FR2713248A1 - Smoothing iron allowing ergonomic movement for design simplicity - Google Patents

Abstract

The smoothing iron is equipped with a ball or roller (1) between its sole plate (3) and heel (2'), about which it can pivot when being transferred between its working and rest positions and vice versa. The ball or roller fits into a recess between the sole plate and heel and is partially covered by a flange or sliding faces which can also incorporate ball bearings.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device making it possible to improve the ergonomics and the handling of an electrical household appliance.

 I1 can by addition to an existing device, allow with respect to a rest position, to move the device to its working location by a simple movement of rotation and sliding or rolling instead of having to lift it, turn it , move and rest.

 This innovation can be applied particularly to the iron.

 Ironing linen is mainly done with three types of equipment: iron, individual roller machine or dry cleaning.

 In domestic use, the iron is the most used material because the most ergonomic and the most versatile.

 The ironing machine is limited to a certain type of application such as sheets, tablecloth ...

 The modern iron, despite all its improvements, has the same ergonomic defect inherent in its initial design: the weight that must be lifted several dozen times for a garment.

 The present invention proposes to overcome these drawbacks, by the use of a simple mechanism which is integrated into the concept of the modern iron.

 In this present invention, the rotation and the sliding of the device contribute to good handling of the device, but also and above all, avoids operator fatigue by the absence of successive lifting of the working position of the appliance in its rest position.

 To this end, the present invention relates to a device characterized in that at least one displacement member is located between the rest base and the heating soleplate of the iron, and such that at least one of its generators is positioned at the intersection of the dihedral formed respectively by the plane of the rest base and the plane of the heating sole.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description given below, with reference to the appended drawings which are illustrated by an exemplary embodiment devoid of any limiting character in the figures.

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the displacement member shaped by a sphere between the heating soleplate and the rest surface
- Figure 2 is a plan view in front elevation of the apparatus, arranged in a rest position;
- Figure 3 is a plan view in front elevation of the apparatus, arranged in a working position;
- Figure 4 is a plan view in front elevation of the device, arranged in an intermediate phase where the displacement member is in contact on the work surface
- Figure 5 is a plan view, in section, in front elevation of the apparatus according to the invention;
- Figure 6 is a plan view, in section along AA, on a larger scale of the displacement device
- Figure 7 is a plan view in front elevation, illustrating a variant of the invention
- Figure 8 is a plan view in front elevation, illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

 According to a preferred embodiment of this handling aid device, a displacement member (1), in particular of spherical or cylindrical shape, of solid or hollow cross section, is trapped in a housing (4) containing balls ( 6.6 ', 6 "), being further closed by a flange or removable cover (5) and or sliding faces (7.7').

All of these parts are arranged so that the sphere rotates freely in its housing and that said housing is removable.

 The movement member (1) is made from a material ensuring both good movement in its housing and good rolling on the laundry.

 Furthermore, provision is made for the heating sole (3) to be rounded on the rear, to facilitate rear sliding movement on the laundry.

 One of the generators of the displacement member is positioned at the intersection of the dihedral formed respectively by the plane of the rest base (2 ′) and the plane of the heating sole (3). During the rotation of the device, the movement member (1) under the combined action of the weight of the device, and the hand of the operator, is driven in a rotational movement. Friction phenomena inside its housing are avoided in particular by rolling balls (6,6 ', 6 ") and or sliding strips (7,7'). These allow contact and sliding without damaging the main displacement member (1).

 When handling the iron, the operator tilts the iron forwards and moves it without having to lift it (see fig. 4). The operator moves it on the work surface to the place to be ironed. Ironing can be done from front to back, and the appliance is returned to its rest position by sliding it and rotating it in the opposite direction to the initial movement.

 According to another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the sphere is replaced by a cylinder; the axis of rotation of the cylinder being parallel to the dihedral formed by the rest plane (2 ') and the heating sole (3).

 Provision is also made to provide the invention with a plurality of displacement members, in particular spheres and or cylinders, disposed within respective housings and guided by balls (6, 6 ′, 6 ") or faces of sliding (7, 7 ').

 According to another embodiment of the device according to the invention, there is a tread (8) held between two cylinders (9,9 '), one of the cylinders (9, 9') being constituted by at least one displacement member. The sliding is ensured by the rotation of the strip on the cylinders. This strip is possibly located in the rest base (2). The base may contain a reserve of water which can be used to moisten the laundry by the rolling action of the strip (8) thereon; this strip being moistened by said reserve.

 It remains to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described and shown above, but that it encompasses all variants thereof.

Claims (8)

CLAIM8  1. Device for the ergonomic movement of an appliance, characterized in that at least one displacement member (1) is located between the rest base (2 ') and the heating soleplate (3) of the iron, and such that at least one of its generatrices is positioned at the intersection of the dihedral formed respectively by the plane of the rest base (2 ') and the plane of the heating sole (3).  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the displacement device (1) is constituted in particular by a sphere or by a cylinder, mounted within a housing (4) partially covered by a flange (5) or by sliding faces (7, 7 ').  3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the displacement member (1) is trapped in a housing (4), optionally removable, and is mounted with clearance in said housing.  4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement member (1) is removable in the housing (4).  5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotation of the displacement member (1) is ensured by a plurality of guide members such as in particular balls (6, 6 ', 6 " ) or sliding faces (7,7 ').  6 Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a tread (8), cooperating with at least one displacement member (1), possibly disposed in the base (2 ') of the apparatus.  7. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the tread (8) constitutes a humidifier.  8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating soleplate has rounded lateral edges, at the rear, allowing the device to move back and forth.