FR3043701A1 - STEAM IRONING APPARATUS HAVING A HANGER FOR ARRANGING THE CLOTHING - Google Patents

Abstract

Steam ironing apparatus comprising a base (1) containing a device for producing a vapor stream connected via a conduit (2) to a steaming accessory (3) comprising at least one hole for the emission of steam , said base (1) having a hanger (4) on which the garment to be straightened can be arranged during use of the steaming accessory (3), the hanger (4) being pivotally mounted on the base around an axis by means of a pivot connection and being immobilized in rotation by means of a locking device, characterized in that the locking device comprises a control member (7; 107) which can be moved manually by the user an unlocked position, allowing free rotation of the hanger (4), to a locked position in which the hanger (4) is immobilized in rotation, and in that the displacement of the control member (7; the unlocked position at the locked position causes the displacement and / or deformation of a braking element (8; 108) from an initial position allowing free rotation of the pivot connection, to a braked position in which the braking element (8; 108) is held under pressure against an element (6, 163) to prevent rotation of the hanger (4).

Description

STEAM IRONING APPARATUS HAVING A HANGER FOR ARRANGING THE CLOTHING

The present invention relates to a steam ironing apparatus comprising a base enclosing a device for producing a steam flow connected by a conduit to a steaming accessory comprising at least one hole for vapor emission and relates more particularly to an apparatus in which the base comprises a hanger on which the garment to be straightened can be disposed during use of the steaming accessory, the hanger being pivotally mounted on the base and being able to be immobilized in rotation by means of a blocking device.

It is known from patent application CN203360893U, a steam ironing apparatus comprising a steam generating base having a mast equipped with a hanger at its upper end, the hanger being rotatably mounted about the longitudinal axis of the mast and comprising a locking device for immobilizing the hanger in different predetermined angular positions.

Such an ironing apparatus provided with a rotary hanger has the advantage of making the operation of unraveling the garment more ergonomic by allowing the user to rotate the garment around the mast and then to immobilize it in different angular positions.

However, the hanger locking device disclosed in this document has the disadvantage of only allowing the hanger to be immobilized in a limited number of predetermined positions. In addition, the locking device disclosed in this document has the disadvantage of ensuring insufficient immobilization of the rotating hanger when the spring used in the locking device is weakly rigid, and to be difficult to assemble when the spring used is rigid enough to ensure a good immobilization of the hanger. Finally, the locking device described in this document uses a spring-mounted ratchet system which has the disadvantage of being relatively noisy when the position of the hanger is manually modified by the user.

Also, an object of the present invention is to provide an ironing apparatus which overcomes these disadvantages and which is simple and economical to produce. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a steam ironing apparatus comprising a base enclosing a device for producing a steam flow connected by a conduit to a steaming accessory comprising at least one hole for the emission of the steam, the base comprising a hanger on which the garment to be straightened can be disposed during the use of the steaming accessory, the hanger being pivotally mounted on the base about an axis by means of a pivot connection and can be immobilized in rotation by means of a locking device, characterized in that the locking device comprises a control member that can be moved manually by the user from an unlocked position, allowing the free rotation of the hanger, to a locked position in which the hanger is immobilized in rotation, and in that the movement of the control member from the unlocked position to the locked position causes movement and / or deforming a braking element from an initial position, allowing free rotation of the pivot connection, to a braked position in which the braking element is held under pressure against an element to prevent rotation of the hanger.

Such an apparatus provided with a locking device provided with a friction braking element has the advantage of being simple and economical to implement and allow a locking of the hanger in any angular position. In addition, such a device has the advantage of being robust and quiet.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the braking element is integral in translation with a rod and the control member is constituted by a control lever pivotally mounted at one end of the rod, the control lever comprising a part forming a cam causing the displacement in translation of the rod during pivoting of the control lever.

