GB2499517A

GB2499517A - Iron rest for locating iron at an angle to an ironing board

Info

Publication number: GB2499517A
Application number: GB1302514.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Howard; Dan Trowsdale
Original assignee: Vale Mill Rochdale Ltd
Current assignee: Vale Mill Rochdale Ltd
Priority date: 2012-02-13
Filing date: 2013-02-13
Publication date: 2013-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 2033-02-13
Also published as: GB201302514D0; GB201202444D0; GB2499517B

Abstract

The iron rest 100 is for use with an ironing board 200 and for supporting an iron 300. The rest includes an engagement means 120a, 120b (Figure 1) adapted to releaseably engage with the iron and thereby limit movement of the iron. The engagement means is arranged so that, when the rest is attached to the ironing board and the iron is engaged with the rest, an axis 310 of the iron is disposed at an angle to an axis 210 of the ironing board. The axis 310 of the iron is not substantially perpendicular to the axis 210 of the ironing board. The axis 310 of the iron is fixed relative to the axis 210 of the ironing board. The rest may include releasable means (110, Figure 1) for attachment to the ironing board.

Description

1

An iron rest

The present invention relates to a rest for an ironing board. In particular, it relates to an ergonomically designed ironing board rest.

Ironing boards are well known. Ironing boards typically comprise an elongate board tapered 5 at one end and they provide a substantially flat surface upon which garments can be arranged whilst an iron is applied to the garments. Whilst using the ironing board, a user generally stands in an ironing position that is adjacent to one of the long edges of the board facing the board.

Irons for this purpose comprise a heated sole plate or the like and a handle which is thermally isolated therefrom. The plate is also elongate and tapered at one end. In use, the plate can 10 reach significant temperatures and therefore irons must be handled with care since accidental contact with the plate may cause damage or injury. Whilst irons are typically formed so that they can be placed upright on a flat surface with the heated plate arranged so as to not make contact with the surface, in such a configuration they are rather unstable and can easily be knocked over.

Therefore, ironing boards are often provided with a rest upon which a user can temporarily 15 rest an iron in a relatively stable and safe position. Various forms of rests are known in the art and they may comprise a plate with a recess suitable for accepting part of the iron and/or wire" structures for engaging with the iron.

Such rests are disposed at the end of the ironing board that is not tapered and whist disposed on the rest the iron generally points in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the 20 long dimension of the board. However, these prior art rests are not well adapted for use from the ironing position. As such, rests as known in the art are inefficient and can be uncomfortable to use, particularly if the user regularly needs to place the iron on the rest or take it off again.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to at least partially address the above problems.

2

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an iron rest for use with an ironing board and for supporting an iron comprising: an engagement means adapted to releaseably engage with an iron and thereby limit movement of said iron characterised in that the engagement means is arranged so that, when the rest is attached to an ironing board and an iron is 5 engaged with the rest, an axis of the iron is disposed at an angle to an axis of the ironing board so that the axis of the iron is not substantially perpendicular to the axis of the ironing board and wherein the axis of the iron is fixed relative to the axis of the ironing board.

Advantageously, when attached to an ironing board, such a rest allows a user to easily place an iron down, or pick it up, from a conventional ironing position by engaging and disengaging said 10 iron with the engagement means.

The iron rest may comprise an attachment means to facilitate attachment of the rest to an ironing board. The engagement means may comprise a structure to limit lateral movement of an iron engaged therewith. Said structure may comprise one or more sides. Preferably, the structure comprises two substantially parallel sides. An iron may be placed between, and constrained by, the 15 two sides. Preferably, the sides are arranged relative to the attachment means so as to constrain an iron engaged with the rest to lie at an angle to the axis of the ironing board so that the axis of the iron is not substantially perpendicular to the axis of the ironing board.

The engagement means may comprise an element arranged to ensure that an Iron engaged therewith is held at least partially upright. The element may be arranged to ensure that an iron 20 engaged with the iron rest is inclined.

