GB2077771A

GB2077771A - A gas iron

Info

Publication number: GB2077771A
Application number: GB8010807A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-03-31
Filing date: 1980-03-31
Publication date: 1981-12-23
Also published as: GB2077771B

Abstract

A gas iron having a thin metal base plate 2 and a metal upper portion 6, the gas iron being gas-operated. Gas is supplied through rubber pipes 4 encased in a flexible metal sheath and burnt by jets 8 which may be ignited by insertion of a match through an aperture 10. Alternatively, a battery- operated piezoelectric sparking device may effect ignition. Gas may be supplied from a container which moves with the iron during use. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A gas iron This invention relates to a gas iron. The gas iron is especially useful for persons on holiday such for example as persons camping or travelling on ships. The gas iron can however also be used in the home.

Electrically operated irons are well known but it sometimes occurs that an electrical supply is not available. For example persons camping or on board small ships may not have a readily available electric supply. In these circumstances, the persons may be unable to iron their clothes.

It is the aim of the present invention to overcome this difficulty.

Accordingly, this invention provides a gas iron.

The gas iron may comprise a metal base plate for engaging clothes to be ironed, and an upper portion for housing gas jets.

The gas iron may include an ON/OFF tap.

The gas iron may include a recessed portion for receiving means such as a match for igniting the gas in the gas iron. Alternatively, if desired, the gas iron may include a battery operated sparking device for igniting the gas on actuation of a switch, for example by depressing a button. The battery operated sparking device may employ a piezoelectric material or other means such as is presently employed in hand held igniters for igniting gas cookers in homes.

The gas iron may include flexible conduit means for enabling a supply of gas to reach the gas iron. The flexible conduit means may be made of rubber or a plastics material. Usually, the rubber or the plastics material will be encased in a protective flexible metal sheath.

The gas iron may include or be in combination with a gas container. The gas container may be in the form of a cylinder containing pressurised gas.

If the gas container is large and/or relatively heavy, then it is envisaged that the gas container will stand separately from the iron and gas will be supplied to the iron from the gas container by the flexible conduit means. In this instance only the iron will have to be lifted and moved and the relatively heavy gas container will not be lifted and moved during the ironing process.

Small gas cylinders are presently available for connecting directly to camping stoves. It is therefore envisaged that similar gas containers may be connected directly to the gas iron of the present invention and then the flexible conduit means may not be needed. In any event, if small gas containers are connected directly to the gas iron, then the gas containers will be moved with the iron as the process of ironing occurs. The gas containers may be shaped to have a handle portion which can be held in the hand as the ironing is being effected. If the gas containers are to be connected directly to the gas iron, then they should be corrected in a position as far away as possible from the burning gas and the hot base of the iron.

The iron and/or the conduit means may be provided with various types of connectors for connecting to the gas container. Devices may be employed such as those presently being employed in camping for connecting gas supplies to camping cookers and small camping stoves. Where large gas containers are to be used and are to stand on the floor, then the connecting means may be a form of screw connection. Where a small gas cylinder is to be connected directly to the gas iron, then the gas iron may be provided with a needle or other cutter device which can penetrate into the container and which automatically seals as it penetrates into the container.

When the gas iron employs the flexible conduit means, then these conduit means can be connected in the home to an appropriate supply of gas if desired.

Various types of gas may be employed. Thus, for example, the gas may be butane or North Sea gas.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a base plate for a gas iron; and Figure 2 shows an upper portion of the gas iron.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a thin metal base plate 2 for the gas iron. The base plate 2 will receive burning gas on one side and its othe side will engage clothes to be ironed. The gas will be supplied from a container (not shown) along a pair of rubber pipes 4 which are encased in a flexible metal protective sheath. The gas from the pipes 4 will be admitted to a metal upper portion E of the gas iron and this upper portion 6 will house a plurality of jets 8 for enabling the gas to be burnt. An aperture 10 is provided for receiving a match to enable the gas coming out of the jets 8 to be ignited. An ON/OFF tap 12 is employed for turning the gas supply to the gas iron ON and OFF.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus for example, the shape of the base plate 2 and the shape of the upper portion 6 of the gas iron may be altered. Also, only one pipe 4 may be employed. A handle that is higher than in known irons can be provided to any desired height.

1. A gas iron.

2. A gas iron according to claim 1 and comprising a metal base plate for engaging clothes to be ironed, and an upper portion for housing gas jets.

3. A gas iron according to claim 1 or claim 2 including an ON/OFF tap.

4. A gas iron according to any one of the preceding claims and including a recessed portion for receiving means for igniting the gas in the gas iron.