Such a control device has the advantage of being simple and economical to achieve, to ensure good compression of the braking element and to offer a very good ergonomics of use.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the control lever pivots at an angle of between 45 ° and 90 °, and advantageously of the order of 90 °, to move from the unlocked position to the locked position and the lever of control is advantageously disposed substantially perpendicular to the rod when it occupies one of the locked or unlocked positions and is arranged in alignment with the rod when it occupies the other position.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the braking element is an elastically deformable element passing from an initial shape, advantageously having a restricted diameter, to a modified shape, advantageously having an increased diameter, when the control lever moves from the unlocked position in the locked position, the braking element passing from the initial shape to the modified form being deformed by the force exerted by a part integral with the rod.

Such a deformable braking element has the advantage of offering greater flexibility during the operation of the control lever and to allow possible rotation of the hanger without damaging the locking device when the user forces on the hanger to do so. turn without first placing the control lever in the unlocked position.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the pivot connection allowing rotation of the hanger on the base comprises a shaft rotatably mounted in a bearing, the braking element being compressed between a disk and an end of the shaft when the lever of command occupies the locked position.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the braking element consists of an elastomer ring.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the braking element is constituted by a rigid flange, advantageously of frustoconical shape.

Rigid flange means a flange whose deformation remains substantially invisible when the flange is brought from the initial position to the braked position. For example, the flange may be made of polycarbonate.

Such a feature has the advantage of allowing a locking of the hanger in rotation more powerful.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the pivot connection allowing the rotation of the hanger on the base comprises a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in a bearing, the flange being arranged in a jacket attached to one end of the shaft.

Such a feature provides a compact locking device and easy to assemble.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the liner has an upper end provided with a frustoconical wall against which the flange comes to rest when the control lever is in the locked position.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the control member is disposed in a cavity of the hanger, the cavity advantageously opening on two opposite sides of the hanger.

Such a feature allows to have a controller that is integrated in the volume of the hanger and does not interfere with the placement of clothes on the hanger. In addition, when the cavity opens on both sides of the hanger, it allows easy access to the control member regardless of the orientation of the hanger.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the base comprises a vertical mast, advantageously telescopic, which carries the hanger.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the accessory is a steam brush or an iron.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the hanger comprises a recess for receiving the steaming head, the notch ensuring the maintenance position of the steaming head on the hanger when the user does not wish to use it.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the cavity receiving the control member is formed at the base of the notch.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the axis of rotation of the hanger is disposed substantially vertically when the base rests on the ground.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the axis of rotation of the hanger is disposed coaxially with the mast.

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 accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ironing apparatus according to the invention; - Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a hanger coupling system on the mast for fitting the apparatus of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a top view of the hanger of Figure 2; - Figures 4A and 4B are sectional views along the line IV-IV of Figure 3 with the control lever respectively disposed in an unlocked position and in a locked position; FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a coupling system of the hanger on the mast intended to equip the apparatus of FIG. 1; - Figures 6A and 6B are sectional views of the hanger of Figure 5, in a sectional plane similar to that of Figures 4A and 4B, with the control lever respectively disposed in an unlocked position and in a locked position;

Only the elements necessary for the understanding of the invention have been represented. To facilitate the reading of the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another.

FIG. 1 represents a steam ironing apparatus comprising a base 1 for the steam generation connected by a flexible conduit 2 to a steaming brush 3 comprising holes for the emission of steam, the base 1 comprising, in a known manner in itself, a water reservoir 10 connected to a boiling chamber, not shown in the figures, for the continuous production of a steam flow saturated with water, the boiling chamber being connected directly to the flexible conduit 2 in such a way that the steam produced by the boiling chamber can freely escape to the steaming brush 3.

Such a base 1 for the steam generation is well known to those skilled in the art and is for example technically similar to the base for the steam generation described in detail in the patent application WO 2004/023957.

Preferably, the base 1 comprises a mast 11 comprising three telescopic sections extending substantially vertically when the base 1 rests flat on the ground, the mast 11 comprising an upper end supporting a hanger 4 on which laundry to be straightened can be disposed. The hanger 4 is advantageously made of plastic material and has a notch 40 at its top, better visible in Figure 2, which forms a receiving housing for the steaming brush 3.

