EP3783171B1 - Device for treating laundry - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an appliance for treating linen comprising a base from which extends at least one pole intended to support a garment to be ironed and/or to be steamed. The invention relates more particularly to an apparatus in which the base comprises an upper shell attached to a lower shell, the lower shell comprising a cavity receiving a ballast intended to increase the stability of the base.

It is known, from the patent application CN103966820 , a device comprising a base supporting two poles on which a garment can be hung for its treatment using a steaming brush. In this document, the base comprises an upper shell attached to a lower shell, the lower shell comprising a cavity receiving a ballast intended to increase the stability of the base.

However, in this document the masts are attached to the upper hull and the maintenance of the masts depends essentially on the rigidity of the upper hull. Thus, a significant weight on the masts can lead to bending of the part of the upper hull at which the masts are attached and lead to a feeling of lack of solidity of the assembly for the user.

Also, an object of the present invention is to propose a device remedying these drawbacks and in particular to propose a device which offers a better hold of the pole or poles intended to support the garment to be ironed or to be smoothed.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an appliance for the treatment of laundry comprising a base from which extends at least one pole intended to support a garment to be ironed and/or smoothed, the base comprising an upper shell attached to a lower hull, the lower hull comprising a cavity receiving a ballast intended to increase the stability of the base, characterized in that the lower hull comprises a guide column into which the mast is inserted.

The weight of the ballast resting on the lower hull has the advantage of reinforcing the rigidity of the lower hull. Thus, such a construction ensures a better bending resistance of the guide columns and therefore better maintenance of the masts.

The apparatus may further have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the cavity is closed in its upper part by a cover attached by gluing or welding to the lower shell.

Such a characteristic has the advantage of further increasing the rigidity of the lower shell and therefore of improving the holding of the guide columns.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the upper shell and the lower shell define between them a space in which the cavity is arranged, the guide column extending into the space provided between the upper shell and the lower shell.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to have a rigid and discreet assembly, the guide columns being masked by the upper shell.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the upper shell comprises a guide ring extending from the guide column of the lower shell, the guide ring comprising a lower end fitting into the guide column and coming contact with the latter.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to increase the length over which the mast is held at the level of the base, thus ensuring better holding of the latter. In addition, the contact between the guide ring and the guide column makes it possible to reinforce the rigidity of the base at the level of the guide ring.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the lower shell is a one-piece piece of plastic material.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the ballast consists of cement or sand which is placed in the cavity.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the guide column comprises reinforcing ribs.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to reinforce the rigidity of the guide column.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the reinforcing ribs extend longitudinally to the guide column.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the cavity extends at the foot of the guide column.

Such a feature makes it possible to apply the ballast directly to the foot of the guide column, which makes it possible to optimize the hold of the guide columns.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the guide column is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the cavity.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the cavity extends over the major part of the surface of the lower shell.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the mast supports an ironing board.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the ironing board is supported by two masts which extend vertically from the base, the lower shell comprising two guide columns arranged at the edge of the lower shell.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the lower shell has an underside comprising projecting feet and wheels projecting from an edge of the base, the wheels being above the level of the feet when the base is lying flat. on the feet.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the ironing board can occupy a horizontal position.

Such an ironing board in a horizontal position has the disadvantage of presenting a significant cantilever relative to the base so that the base must be particularly rigid to ensure good support of the ironing board.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the device comprises a base, containing a water tank, connected by a flexible conduit to a tool for ironing and/or steaming such as an iron or a steaming brush.

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

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

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

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the ironing board has a length of between 50 cm and 100 cm, and preferably of the order of 70 cm, and a width of between 30 and 50 cm and preferably of the order 40cm

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the base has a location for placing the base, the base being removable from the base.

• [Fig. 1] est une vue en perspective d'un appareil de repassage équipé d'une planche de repassage selon un mode particulier de réalisation de l'invention ;
• [Fig. 2] est une vue en perspective éclatée du socle supportant la planche repassage de la figure 1 ;
• [Fig. 3] est une autre vue en perspective en perspective éclatée du socle, le couvercle de fermeture de la cavité recevant le lest étant illustré en position assemblée sur la coque inférieure ;
• [Fig. 4] est une vue en perspective de la coque inférieure et du couvercle en position désassemblée ;
• [Fig. 5] est une vue en coupe longitudinale du socle selon le plan médian du socle ;
• [Fig. 6] est une vue en coupe longitudinale du socle selon le plan passant par l'un des mâts ;
• [Fig. 7] est une en coupe transversale du socle selon le plan passant par les deux mâts ;
• [Fig. 8] est une vue en perspective du dessous du socle.