5. A gas iron according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and including a battery operated sparking device for igniting the gas on actuation of a switch.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A gas iron This invention relates to a gas iron. The gas iron is especially useful for persons on holiday such for example as persons camping or travelling on ships. The gas iron can however also be used in the home. Electrically operated irons are well known but it sometimes occurs that an electrical supply is not available. For example persons camping or on board small ships may not have a readily available electric supply. In these circumstances, the persons may be unable to iron their clothes. It is the aim of the present invention to overcome this difficulty. Accordingly, this invention provides a gas iron. The gas iron may comprise a metal base plate for engaging clothes to be ironed, and an upper portion for housing gas jets. The gas iron may include an ON/OFF tap. The gas iron may include a recessed portion for receiving means such as a match for igniting the gas in the gas iron. Alternatively, if desired, the gas iron may include a battery operated sparking device for igniting the gas on actuation of a switch, for example by depressing a button. The battery operated sparking device may employ a piezoelectric material or other means such as is presently employed in hand held igniters for igniting gas cookers in homes. The gas iron may include flexible conduit means for enabling a supply of gas to reach the gas iron. The flexible conduit means may be made of rubber or a plastics material. Usually, the rubber or the plastics material will be encased in a protective flexible metal sheath. The gas iron may include or be in combination with a gas container. The gas container may be in the form of a cylinder containing pressurised gas. If the gas container is large and/or relatively heavy, then it is envisaged that the gas container will stand separately from the iron and gas will be supplied to the iron from the gas container by the flexible conduit means. In this instance only the iron will have to be lifted and moved and the relatively heavy gas container will not be lifted and moved during the ironing process. Small gas cylinders are presently available for connecting directly to camping stoves. It is therefore envisaged that similar gas containers may be connected directly to the gas iron of the present invention and then the flexible conduit means may not be needed. In any event, if small gas containers are connected directly to the gas iron, then the gas containers will be moved with the iron as the process of ironing occurs. The gas containers may be shaped to have a handle portion which can be held in the hand as the ironing is being effected. If the gas containers are to be connected directly to the gas iron, then they should be corrected in a position as far away as possible from the burning gas and the hot base of the iron. The iron and/or the conduit means may be provided with various types of connectors for connecting to the gas container. Devices may be employed such as those presently being employed in camping for connecting gas supplies to camping cookers and small camping stoves. Where large gas containers are to be used and are to stand on the floor, then the connecting means may be a form of screw connection. Where a small gas cylinder is to be connected directly to the gas iron, then the gas iron may be provided with a needle or other cutter device which can penetrate into the container and which automatically seals as it penetrates into the container. When the gas iron employs the flexible conduit means, then these conduit means can be connected in the home to an appropriate supply of gas if desired. Various types of gas may be employed. Thus, for example, the gas may be butane or North Sea gas. An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a base plate for a gas iron; and Figure 2 shows an upper portion of the gas iron. Referring to the drawings, there is shown a thin metal base plate 2 for the gas iron. The base plate 2 will receive burning gas on one side and its othe side will engage clothes to be ironed. The gas will be supplied from a container (not shown) along a pair of rubber pipes 4 which are encased in a flexible metal protective sheath. The gas from the pipes 4 will be admitted to a metal upper portion E of the gas iron and this upper portion 6 will house a plurality of jets 8 for enabling the gas to be burnt. An aperture 10 is provided for receiving a match to enable the gas coming out of the jets 8 to be ignited. An ON/OFF tap 12 is employed for turning the gas supply to the gas iron ON and OFF. It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus for example, the shape of the base plate 2 and the shape of the upper portion 6 of the gas iron may be altered. Also, only one pipe 4 may be employed. A handle that is higher than in known irons can be provided to any desired height. CLAIMS

1. A gas iron.

3. A gas iron according to claim 1 or claim 2 including an ON/OFF tap.

6. A gas iron according to claim 5 in which the battery operated sparking device includes a piezoelectric material.

7. A gas iron according to any one of the preceding claims and including flexible conduit means for enabling a supply of gas to reach the gas iron.

8. A gas iron according to claim 7 in which the flexible conduit means is made of rubber or a plastics material.

9. A gas iron according to claim 7 in which the rubber or the plastics material is encased in a protective flexible metal sheath.

10. A gas iron according to any one of the preceding claims and including a gas container.

1 A gas iron according to claim 10 in which the gas container is in the form of a cylinder containing pressurised gas.

12. A gas iron according to claim 10 or claim 11 in which the gas container is so connected to the gas iron that it moves with the gas iron during use of the gas iron.

13. A gas iron according to any one of the preceding claims and having an aluminium base plate and/or an aluminium upper portion.

14. A gas iron substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.