According to Figures 2 and 4A, the hanger 4 is pivotally mounted on the mast 11 about an axis coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the mast 11, the rotation of the hanger 4 being obtained by means of a pivot connection comprising a shaft 5 , integral with the hanger 4, which rotates in a bearing 6 carried by a sleeve 60 disposed at the upper end of the mast 11.

More particularly according to the invention, the apparatus comprises a locking device which makes it possible to immobilize the hanger 4 in position, the locking device comprising a control lever 7 which can occupy an unlocked position in which the hanger 4 can rotate freely. on the mast 11 and a locked position in which the hanger 4 is immobilized in position.

In the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4A and 4B, the locking device comprises an elastically deformable braking element 8 disposed at a lower end of the shaft 5, inside the bearing 6, the element 8 being sandwiched between the lower end of the shaft 5 and a disc 80 fixed to a lower end of a rod 81 slidably mounted in the shaft 5 and whose upper end is connected to the control lever 7. The braking element is advantageously constituted by an elastic spacer 8, of elastomeric material, of a thickness of about 1 cm which is traversed by the rod 81, the elastic spacer 8 having an annular shape which, when not compressed, has an outer diameter of about 2 cm, corresponding to the diameter of the shaft 5.

Preferably, the rod 81 has a cross-shaped cross section which slides in an opening 50 of complementary shape formed in the center of the shaft 5 to prevent the rotation of the rod 81 on itself.

As can be seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the rod 81 has an upper end that opens, outside the hanger 4, into a cavity 41 formed at the base of the notch 40 intended to receive the steaming head 3, the upper end of the rod 81 being connected to the control lever 7 by an axis pivot connection 82 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod 81.

The control lever 7 comprises an upper portion 70 forming a gripping zone and a lower portion forming a cam 71 which comes into contact with a wall 42 formed in the bottom of the cavity 41, the cam 71 having a shape adapted to cause the displacement in translation of the rod 81 in the direction of the approach of the disc 80 towards the lower end of the shaft 5 when the control lever 7 switches from the unlocked position, illustrated in FIG. 4A, to the locked position, illustrated in Figure 4B.

Preferably, the portion of the wall 42 on which the cam 71 bears is provided with a metal washer 43 which locally reinforces the bearing zone to prevent excessive wear of the wall 42 in contact with the cam 71 when the the manipulation of the control lever 7.

The operation of the locking device will now be described in connection with FIGS. 4A and 4B.

When the user wishes to be able to freely turn the hanger 4 around the mast 11, he places the control lever 7 in the unlocked position illustrated in FIG. 4A, in which the control lever 7 is tilted 90 ° with respect to the In this position, the shape of the cam 71 allows the rod 81 to descend through the opening 50 of the shaft so that the disc 80 does not exert any pressure on the shaft. elastic spacer 8 which then has an initial shape in which the outer diameter of the elastic spacer 8 is smaller than the internal diameter of the bearing 6.

In this position of the control lever 7, the shaft 5 can rotate freely in the bearing 6 and the hanger 4 can be manually oriented by the user in the desired position.

When the user wishes to immobilize the hanger 4 in a given position, it is sufficient for him to grasp the control lever 7 and to tilt it by 90 ° towards the locked position illustrated in FIG. 4B in which the control lever 7 is located. aligned with the axis of the rod 81. The tilting of the control lever 7 towards this locked position causes a displacement of the rod 81 upwards, because of the profile of the cam 71 which rests on the washer 43 covering the wall 42, so that the disc 80 compresses the elastic spacer 8 against the lower end of the shaft 5. This compression causes a deformation of the elastic spacer 8, including a swelling of its diameter, which then comes rub against the bearing 6 and block the rotation of the shaft 5. The hanger 4 is then immobilized in position and the user can perform ironing operations without risk of rotation of the hanger 4.

Of course, if the user wishes to rotate the hanger 4 on the mast 11 it is sufficient to bring the control lever 7 in the unlocked position to release the pressure exerted by the elastic spacer 8 on the bearing 6 .

