GB2468843A

GB2468843A - Compact foldable ironing board

Info

Publication number: GB2468843A
Application number: GB0904840A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tom Hirst; Dan Trowsdale
Original assignee: Vale Mill Rochdale Ltd
Current assignee: Vale Mill Rochdale Ltd
Priority date: 2009-03-20
Filing date: 2009-03-20
Publication date: 2010-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-20
Also published as: GB0904840D0; GB2468843B

Abstract

A compact foldable ironing board comprises a board part 10 that is pivotally attached to a mounting member, for mounting on a support structure (24, Fig 2), and an extensible or foldable strut 25 that is mounted to a dependent part 22 of the mounting member, and to the underside 15 of the board part 10. The ironing board may comprise a dependent peripheral frame 11, within which the strut 25 may be accommodated when stowed. The board part 10 may be formed of metal mesh support within a steel frame, which provides the peripheral frame 11. The mounting member may be T-shaped, and the strut 25 may be a two-section telescopic part with a releasable latching member 30.

Description

I

COMPACT FOLDABLE IRONING BOARD

This invention relates to a compact foldable ironing board.

Foldable ironing boards of many types are well known, and range from free-standing boards, with collapsible legs which can be folded against the underside of the board, to boards intended to fold up, or down, from a hinge attached to a support wall, to be flat against the wall. These latter may be folded down or up to be stored within a cupboard or cabinet, or lie flush within a recess, or simply occupy as little space as possible folded.

These constructions require some form of collapsible support which can be stowed completely when the ironing board is stowed, yet provide a firm support capable of resisting pressure exerted through a flattening iron when the board is erected, and in use.

Various expedients have been tried, including foldable hinged legs or struts which use a displaceable sleeve to prevent unwanted bending at the hinge.

Telescopically extendable struts, and suspension cords attached from above to the outer end of the board, may be used.

Telescopically extensible struts commonly are mounted with a lower end secured to the wall or other support, and an upper end attached to the underside of the board, as in US 2005/0204592 (Obileye), which otherwise shows a board which is foldable down, into a cabinet. Typically, as in Obileye, (above cited), the telescopic strut occupies a considerable amount of space between the ironing board, and the wall.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact foldable ironing board wherein all the struts and any other components required can be stowed within the body of the ironing board, so that the ironing board can occupy minimal space when folded out of use.

The invention provides a foldable ironing board which comprises a board part providing an ironing surface, and an underside, a free end and an attachment end, the board part being pivotally attached at the attachment end to a mounting member for mounting on a support structure and having a dependent part extending below the level of the board part and an extensible or foldable strut which is mounted at one of its ends on the dependent part, and at its other end to the underside of the board part.

Advantageously, an ironing board according to the present invention can be folded into a stowed configuration in which the mounting member and strut are v" adjacent the underside of the board part.

The board part may have a dependent peripheral frame, within which the strut is accommodated when stowed.

r Thus, in the stowed configuration the width of the ironing board may be limited to the width of the board. This gives rise to a compact, foldable ironing board requiring less storage space than conventional foldable ironing boards and which is more aesthetically pleasing than conventional ironing boards. Further, an ironing board according to the invention enables a large number of units to be stored within a given volume and transported by, for instance, a lorry for distribution purposes.

The board part may be formed of a metal, e.g. steel, mesh support, within a steel frame which provides the peripheral frame, the mesh support being covered by an interchangeable fabric ironing board cover.

The frame preferably encloses reinforcing members which form part of the structure of the board part, and include a transverse member near the free end of the board part which provides a mounting for the free end of the strut.

The mounting member may for example comprise a T-shaped steel plate, the crossbar of which forms a plate to which the board part is connected, and the upright of which forms the dependent part, an end of the strut being mounted near the end of the upright.

The attachment end of the board part preferably has a cylindrical bearing mounted therein, the ends of which are engaged by end lugs mounted on the crossbar part of the mounting member, so that the board part and mounting member are r relatively rotatable.

The strut member preferably comprises a two-section telescopic part, the ends r of which are rotatably mounted between brackets on the mounting member and board r part respectively.

The strut member preferably includes a latching member which acts to maintain the strut in the extended state, the latching member preferably being releasable by means of presser members which can be released against a spring bias to disengage latching studs to permit retraction of the strut.

Means may be provided for mounting one or more garment hangers below the board member.

A preferred embodiment of the compact foldable ironing board according to the invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a compact foldable ironing board according to the invention erected, with the strut extended and the board part extending horizontally; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the ironing board of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view of the underside of the ironing board of Figs. 1 and 2, when folded; Fig. 4 is a view from above of the folded ironing board of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a detailed view of a releasable latch mechanism for the strut.