The engagement means may comprise a generally rectangular aperture in the iron rest. The generally rectangular aperture may extend straight through the iron rest. Alternatively, the generally rectangular aperture may define the opening of an enclosed recess. For such embodiments, when an iron is engaged with the engagement means at least a part of said iron is housed in the enclosed

3

recess. The two parallel sides may be two opposite sides of the aperture. The corners or edges of said aperture may be rounded if desired. Preferably, the aperture Is of suitable dimensions to allow part of the iron to extend therethrough with the iron inclined at an angle to the iron rest. Therefore an iron can be disposed so that part of the iron extends below the iron rest and part of the iron 5 extends above the iron rest. The engagement means may further comprise an angled face disposed on an edge of the generally rectangular aperture. When an iron is engaged with the engagement means, at least part of the iron may make contact with a surface of the angled plate. The angled plate can therefore ensure that the iron is inclined at a suitable angle when engaged with the iron rest. The angled plate may comprise a heat resistant material. Preferably, at least the surface of the 10 angled plate that contacts an iron that is engaged with the engagement means comprises a heat resistant material. The angled plate may comprise a metal plate and a heat resistant element. The heat resistant element may be attached to the metal plate in any suitable way. For example, it may be adhered to a surface of the metal plate. Alternatively, it may be of the form of a grommet which engages with an aperture in the metal plate.

15 The rest may be ergonomically designed. This may be achieved by arranging the engagement means so that when a user stands in a conventional ironing position, adjacent to a long edge of the ironing board and within reach of the rest, the direction of the axis of the iron whist engaged substantially coincides with the direction of the arm of the user when reaching for the iron. Advantageously, such an ergonomic design further increases the ease and efficiency with which a 20 user can place an iron down on, or pick it up from, the iron rest whilst standing in a conventional ironing position.

When the rest is attached to an ironing board and an iron is engaged with the rest the angle between the axis of the iron and the axis of the ironing board may be in the range of approximately 40 degrees to approximately 80 degrees. The angle may be around 70 degrees.

4

The iron rest may be formed from any suitable material. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, steel, aluminium, plastics materials and composite materials.

The iron rest may comprise a substantially flat body.

The rest may comprise additional engagement means. In a preferred embodiment the rest 5 comprises two engagement means. Advantageously, this may allow the rest to be used with a user disposed on either side of the ironing board. The two engagement means may be arranged to allow the axis of the iron to be angled to the axis of the ironing board in opposite directions. Advantageously, this allows the rest to be used by either left or right handed users. Right handed users may position themselves on one side of the ironing board and left handed users may position

10 themselves on the other. Preferably, the two engagement means are arranged so that when an iron is engaged with either engagement means the magnitude of the angle between the axis of the iron and the axis of the ironing board is substantially the same. Preferably, the two engagement means are arranged symmetrically about the axis of the ironing board. The one or more engagement means may be displaced from the axis of the ironing board so that they are not centred thereon.

15 The attachment means may facilitate releasable attachment between the iron rest and the ironing board. This may allow the iron rest to be retrofit to existing ironing boards. Alternatively, the attachment means may be achieved by the iron rest being formed integrally with the ironing board.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an ironing board comprising an iron rest according to the first aspect of the present invention.

20 The ironing board according to the second aspect of the present invention may comprise any or all of the features of the iron rest according to the first aspect of the present invention as desired and/or required.

5

In order that the invention can be more clearly understood embodiments thereof are now described further below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of iron rest according to the present invention;

5 Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the iron rest of Fig. 1 engaged with an iron;

Fig. 3 shows a side view of the iron rest of Fig. 1 engaged with an iron;

Figs. 4& 5 show two different side views of an ironing board and iron rest according to the present invention engaged with an iron; and

Fig. 6 shows a plan view of an ironing board and iron rest according to the present

10 invention engaged with an iron and illustrates the use thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1-3, an iron rest 100 according to the present invention comprises: an attachment means 110 to facilitate attachment of the rest to an ironing board 200; and two engagement means 121, 122 adapted to releaseably engage with an iron 300 and thereby limit movement of said iron.