Such a locking device thus has the advantage of being simple and economical to achieve and allows the immobilization of the hanger in any angular position. In addition, such a locking device has the advantage of not breaking when the user forces on the hanger to turn it without having previously positioned the control lever in the unlocked position. Indeed, when such a case occurs, the elastic spacer begins to slide inside the bearing when the torque exerted becomes greater than the friction forces, avoiding any breakage of the locking device.

FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B illustrate a second embodiment of the rotational locking device of the hanger 4 that can equip the apparatus of FIG. 1, the hanger 4 being pivotally mounted on the mast 11 by means of a pivot connection comprising a shaft 106, hollow, disposed at the upper end of the mast 11, the shaft 106 rotating in a bearing 105 formed in a sleeve 151 integral with the hanger 4 and being coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the mast 11.

In this second embodiment, the locking device comprises a braking element constituted by a flange 108 made of a rigid plastic material of polycarbonate type and has a generally frustoconical shape.

The flange 108 is disposed in a liner 160 attached to the inside of the shaft 106 and made integral in rotation with the latter by the insertion of fingers 161 carried by the inner surface of the shaft 106 in slots 162 formed on the shirt 160.

The liner 160 is inserted into the hollow shaft 106 through the top of the latter and has an upper end closed by a frustoconical wall 163 comprising a lower surface having a shape complementary to the frustoconical flange 108.

The flange 108 is fixed to the lower end of a rod 181 passing through an opening 163A formed at the top of the frustoconical wall 163 and is slidably mounted in translation in an opening 152 formed at the upper end of the sleeve 151, the rod 181 having a non-circular cross-section cooperating with the shape of the opening 152 to prevent the rotation of the rod 181 in the opening 152 so that the hanger 4 is integral in rotation with the rod 181. By way of example , the rod 181 and the opening 152 have a rectangular cross section.

As can be seen in Figures 6A and 6B, the rod 181 has an upper end which opens into the cavity 41 formed at the base of the notch 40 of the hanger, the upper end of the rod 181 being connected to a lever control device 107 by a pivot link axis 182 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod 181.

The control lever 107 comprises an upper part forming a gripping zone and a lower part forming a cam 171 which comes into contact with a wall 142 formed in the bottom of the cavity 41, the cam 171 having a shape adapted to cause the translational movement of the rod 181 in the direction of pressurization of the flange 108 against the frustoconical wall 163 of the liner 160 when the control lever 107 switches from the unlocked position shown in FIG. 6A to the locked position illustrated in Figure 6B.

The operation of the locking device according to the second embodiment will now be described in connection with FIGS. 6A and 6B.

When the user wishes to be able to freely turn the hanger 4 around the mast 11, he places the control lever 107 in the unlocked position, illustrated in FIG. 6A, in which the control lever 107 is axially aligned with the rod 181. In this position, the shape of the cam 171 allows the rod 181 to descend through the opening 152 of the sleeve 151 so that the flange 108 occupies an initial position in which the frustoconical wall of the flange 108 does not exert pressing against the frustoconical wall 163 of the liner 160.

In this position of the control lever 107, the sleeve 151 can rotate freely on the shaft 106 and the hanger 4 can be manually oriented by the user in the desired position.

When the user wishes to immobilize the hanger 4 in a given position, it suffices to grasp the control lever 107 and to tilt it by 90 ° to the locked position illustrated in FIG. 6B. The tilting of the control lever 107 towards this locked position causes the rod 181 to move upwards, because of the profile of the cam 171 which rests on the wall 142, so that the flange 108 is pressed against the wall frustoconical 163 of the liner 160. The upper surface of the flange 108 then rubs against the lower surface of the frustoconical wall 163 and block the rotation of the rod 181 relative to the liner 160. Now, the liner 160 being secured in rotation of the shaft 106 by the insertion of the fingers 161 in the slots 162, the locking in rotation of the rod 181 relative to the shaft 106 prevents the rotation of the hanger 4 on the mast 11 which is then immobilized in position . The user can then perform ironing operations without risk of rotation of the hanger 4.

