FR2690699A1 - Safety device for steamer-ironer and improved steamer-ironer provided with such a device. - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety device for a clothes steamer-ironer of the type comprises a body with a reservoir (45) for water or similar liquid and an electrical or similar connection socket (46) as well as a handle pivotally mounted on said body. forming a cap of said reservoir (45). The device comprises retaining means (44) integral with the body and a locking means (36) mounted integral with the handle to lock the handle on the body. In a first position corresponding to the locking of the handle on the body and the closure of the reservoir (44) by the handle (18), the locking means (36) releases the space adjacent to the electrical connection socket (46) so as to allow the electrical supply of the steamer-ironer. In a second position corresponding to the unlocking of the handle from the body and the opening of the water tank, the locking means (36) closes the space adjacent to the electrical connection socket (46) so as to prevent the electrical supply to the steamer-ironer.

Description

"Safety device for steamer-ironer and steamer-

  improved ironer provided with such a device "The invention relates to a safety device for a garment steamer and a garment steamer

  improved with such a device.

  There is known a garment ironer having a pivoting handle about a substantially vertical axis, so as to allow the opening of a closure plug.

  of a water tank by a bayonet type system.

  To rotate this handle, it is first necessary to disconnect the power supply cord from the appliance, which then allows you to

rotate the handle.

  In these known devices, it is nevertheless possible to connect the electrical supply to the device while the water tank is not yet closed: this arrangement is thus likely to cause incidents of the electrical short circuit type.

  or electrocution type accidents.

  The invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks, by creating a new safety device for steamer-ironer, so as to prevent any electrical connection of the steamer-ironer when the water tank is still open and is not

closed by a plug.

  The subject of the invention is a safety device for a steam steamer of the type comprising a body with a water or similar liquid reservoir and an electrical or similar connection socket, as well as a handle pivotally mounted on said body forming cap of said reservoir This device comprises retaining means integral with the body and a locking means mounted integral with the handle for locking the handle on the body: in a first position corresponding to the locking of the handle on the body and the closure of the reservoir by the handle, the locking means releases the space adjacent to the electrical connection socket so as to allow the electrical supply of the steamer-ironer and, in a second position corresponding to the unlocking of the handle of the body and to the opening of the water tank, the locking means closes the space adjacent to the electrical connection socket of way to prevent power supply

of the steamer-ironer.

  According to other characteristics of the invention, the locking means is mounted to slide between the bottom and the cover of the handle; the bottom and the cover of the handle being joined to each other by cooperating shapes; the locking means has openings corresponding to cooperating forms of the handle; the locking means has one end

fork.

  the locking means has a flange and the handle a recess so as to actuate by a nail or a finger passing inside the recess said flange to move the locking means; the handle pivots relative to the body about a substantially horizontal axis between a substantially horizontal position and a position making an angle of about 40 with the horizontal, said handle being provided for this purpose with at least one retaining lug; the handle has guide or sliding ribs between two positions of movement of the means

lock.

  The invention also relates to a steamer-

  ironer incorporating a device according to the invention: this ironer / ironer is characterized in that the body of the ironer / ironer comprises locking tabs on the side of the water or similar liquid tank and housings capable of receiving pivot axes of the

  handle on the side of the electrical connection socket.

  According to other characteristics of the invention, the housings are in the form of hollow cylinders into which opens at least one rectangular groove of width corresponding to the width of the pivot axes of the handle; the body also comprises retaining means for limiting the pivoting of the handle to an angle of about 40, such as a rib cooperating with a lug

handle retainer.

  The invention will be better understood thanks to the

  description which will follow given by way of example not

  limiting with regard to the appended drawings in which FIG. 1 represents a schematic view in longitudinal section along line I-I of FIG. 2 of a

  handle of a device according to the invention.

  Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view

  according to line II-II of Figure 1.

  Figures 3, 4 and 5 show respectively and schematically a bottom view, a longitudinal sectional view along line IV-IV of Figure 5 and a top view of a handle bottom device according to the invention. Figures 5, 6, 7 show respectively and schematically a bottom view, a longitudinal sectional view along the line VI-VI of Figure 7 and a top view of a device handle cover according to the invention. Figures 8 and 9 schematically show in

  top view and in longitudinal section along line IX-

  IX of Figure 8 of an interior lock for handle

device according to the invention.

  FIG. 10 represents a schematic view of a steamer-ironer according to the invention illustrating the

  operation of the device according to the invention.

  Referring to Figure 1 a device handle according to the invention comprises a bottom 1 and a cover 2 which are secured to each other by means of

  cooperating forms 3, 4; 5, 6; 7, 8; 9, 10.

  The cooperating forms 4 to 8 are made up of full or hollow cylinders with corresponding internal and external diameters, while the cooperating forms 9 and 10 are in the form of snap-in blades, retained to one another by elastic deformation. The snap-action blades 9 and 10 comprise at least one blade 10 a secured to the cover 2 and a blade 9 a secured to the bottom 1 and preferably include

  respectively each two blades 9 a, 9 b, 10 a, l Ob.