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 :

• [ Fig. 1 ] is a perspective view of an ironing appliance equipped with an ironing board according to a particular embodiment of the invention;
• [ Fig. 2 ] is an exploded perspective view of the base supporting the ironing board of the figure 1 ;
• [ Fig. 3 ] is another perspective view in exploded perspective of the base, the closure cover of the cavity receiving the ballast being illustrated in the assembled position on the lower shell;
• [ Fig. 4 ] is a perspective view of the bottom shell and cover in the disassembled position;
• [ Fig. 5 ] is a longitudinal sectional view of the base along the median plane of the base;
• [ Fig. 6 ] is a longitudinal sectional view of the base along the plane passing through one of the masts;
• [ Fig. 7 ] is a cross-section of the base along the plane passing through the two masts;
• [ Fig. 8 ] is a perspective view of the bottom of the base.

Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention have been represented. To facilitate reading of the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another. It should be noted that in this document, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "lower", "upper", "front", "rear" used to describe the device refer to this device when it rests flat on its base as shown in the figure 1 .

The figure 1 represents an appliance for the treatment of laundry comprising a base 1 from which extend two telescopic masts 2 comprising an upper end supporting a rigid ironing board 3 intended to be covered with a cover, not shown in the figures, on which laundry to be smoothed can be arranged.

Preferably, the ironing board 3 comprises a planar ironing surface of generally rectangular shape, having a length of between 50 cm and 100 cm, and advantageously of the order of 70 cm, and a width of between 30 and 50 cm. , and advantageously of the order of 40 cm.

The ironing board 3 is pivotally mounted on the end of the masts 2 by means of a hinge device making it possible to immobilize the ironing board 3 according to different inclinations and advantageously in a vertical position (not shown), in a position horizontal (not shown), and in an intermediate position (shown on the figure 1 ) in which the ironing board 3 advantageously forms an angle of the order of 20° with respect to the vertical. The hinge device is for example in accordance with that described in more detail in the patent application filed in France by the applicant under the filing number FR 1756063 .

The device also includes a portable base 4 which is connected by a conduit 40 flexible to an iron 5 comprising a gripping handle 51 and a soleplate 50 provided with steam outlet holes, the base 4 being electrically connected to a home network by a cable, not visible in the figures.

Advantageously, the base 4 rests removably on the base 1, the latter advantageously comprising a recess 11A, visible on the figure 2 , the shape of which matches the outer contour of the base 4. The base 4 is preferably provided with a handle 41 at its upper end and comprises, in a manner known per se, a removable reservoir 42 as well as a pump which draws the water in the tank 42 to send it to the iron 5 through the conduit 40.

In accordance with figures 2 to 8 , the base 1 comprises a lower shell 10 and an upper shell 11, fixed one on the other, which define between them a space comprising a cavity 12 in which is placed a ballast 7, such as cement or sand, intended to improve the stability of the ironing board 3.

Preferably, the lower 10 and upper 11 shells are made of plastic material, by a molding process, and have a generally rectangular contour.

As can be seen on the figure 2 and 5 , the cavity 12 has a lower wall which is defined directly by the lower shell 10 of the base 1 and it is closed in its upper part by a cover 13 which is attached by gluing or welding to the lower shell 10, the cover 13 taking place in the space provided between the lower shell 10 and the upper shell 11.

In order to maintain the masts in a vertical position, the lower hull 10 comprises two guide columns 14 which project from the upper face of the lower hull 10 and into which the two masts 2 are inserted, the upper hull 11 advantageously comprising two guide rings 15 which extend the guide columns 14.

In accordance with figure 4 and 6 , the guide columns 14 include reinforcing ribs 14A, 14B which extend vertically along the internal and external surface of the guide column 14 to reinforce the mechanical strength guide columns 14.

The reinforcing ribs 14A, 14B preferably have a triangular shape, the passage section of the guide column 14 gradually decreasing from the top towards the base of the guide column 14 due to the presence of the reinforcing ribs 14A on the internal surface of the guide column 14.

The reinforcing ribs 14A thus produced guide the lower end of the mast 2 towards a recess 14C arranged in the bottom of the guide column 14 when the mast 2 is inserted into the guide column 14, the recess 14C having a complementary shape to that of the lower end of mast 2.

In accordance with the figure 6 , the recess 14C advantageously comprises a projecting rib 14D which engages in a corresponding groove 2A formed at the lower end of the mast 2, the cooperation of the rib 14D with the groove 2A making it possible to index the mast in position 2 in recess 14C to ensure correct orientation of mast 2 on base 1.

In order to improve the rigidity of the connection between the guide ring 15 and the guide column 14, the guide rings 15 of the upper shell 11 have a lower part 15A which is inserted into the guide column 14 of the lower shell 10 and whose lower end comes into contact with the guide ribs 14A.

In accordance with the picture 3 , each guide ring 15 comprises a device 16 for locking the mast 2 in the guide ring 15 to prevent the mast 2 from leaving the base 1 when the ironing board 3 is lifted by the user.

This locking device is advantageously produced, in a manner known per se, by a lever 16 pivotally mounted on the guide ring 15 and cooperating with a braking pad arranged inside the guide ring 15, the lever 16 being able to occupy an unlocked position, not illustrated in the figures, in which the braking pad is not applied in force against the mast 2 and a locked position, illustrated in the picture 3 , in which the lever 16 comes push the braking pad against mast 2 to immobilize the latter.

