylindrical axis 68 when the ironing board 5 occupies the vertical position, as illustrated in the figures 2 and 4 .

The second notch 69B is offset axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the groove 66, towards the rear of the appliance, and is intended to receive the second axis 68 when the ironing board 5 occupies an inclined position in which it forms an angle of around 40 ° from the vertical, as illustrated in the Figures 5 and 6 .

The second notch 69B is also intended to receive a tooth 65A which protrudes from the bottom wall 65 of the housing 62 and which engages in the second notch 69B when the ironing board 5 is arranged substantially horizontally, as is illustrated on Figures 7 and 8 .

There is thus obtained a steam ironing apparatus which comprises an ironing board 5 which rests on a hinge device 6 simple and economical to produce and which makes it possible to arrange the ironing board 5 according to three different orientations. The user can thus choose the one which seems to him to be the most suitable for the ironing works he wishes to carry out, for greater ergonomics of use.

In particular the ironing appliance equipped with such a hinge device 6 has the advantage of being reliable and of providing very good ergonomics of use, the user who wishes to modify the inclination of the ironing board. 5 only having to lift it over a stroke of a few millimeters to disengage the tooth 65A, or the second axis 68, from the notches 69A, 69B, then to switch it to the desired position from the two other positions proposed. During this tilting operation, the user can advantageously stop lifting the ironing board 5 so that the second axis 68, and / or the tooth 65A, come to rest on the upper edge of the plate 61 and come s '' automatically engage, under the effect of the ironing board 5, in the neighboring notch 69A, 69B when the ironing board 5 reaches one of the other locking positions proposed by the articulation device 6.

In addition, the shape of the upper edge of the plate 61 in the vicinity of the notches 69A, 69B can be worked to have a more or less pronounced slope in the direction of the notches 69A, 69B and thus ensure more or less rapid automatic tilting of the board. ironing 5 towards the immobilized position under the effect of the weight of the ironing board 5.

The Figures 9 and 10 disclose a second embodiment of a tilting board system that can equip the device with the figure 1 .

In accordance with these figures, this second embodiment differs from that described in figures 1 to 8 only in that the two masts 40 are interconnected at their upper end by a transverse bar 41 which supports a single articulation device 106 disposed centrally at the top of the transverse bar 41, the articulation device 106 taking up, in a even as a set, two vertical plates 161 overseen by a box 162 which respectively have characteristics similar to the plates 61 and to the box 62 of the articulation device described in the first embodiment. The articulation device 106 thus produced operates in a similar manner to the articulation device 6 described in the first embodiment and has the advantage of occupying a central position which allows the rear face of the board to be cleared further. iron 5 in the vicinity of its peripheral edge and thus offer greater freedom for positioning a garment.

Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated which have been given only by way of examples. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Thus, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the articulation device may include more notches to allow the immobilization of the ironing board in more numerous positions.

Thus, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the ironing board may be carried by a single mast provided with an articulation device similar to that described in the second illustrated embodiment.

Thus in an alternative embodiment not shown, the articulation device can be carried directly by the base.

Thus in another embodiment not shown, the base can be connected to a smoothing tool, comprising a heating body containing an instantaneous vaporization chamber, possibly associated with a metal ironing soleplate. In this case, the base could be equipped with a steam generator, similar to that described in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, to send steam towards the smoothing tool, the instant vaporization chamber, integrated in the steaming tool, then used to vaporize any condensate transported by the steam, or the base can be stripped of a steam generator but include a water tank and an electric pump allowing the water to be sent from the tank in the direction of the steaming tool so that steam is produced by the steam chamber integrated in the steaming tool.

Claims (11)

1. Steam ironing and/or uncreasing appliance comprising an ironing board (5) against which a garment to be ironed can be placed for its steam treatment, said ironing board (5) being mounted able to pivot by means of a hinge device (6) enabling the ironing board (5) to be immobilized in various tilted positions, the hinge device (6) comprising a first part (61) which is mobile in rotation in relation to a second part (62), the first part (61) comprising at least one notch (69A, 69B) in which is engaged at least one locking element (65A, 68) carried by the second part (62) in order to prevent the hinge device (6) from rotating, the second part (62) being mobile in translation in relation to the first part (61) according to a course and a direction enabling the locking element (65A, 68) to engage and disengage in the notch (69A, 69B), wherein the hinge device (6) comprises a finger (67), carried by either the first or second part (61, 62), which is mounted able to slide in a groove (66) arranged in the other of the first or second part (61, 62), the finger (67) being able to pivot freely in the groove (66).
2. Steam ironing appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the notch (69A, 69B) has a position and shape adapted so that the locking element (65A, 68) automatically engages in said notch (69A, 69B) under the effect of the weight of the ironing board (5).
3. Steam ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that the locking element (65A, 68) is fixedly mounted on the second part (62).
4. Steam ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterise din that the hinge device (6) permits immobilizing of the ironing board (5) in at least one horizontal position, one vertical position and one intermediate position between the vertical position and the horizontal position.
5. Steam ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the second part (62) comprises several locking elements (65A, 68).
6. Steam ironing appliance according any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the locking element has the shape of a cylindrical finger (68) or a tooth (65A).
7. Steam ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the first part (61) comprises several notches (69A, 69B).
8. Steam ironing appliance according any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the notch (69A, 69B) is open at its upper end and advantageously is trapezoidal in shape.
9. Steam ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it comprises at least one pole (40) which supports the ironing board (5), the first part (61) being fixed to a top of the pole (40) and the second part (62) being fixed to the ironing board (5).
10. Steam ironing appliance according to claim 9, characterised in that it comprises two parallel poles (40) which support the ironing board (5).
11. Steam ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that it comprises a base (1) containing a water tank (10), the base (1) being connected by a flexible hose (2) to a smoothing tool (3) comprising at least one hole for emission of the steam.

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