  The cover 2 and the bottom 1 are assembled together so as to present at least one space E between them capable of allowing friction sliding.

soft of an elongated object.

  With reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, a bottom 1 is provided with cooperating shapes similar or identical to those described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and bearing the

same benchmark figures.

  The middle part of the bottom is provided with reinforcing ribs 11 A first end 12 of the bottom is provided with a substantially rectangular opening with rounded edges 13 corresponding to the insertion of a means of

electrical connection.

  The aforementioned opening 13 is preferably bordered on the side of the latching blades 9 a, 9 b by substantially vertical walls 14, 15, 16 At the end 17 opposite the aforementioned end 12, a tank cap 18 forming body with the handle has a substantially cylindrical shape surrounded by a groove 19 capable of receiving an O-ring of a type known per se. To facilitate the realization of the handle bottom in a single injection operation of ABS plastic, there is provided between the cylinder 3 and the cylinder 18 corresponding to the plug a hollow shape 20 substantially

cylindrical circular.

  The end 17 also includes two substantially rectangular openings 21, 22 substantially symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle bottom as well as a circular hole 23 intended to fit on and

  corresponding to a lug on the body of the steamer-ironer.

  The wall 14 also comprises a guide opening 14 a and the end 17 comprises three ribs 17 a, 17 b, 17 c intended to facilitate the guiding and the sliding of a fork-shaped lock which will be

  described with reference to Figures 9 and 10.

  With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, a cover 2 of a device handle according to the invention comprises elements identified by identical, identical or

  similar to those described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

  The handle cover 2 has one end 24 intended to be applied along a substantially flat junction plane 25 at the end 17 of the bottom 1 of the aforementioned handle after engagement of the cooperating cylindrical shapes 4, 5; 6, 7; 8, 9 and latching of the blades 9, 10. The cover 2 also has ribs 26, 27, 28 adapted to facilitate the sliding of a lock

  described later with reference to Figures 8 and 9.

  Advantageously, the spacing between two ribs, for example between the ribs 27 and 28 is predetermined so as to limit the sliding stroke of the aforementioned lock. An opening 29 corresponding to the passage of an electrical connection means is located at the opposite end. at the end 24 of the handle The general dimensions of the bottom 1 and of the handle cover 2 are predetermined so that the walls 14, 15, 16 open out inside the opening 29 preferably so as to close substantially the space inside the opening thus formed, so as to form a hollow shape substantially parallelepiped limited by three solid walls 14, 15, 16 and a fourth wall closed by the integral electrical outlet

  of the body of the steam ironer.

  The handle cover 2 also includes a recess 31 corresponding to the insertion of a finger or a fingernail to push the preciz lock in the direction of

the arrow of figure 7.

  The handle cover 2 after having been assembled at the bottom i is pivotally mounted S 5 rle body of the steamer-ironer by insertion of two tabs in position substantially symmetrical to each other relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle to be assembled The tabs 32 a, 32 b each have two substantially straight edges and two rounded edges 33 a, 34 a; 33 b, 34 b, so as to be able to insert each cleat through a slot communicating with a cylindrical housing forming a pivot bearing of the body of the steamer / ironer; then, after having rotated the whole of the handle engaged in said housings forming a bearing of the body until it clicks into place by means of small tubular pins a, 35 b, allow the handle to pivot according to an angular deflection ranging from a horizontal position to a position inclined to about 40 relative to the horizontal. Referring to Figures 8 and 9, a lock 36 adapted to be inserted inside a device handle according to the invention assembled from a bottom i and a cover 2 has two oblong openings 37 and 38 corresponding to the cooperating forms 6, 7; 8, 9 above, a retaining lug 39 abutting on a rib 27 or 28 of a handle cover 2 according to the invention, one end 40 located on the side of the cap of the tank of the steam ironer said end 40 is substantially fork-shaped with rounded ends 41 a, 41 b able to engage in openings

  corresponding to the body of the steamer-

  ironer so as to be retained therein and thus achieve a locking of the handle on the body in a substantially horizontal position At the end 42 opposite the end 40, a shape 43 is provided forming a retaining cleat in the lower part 43 a and can be actuated by pushing on a lug exceeding 43 b by means of a finger or a nail passing through the opening 31 in the direction of the arrow T shown on the top of the handle 3 in Figure 7. The corresponding parts of the handle shown in dotted lines and in contact with the latch 36, such as the ribs 17 a, 17 b, 17 c; 26, 27, 28, allow smooth friction sliding of the lock

  36 between the bottom 1 and the cover 2 of the handle.

  Referring to Figure 1 there is shown the handle of the device according to the invention in lines

  interrupted in horizontal position.

