FR2791710A1 - ELECTRIC IRON WITH IMPROVED STABILITY - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric iron comprising a body (2) which has a heating element arranged in its lower part (4), a support member (6) located on the rear part (9) of the body (2). defining a first surface (S1); and, fixed under the body (2), a flat sole (13) whose upper face (14) is in thermal contact with the heating element and the lower face (15) constitutes the ironing surface. the iron (1) comprises a stabilizing member (18) defining a second surface (52) substantially parallel to the first, such that the limits of the first surface (S1) are inscribed within the limits of the second surface (S2 ).

Description

i

  ELECTRIC IRON WITH IMPROVED STABILITY

  The invention relates to an electric iron comprising a body which has a heating element S arranged in its lower part, a support member located on the rear part of the body defining a

  first surface; and, fixed under the body, a flat sole, the upper face of which is in thermal contact with the heating element and the lower face constitutes the ironing surface.

  A frequent cause of damage to such irons is the fall of the appliance from an ironing table,

  when the latter is destabilized while it is in its vertical position at rest on its support member.

  In order to reduce the risk of the device falling from this position, manufacturers have long favored a device design in which the rear part of the body, also called heel, has a large, flat bearing surface, covering all of this rear part of the body. For essentially aesthetic reasons, which tended to give the irons more and more rounded external shapes, the support function on the heel was sometimes devolved to the ends of projecting members regularly arranged on the rear part of the body, forming very small bearing surfaces. 30 Such an arrangement is not entirely satisfactory, in particular when the surface of the plane of

  work, such as an ironing board, has significant flatness defects, or that this worktop35 is potentially subject to shocks, for example due to animals or young children.

  The main object of the invention is to remedy the above drawbacks, that is to say to produce an iron with great stability in a vertical position on the heel, in the rest phase. These objects are achieved by the invention, which provides that the iron comprises a stabilization member

  defining a second surface substantially parallel to the first, such that the boundaries of the first surface are inscribed within the boundaries of the second surface.

  Thus, the support points on the heel of the electric iron according to the invention, are supplemented, in the event of slight tilting of the device, by stabilization points, all the support points and

  stabilization not constituting a continuous flat surface, which ensures a stable balance of the device when it rests on the heel on an imperfectly flat support.

  According to another important characteristic of the invention, the stabilization surface and the support surface are slightly offset along the longitudinal axis of the iron, so that only the support surface supports the weight of the iron when

  it is left standing in a vertical position on a perfectly flat surface.

  Thanks to this arrangement, the support and stabilization functions are decoupled, and it is possible by

  example achieve stable support on three points, and a stabilizing member inoperative in a normal vertical position, which avoids having a hyperstatic support point system.

  Other features and benefits of

  the invention will emerge from the description which follows,

  given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of an iron according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a rear view of an iron according to Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a schematic rear view of the support and stabilization surfaces alone, of an iron according to the invention; - Figure 4 is a schematic elevational view of an iron according to the invention, in its position

rest.

  FIGS. 1 and 2 show an electric iron 1 comprising a body 2, which has a hollow shell 3 of plastic material, part of which constitutes the walls of a tank receiving the water intended for spraying the laundry or steam generation. The body 2 is generally of tapered shape ending in a point 7 which defines the front 8 of the device. The hollow shell 3 of the body 2 receives, in its lower part 4, a heating element generally consisting of an electrical resistance supplied by an electrical supply cord 5. A support member 6 is located on the rear part 9 of the body 2, for example in the form of three pointed protrusions 10, 11, 1230 coming from the body 2 and the free ends of which are directed substantially backwards along a general longitudinal axis X, defining a first surface Si slightly inclined with respect to the vertical Z. A flat sole 13 is fixed under the body 2, its upper face 14 being in thermal contact with the heating element and its lower face 15 constituting the ironing surface. On the upper part of the body 2 is also formed a handle 16, and are optionally arranged control means such as buttons 17

or various indicators.