As shown in the drawings, a compact foldable ironing board comprises an ironing board portion 10 which provides an upper ironing surface. This is covered by a replaceable ironing board cover of an appropriate textile fabric. The ironing board portion 10 comprises a peripheral frame 11 of robust metal, such as strut, and a support structure 12 below the textile cover of a steel mesh. The structure further includes a pair of parallel longitudinally extending support members 13,14 and a transverse member 15.

The board 10 is of generally tapered shape, with a narrower free end, and a wider end 16 which is connected to the outer cylindrical part 17 of a bearing 18, the (hidden) inner rod part of which extends between the brackets 19, 20 of the crossbar 21 of a Lshaped mounting member, the upright 22 of which forms a part which depends below the level of the erect ironing board. This mounting member is securable by screws through apertures 23, to a support surface 24 (Fig. 2) such as a wall, partition or the like.

A telescopically extensible strut 25 is mounted below the board part 10, with one end mounted at the transverse member 15, and the other to the lower end of the upright 22 of the T-shaped mounting member. The said one end is pivotally mounted between brackets 26 to the transverse member 15, and the said other end is pivotally mounted to the upright 22 between brackets 27.

The strut 25 comprises a first outer cylinder 28 of longer diameter, mounted to the brackets 27, and a second inner cylinder 29 of lesser diameter, mounted to the brackets 26. The inner cylinder 29 is slidable to be extensible out of and retractable into the outer cylinder 28.

A device 30 for latching the sections 28,29 so as to prevent unwanted retraction of the strut 25 from the erect position is provided at the end of the cylinder 28, and is shown in detail in Fig. 5. The ends of the sections 28,29 are provided with r respective apertures 31,32 and a U-shaped spring member 35 is carried within the end of the inner cylinder 29, and carries latch pins 33, 34 which enter the apertures 31, 32 r when they are aligned by registration of the apertures 31 with the apertures 32 due to r outward force of the spring 35. An outer sleeve member 36 is mounted on the end of the part 28 and has a pair of outwardly spring biased plungers 37,38 which are aligned with the apertures 31 in the extended position of the strut 25. The plungers 37,38 may be pushed into the apertures 31 against light spring pressure by finger pressure to push the latch pins 33, 34 inwardly to disengage from the apertures 31 and thus allow the member 29 to be pushed into the cylinder 28, to retract the strut and fold the ironing board.

This folding is in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 2, to position the board part 10 extending downwards from the hinge 18 to lie against the support surface 24, with the strut disposed within the space allowed by the frame member 11.

In addition to the folding mechanism described, the ironing board may be provided with one or more garment hangers 39, in the form of a shaped wire bracket, with ends received in apertures in the longitudinal members I 4 15.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which is described by way of

example only. r

LU r r

Claims

CLAIMS1. A foldable ironing board comprising a board part providing an ironing surface, and an underside, a free end and an attachment end, the board part being 5. pivotally attached at the attachment end to a mounting member for mounting on a support structure which has a dependent part extending below the level of the board part, the ironing board further comprising an extensible or foldable strut whicb is mounted at one of its ends on the dependent part, and at its other end to the underside of the board part.
2. A foldable ironing board as claimed in claim I further comprising a dependent 0 peripheral frame, within which the strut is accommodated when stowed.

CD
3. A foldable ironing board as claimed in claim 2, wherein the board part is O formed of a metal mesh support within a steel frame which provides the c'J peripheral frame.
4. A foldable ironing board as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mesh support is covered by an interchangeable fabric ironing board cover.
5. A foldable ironing board as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the frame encloses reinforcing members which form part of the structure of the board part, and include a transverse member near the free end of the board part which provides a mounting for the free end of the strut.
6. A foldable ironing board as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mounting member comprises a T-shaped steel plate, the crossbar of which forms a plate to which the board part is connected, and the upright of which forms the dependent part, an end of the strut being mounted near the end of the upright.
7. A foldable ironing board as claimed in claim 6, wherein the attachment end of the board part has a cylindrical bearing mounted therein, the ends of which are engaged by end lugs mounted on the crossbar part of the mounting member, so that the board part and mounting member are relatively rotatable.
8. A foldable ironing board as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the strut member comprises a two-section telescopic part, the ends of which are rotatably mounted between brackets on the mounting member and board part respectively.

0
9. A foldable ironing board as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the strut member includes a latching member which acts to maintain the strut in an extended state, the latching member preferably being releasable by means of c'J presser members which can be released against a spring bias to disengage latching studs to permit retraction of the strut.
10. A foldable ironing board as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising means for mounting one or more garment hangers below the board member.
11. A foldable ironing board as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.