Of course, if the user wishes to be able to rotate the hanger 4 on the mast 11 it is sufficient to bring again the control lever 107 in the unlocked position to release the pressure exerted by the flange 108 on the frustoconical wall 163.

The blocking device according to this second embodiment has the advantage of being simple and economical to produce and to ensure a more powerful locking in rotation than that described in the first embodiment by virtue of the friction of the rigid material flange. against the frustoconical wall of the shirt.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given by way of example. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Thus in another embodiment not shown, the apparatus may comprise, in addition to the hanger, an upper bar provided with clamps, extending between the two longitudinal ends of the hanger, to maintain the garment ironing.

Thus in another embodiment not shown, the hanger may also include an ironing surface, such as a curtain, which can be tensioned vertically between the hanger and a lower bar attached to the mast.

Thus, in an embodiment variant not shown, the control member of the locking device may be constituted by a lever rotatably mounted about the longitudinal axis of the rod, the lever being supported on a wall provided with reliefs forming cams so that the rotation of the lever about the longitudinal axis of the rod causes the displacement in translation of the lever along said longitudinal axis.

Claims (10)

1) steam ironing apparatus comprising a base (1) containing a device for producing a steam flow connected by a conduit (2) to a steaming accessory (3) comprising at least one hole for the vapor emission, said base (1) comprising a hanger (4) on which the garment to be straightened can be arranged during use of the steaming accessory (3), the hanger (4) being pivotally mounted on the base around an axis by means of a pivot connection and being able to be immobilized in rotation by means of a locking device, characterized in that the locking device comprises a control member (7, 107) which can be moved manually by the user of an unlocked position, allowing free rotation of the hanger (4), to a locked position in which the hanger (4) is immobilized in rotation, and in that the displacement of the control member (7; 107) from the unblocked position to the blo position it causes the displacement and / or deformation of a braking element (8; 108) from an initial position allowing free rotation of the pivot connection, to a braked position in which the braking element (8; 108) is held under pressure against an element (6, 163) to prevent rotation of the hanger (4). 2) An ironing appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the braking element (8; 108) is integral in translation with a rod (81; 181) and in that the control member is constituted by a control lever (7; 107) pivotally mounted at one end of said rod (81; 181), the control lever (7; 107) having a camming portion (71; 171) causing translation of the rod (81; 181) during pivoting of the control lever (7; 107). 3) An ironing appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that the control lever (7; 107) pivots on the order of an angle between 45 ° and 90 ° to move from the unlocked position to the locked position and in that the control lever (7; 107) is advantageously arranged substantially perpendicular to the rod (81; 181) when it occupies one of the locked or unlocked positions and is arranged in alignment with the rod (81; 181) when he occupies the other position. 4) Ironing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the braking element (8) is an elastically deformable element passing from an initial form to a modified form under the force exerted by a piece (80) integral with the rod (81) when the control lever (7) moves from the unlocked position to the locked position. 5) An ironing appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that the pivot connection allowing the rotation of the hanger (4) on the base (1) comprises a shaft (5) rotatably mounted in a bearing (6) and in that the braking member (8) is compressed between a disc (80) and an end of the shaft (5) when the control lever (7) is in the locked position. 6) An ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the braking element (108) is constituted by a rigid flange, preferably of frustoconical shape. 7) Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the pivot connection allowing the rotation of the hanger (4) on the base (1) comprises a shaft (106), hollow, rotatably mounted in a bearing (105) and in that the flange (108) is disposed in a liner (160) attached to one end of the shaft (106). 8) Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the control member (7; 107) is disposed in a cavity (41) of the hanger, the cavity (41) advantageously opening on two opposite sides hanger (4). 9) Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the base (1) comprises a vertical mast (11), preferably telescopic, which carries the hanger (4). 10) Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the accessory (3) is a steam brush (3) or an iron.