Advantageously, the guide columns 14 are arranged along two opposite side edges of the base 1 and the cavity 12 extends at the foot of the guide columns 14, at least partially surrounding the guide columns 14.

In the example shown on the figures 2 to 8 , the cavity 12 extends substantially over the entire surface of the upper face of the lower shell 10, with the exception of the location of the guide columns 14 and an oblong central zone 17 at the level of which the lower shells 10 and upper 11 are fixed to each other by fixing screws 6.

As can be seen on the figure 4 , the central zone 17 is delimited laterally by a central wall 18 projecting from the upper face of the lower shell 10 and by a central edge 13A of the cover. The central edge 13A extends along the edge of an oblong central opening 13B of the lid 13, the shape of which corresponds to the shape of the central zone 17, the central edge 13A projecting downwards and coming to rest on the central wall 18 of the lower shell 10 in order to delimit the cavity 12 at the level of the central zone 17. The lid 13 also comprises a peripheral edge 13C curved downwards which comes to rest on a peripheral wall 12A of the lower shell 10 in order to laterally delimit the contour external cavity 12.

In accordance with the figure 5 , the lower shell 10 comprises, in the central zone 17, bosses 17A coming into contact with projecting barrels arranged on the underside of the upper shell 11 at the level of which the upper 11 and lower 10 shells are fixed to one another. the other by means of fixing screws 6.

In order to allow the evacuation of liquid which may have fallen into the recess 11A of the base 1, the upper shell 11 advantageously comprises an evacuation opening 11B placed in the center of the recess 11A, this evacuation opening 11B being delimited by a tube coming engage in a through column 17B extending in the central zone 17 of the lower hull 10.

As can be seen on the figure 3 and 6 , the base 1 is advantageously provided of two wheels 19 arranged at the level of the rear end of the base 1 and comprises four feet 10A projecting from the underside of the base 1. The feet 10A preferably extend below the level of the wheels 19 so that the two wheels 19 are raised above the ground when the base 1 rests flat on the ground.

The wheels 19 are arranged on the rear edge of the base 1 in such a way that a tilting of the base 1 backwards, by an angle greater than 10°, makes it possible to bring the wheels 19 into contact with the ground and to move the ironing board 3 by rolling the base 1 on the wheels 19.

The device thus produced has the advantage of having a base having great rigidity, in particular at the level of the guide columns of the masts. In particular, the fact that the guide columns are integrated into the lower shell receiving the ballast makes it possible to obtain better resistance to bending of the guide columns, the lower shell being stiffened by the presence of the ballast. In addition, the closure of the cavity using a cover added by gluing or welding on the lower shell also makes it possible to reinforce the rigidity of the lower shell and therefore to ensure better holding of the guide columns.

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, 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 a variant embodiment not shown, the ironing board can be carried by a single mast instead of two masts.

Claims (11)

1. Apparatus for treating laundry comprising a base (1) from which extends at least one pole (2) intended to support clothing to be ironed and/or smoothed, said base (1) comprising an upper shell (11) returned onto a lower shell (10), the lower shell (10) comprising a cavity (12) receiving a ballast (7) intended to increase the stability of the base (1), characterised in that the lower shell (10) comprises a guiding column (14) wherein said pole (2) is inserted.
2. Apparatus for treating laundry according to claim 1, characterised in that the cavity (12) is closed in its upper part by a cover (13) returned by gluing or welding onto the lower shell (10).
3. Apparatus for treating laundry according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that the upper shell (11) and the lower shell (10) together defining a space wherein the cavity (12) is disposed, the guiding column (14) extending into the space arranged between the upper shell (11) and the lower shell (10).
4. Apparatus for treating laundry according to claim 3, characterised in that the upper shell (11) comprises a guiding ring (15) coming into the extension of the guiding column (14) of the lower shell (10), the guiding ring (15) comprising a lower end (15A) being inserted into the guiding column (14) and coming into contact with the latter.
5. Apparatus for treating laundry according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the lower shell (10) is a one-piece part made of plastic material.
6. Apparatus for treating laundry according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the ballast (7) is constituted by cement or sand which is disposed in the cavity (12).
7. Apparatus for treating laundry according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the guiding column (14) comprises reinforcing grooves (14A, 14B).
8. Apparatus for treating laundry according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the cavity (12) extends to the foot of the guiding column (14).
9. Apparatus for treating laundry according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the pole (2) supports an ironing board (3).
10. Apparatus for treating laundry according to claim 9, characterised in that the ironing board (3) is supported by two poles (2) which extend vertically from the base (1) and in that the lower shell (10) comprises two guiding columns (14) disposed at the edge of the lower shell (10).
11. Apparatus for treating laundry according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the lower shell (10) comprises a lower face comprising projecting feet (10A), the base (1) comprising wheels (19) projecting over an edge of the base (1), the wheels (19) being located above the level of the feet (10A) when the base (1) rests flat on the feet (10A).

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