15 The attachment means 110 and engagement means 120a, 120b are arranged so that when the rest 100 is attached to an ironing board 200 and an iron 300 is engaged with the rest 100 an axis of the iron 310 is disposed at an angle a to an axis of the ironing board 210. That is, the axis of the iron 310 is not substantially perpendicular to the axis of the ironing board 210 and is fixed relative to the axis of the ironing board 210. In this embodiment, the angle a is approximately 70 degrees. It is 20 thought, though, that other suitable angles in the range of approximately 40 degrees to approximately 80 degrees may be used.

Advantageously, when attached to an ironing board 200, such a rest 100 allows a user to easily place an iron 300 down, or pick it up, from a conventional ironing position by engaging and disengaging said iron 300 with the engagement means 120a, 120b.

The attachment means 110 may facilitate releasable attachment between the iron rest 100 and the ironing board 200. Alternatively, the attachment means 110 may achieved by the iron rest 100 being formed integrally with the ironing board 200.

The iron rest 100 comprises a substantially flat body 130.

Each of the two engagement means 120a, 120b comprises generally rectangular aperture 121a, 121b in the iron rest 100. The comers of said apertures 121a, 121b are rounded. It is the orientation of the generally rectangular apertures 121a, 121b which dictates the orientation of an iron 300 engaged with the rest 100.

As can be seen in Fig. 3, the apertures 121a, 121b are of suitable dimensions to allow part of an iron 300 to extend therethrough with the iron 300 inclined at an angle P to the substantially flat body 130. Therefore an iron 300 can be disposed so that part of the iron 320 extends below the iron rest 100 and part of the iron 330 extends above the Iron rest 100.

The engagement means 120a, 120b each further comprise an angled face 122a, 122b disposed on an edge of its generally rectangular aperture 121a, 121b. Each angled face 122a, 122b is provided with a heat resistant grommet 123a, 123b which engages therewith. The heat resistant grommet 123a, 123b may be formed from rubber or any other suitable heat resistant material. When an iron 300 is engaged with the engagement means 120a, 120b, at least part of the iron 300 makes contact with the rubber grommet 123a, 123b of its angled plate 122a, 122b. The angled plates 122a, 122b therefore ensure that the iron 300 is inclined at a suitable angle (3 when engaged with the iron rest 100.

The fact that the rest 100 comprises two engagement means 120a, 120b is particularly advantageous because it allows the rest 100 to be used with a user disposed on either side of the ironing board 200. The two engagement means 120a, 120b are arranged so that when an iron 300 is engaged with either engagement means 120a, 120b the magnitude of the angle a between the axis 5 of the iron 310 and the axis of the ironing board 210 is substantially the same but in each case the axis of the iron 310 is angled to the axis of the ironing board 210 in opposite directions. Advantageously, this allows the rest 100 to be used by either left or right handed users. Right handed users may position themselves on one side of the ironing board and left handed users may position themselves on the other.

10 Figs. 4 & 5 show two different side views of an ironing board 200 and iron rest 100 according to the present invention engaged with an iron 300. The ironing board comprises a conventional frame 220. In both cases the iron 300 is engaged with the same engagement means 120b as in Fig. 2. This arrangement is suitable for use by a left handed user (not shown) who would stand behind the ironing board facing out of the page in Fig.4 or in front of the ironing board facing into the page in 15 Fig. 5.

The rest 100 is ergonomically designed as will now be further described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows a plan view of an ironing board 200 and iron rest 100 according to the present invention engaged with an iron 300. The iron 300 is engaged with engagement means 120a and is suitable for use by a right handed user 400. In use, the user 400 stands adjacent to the one of the 20 two long edges 231, 232 of the ironing board 200 in a conventional ironing position within reach of the iron rest 100. The engagement means 120a is arranged so that when the iron 300 is engaged with engagement means 120a and the user 400 is in this position the direction of the axis of the iron 310 substantially coincides with the direction of the arm 410 of the user 400 when reaching for the iron 300.