  In the horizontal position, the lock 36 shown in solid lines cooperates with at least one corresponding shape 44 of the body so as to lock the handle on the body and simultaneously close the reservoir 45 by means of the plug 18 of the

handle bottom 1.

  In this horizontal position, the space 46 adjacent to and corresponding to the housing of an electrical outlet or connection is cleared so that one can come to connect an electrical outlet for supplying a

  heating resistor not shown.

  When the lock 36 is actuated in the direction of the arrow, its ends 41 a, 41 b emerge from the corresponding housings 47 in the locking means 44 secured to the body; simultaneously the end 42 slides in the direction of the arrow to occupy the space above the electrical connection space 46 by the cleat 43, which makes any connection impossible

  electric while the handle is unlocked.

  After unlocking the handle, it can be rotated in the direction of arrow P around the axis of the lugs 32 a, 32 b until it is retained by the lugs 35 a, b, the function of which is to limit the swivel angle

of the handle.

  According to the invention, in a first horizontal position the handle of the steam ironer closes at one end a tank 45 capable of receiving water or the like In this position the handle is locked substantially horizontally and comprises a clearance at the opposite end allowing an electrical outlet or similar electrical connection means to be connected through an opening in the handle. According to the invention, the handle of the device is provided with a lock capable of sliding by closing off the space adjacent to or located above the electrical outlet secured to the body, so as to prevent any electrical connection when the handle is unlocked.

  and free to rotate relative to the horizontal.

  Thus, in all positions of the handle, or in all situations in which the water or similar liquid tank is not blocked by a plug, the connection to a source is prevented

  power supply, all risks of short-

circuits or electrocutions.

  The housings 48 of the body of the steamer-ironer of the axes 32a, 32b of pivoting of the handle are in the form of hollow cylinders into which opens at least one rectangular groove of width corresponding to the

  width of the pivot axes (32 a, 32 b) of the handle.

  To limit the pivoting of the handle to an angle, less than 40, the body advantageously comprises a substantially vertical rib 49 cooperating with a

handle retaining lug.

  Although described in relation to a particular embodiment, the invention is in no way limited thereto, but on the contrary includes all modifications of form and all variant embodiments in the context and

in the spirit of the invention.

  We can thus change at will the shape of the handle and the device according to the invention while respecting the impossibility of supplying water or

simultaneous electricity.

Claims (9)

  1 Safety device for steamer-   steam ironer of the type comprising a body with a reservoir (45) of water or similar liquid and, an electrical connection socket or the like (46) as well as a handle pivotally mounted on said body forming a cap of said reservoir (45 ) characterized in that the device comprises retaining means (44) integral with the body and a locking means (36) mounted integral with the handle for locking the handle on the body and in that, in a first position corresponding to locking of the handle on the body and the closure of the reservoir (44) by the handle (18), the locking means (36) releases the space adjacent to the electrical connection socket (46) so as to allow supply electric of the steamer-ironer and, in a second position corresponding to the unlocking of the handle of the body and to the opening of the water tank, the locking means (36) occupies the space adjacent to the outlet electrical connection (46) so as to prevent supply   electric ironer.   2 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking means (36) is mounted prisoner sliding between the bottom (1) and the cover (2) of the handle; the bottom (1) and the cover of the handle (2) being joined together by forms   cooperants (4.5, 6.7, 8.9, 10.11).   3 Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the locking means (36) has openings (37, 38) corresponding to cooperating shapes (6,7; 8,9) of the handle.   4 Device according to one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that the locking means (36)   has a fork end (40).   Device according to one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that the locking means (36) has a flange (43 b) and the handle a recess (31) so as to actuate by said fingernail or a finger passing inside the recess (31) said flange (43 b) for   move the locking means (36).   6 Device according to one of claims i to 5,   characterized in that the handle pivots relative to the body about a substantially horizontal axis (32 a-32 b) between a substantially horizontal position and a position making an angle with the horizontal of about 40, said handle being provided with this effect of at least one lug of restraint (35 a).   7 Device according to one of claims i to 6, characterized in that the handle has guide or sliding ribs (17 a, 17 b, 17 c; 26,27,28), between two positions of movement, locking means (36).   8 Steam ironer with a   device according to any one of claims i to 7,   characterized in that the body of the steamer-ironer comprises lugs (44) for locking on the side of the reservoir (45) of water or similar liquid and housings (48) suitable for receiving pins (32a, 32b) of pivoting of the handle on the side of the electrical connection socket (46).   9 Steam ironer according to claim 9, characterized in that the housings are in the form of hollow cylinders into which opens at least one rectangular groove of width corresponding to the width of the   pivot axes (32 a, 32 b) of the handle.   10 Steam ironer according to claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that the body further comprises retaining means for limiting the pivoting of the handle at an angle of about 40, such as a rib (49) cooperating with a retaining lug (35 a, 35 b) of the handle.