  According to the invention, the iron 1 comprises a stabilization member 18 defining a second surface S2 substantially parallel to the first, such that the limits of the first surface Si are inscribed

  within the limits of the second surface S2.

  In particular, the support 6 and stabilization 18 members can be designed so that the first and second surfaces S1 and S2 are understood

in the same plane.

  This is reflected in rear view in the direction of the axis X, in FIGS. 2 and 3, by the fact that the points of the surface S2 are eccentric with respect to the points of the surface Sl.20 According to an interesting characteristic of the invention, the stabilization member 18 is constituted

  of a frame secured to the rear part 9 of the body 2, for example in the vicinity of the protrusions 10, 11, 1225 forming the support member 6.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame is integral with the protrusions 10, 11, 12 formed on the rear part 9 of the body 2.30 For example, the frame can be manufactured separately from the body 2, and attached to said body by clipping,

  crimping or any other simple and reliable means of implementation as regards the resistance to the device's life phases.

  Preferably, the frame is a metal bar whose cross section is small compared to its length.

  Thus, the stabilization member has an infinite number of stabilization points having a small bearing surface, distributed at a relatively large distance from the main longitudinal axis X, thus providing increased stability, while preserving accessibility, from the rear. of the device, to certain parts of the body 2 located in this zone which may include removable accessories, such as

  cartridges for treating the water contained in the tank, this accessibility can also be visual for functional as well as aesthetic considerations.

  Preferably, the frame assumes the general shape of an ellipse, for a regular distribution of the stabilization points which allows a return to equilibrium of the device either on its support points or on its stabilization points, the absence of angular point

being decisive in this respect.

  Advantageously also, the large axis Y of the ellipse is arranged transversely, so as to further reduce tilting on the side of

  the device, which are on the one hand the most frequent and on the other hand the most damaging for the device.

  The invention also provides, as shown schematically in Figure 4, that the surface

  of stabilization and the support surface are slightly offset along the longitudinal axis X of the iron, so that only the support surface supports the weight of the iron to be ironed when it is left standing in a vertical position on a surface perfectly flat.

  Thanks to this arrangement, the stabilization points are only used in the event of the device tilting, and do not compromise the normal balance $ of the iron when the latter is in position on the heel in the presence of irregularities of flatness on the ironing surface, for example if a cloth is left on the

ironing surface.

  It is clear that the invention makes it possible to produce a device of great stability in vertical support, thanks to simple means which contribute to an optimized ergonomics of the device in several of its life phases, while making it possible to bring together certain aesthetic criteria.

Claims (8)

  1. Electric iron comprising a body (2) which has a heating element disposed in its lower part (4), a support member (6) located on the rear part (9) of the body (2) defining a first surface (Si); and, fixed under the body (2), a flat sole (13), the upper face (14) of which is in thermal contact with the heating element and the lower face (15) constitutes the ironing surface, characterized in that it includes a   stabilization (18) defining a second surface (S2) substantially parallel to the first, such that the limits of the first surface (Si) are inscribed in the limits of the second surface (S2).   2. Iron according to claim 1, characterized in that the support member (6) consists   protrusions (10, 11, 12) formed on the rear part (9) of the body (2).   3. Iron according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stabilization member (18) is   consisting of a frame integral with the rear part (9) of the body (2).   4. Iron according to claim 3, characterized in that the frame is integral with   protrusions (10, 11, 12) formed on the rear part 30 (9) of the body (2).   5. Iron according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the frame is a metal bar whose cross section is small compared to its length. 6. Iron according to any one of claims 3 to 5,   characterized in that the frame assumes the general shape of an ellipse.   7. Iron according to claim 6, characterized in that the axis (Y) of large dimension   the ellipse is arranged transversely.   8. Iron according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the stabilization surface and the support surface are slightly offset along the longitudinal axis (X) of the iron (1), so that only the support surface supports the weight of the iron when it is left standing in position   vertical on a perfectly flat surface.