As will be obvious to the skilled man, the ironing board 200 and iron rest 100 may be used by a left handed user (not shown). In this case, the user would stand diametrically opposite to user 400 in Fig. 6, on the opposite side of the ironing board 200, and adjacent to edge 232. Furthermore, the user would engage and disengage the iron 300 with engagement means 120b.

This ergonomic design is particularly advantageous because it allows a user 400 to easily place an iron 300 down, or pick it up, from a conventional ironing position by engaging and disengaging said iron 300 with the engagement means 120a, 120b.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which have been described by way of example only.

For example, as will be obvious to one skilled in the art, other types of engagement means may be used whilst remaining within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

An iron rest for use with an ironing board and for supporting an iron comprising: an engagement means adapted to releaseably engage with an iron and thereby limit movement of said iron characterised in that the engagement means is arranged so that, when the rest is attached to an ironing board and an iron is engaged with the rest, an axis of the iron is disposed at an angle to an axis of the ironing board so that the axis of the iron is not substantially perpendicular to the axis of the ironing board and wherein the axis of the iron is fixed relative to the axis of the ironing board.

An iron rest as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an attachment means to facilitate attachment of the rest to an ironing board.

An iron rest as claimed in claim 2 wherein the attachment means facilitates releasable attachment between the iron rest and an ironing board.

An iron rest as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the engagement means comprises a structure to limit lateral movement of an iron engaged therewith.

An iron rest as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said structure comprises two substantially parallel sides between which an iron may be placed and constrained laterally. An iron rest as claimed in claim 5 when dependent directly or indirectly on claim 2 wherein the sides are arranged relative to the attachment means so as to constrain an iron engaged with the rest to lie at an angle to the axis of the ironing board so that the axis of the iron is not substantially perpendicular to the axis of the ironing board.

An iron rest as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the engagement means comprises a generally rectangular aperture in the iron rest of suitable dimensions to allow part of the iron to extend therethrough.

An iron rest as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 when dependent directly or indirectly upon claim 5 wherein the two parallel sides may be two opposite sides of the aperture.

9. An iron rest as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the engagement means comprises an element arranged to ensure that an iron engaged therewith is held at least partially upright.

10. An iron rest as claimed in claim 9 wherein the element is arranged to ensure that an iron engaged with the iron rest is inclined.

11. An iron rest as claimed in claim 10 when dependent directly or indirectly upon claim 7 wherein the element comprises an angled face disposed on an edge of the generally rectangular aperture,

12. An iron rest as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the engagement means is arranged so that when a user stands in a conventional ironing position, adjacent to a long edge of the ironing board and within reach of the rest, the direction of the axis of the iron whist engaged substantially coincides with the direction of the arm of the user when reaching for the iron.

13. An iron rest as claimed in any preceding claim wherein, when the rest is attached to an ironing board and an iron is engaged with the rest, the angle between the axis of the iron and the axis of the ironing board is in the range approximately 40 degrees to approximately 80 degrees.

14. An iron rest as claimed in claim 13 wherein, when the rest is attached to an ironing board and an iron is engaged with the rest, the angle between the axis of the iron and the axis of the ironing board is approximately 70 degrees.

15. An iron rest as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising additional engagement means.

16. An iron rest as claimed in claim 15 wherein the iron rest comprises two engagement means.

17. An iron rest as claimed in claim 16 wherein the two engagement means are arranged so as to allow the axis of an iron to be angled to the axis of the ironing board in opposite directions.

18. An iron rest as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the two engagement means are arranged so that when an iron is engaged with either engagement means the magnitude of

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the angle between the axis of the iron and the axis of the ironing board is substantially the same.

19. An Iron rest as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein the two engagement means are arranged symmetrically about the axis of the ironing board.

20. An Iron rest as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the engagement means are displaced from the axis of the ironing board.

21. An iron rest as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the iron rest being formed integrally with an ironing board.

22. An iron rest as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. An ironing board comprising an iron rest as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22.

24. An ironing board comprising an iron rest as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.