GB2512684A

GB2512684A - An ironing assistant pad

Info

Publication number: GB2512684A
Application number: GB1318756.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernadette Mulligan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-10-23
Filing date: 2013-10-23
Publication date: 2014-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 2033-10-23
Also published as: GB2512684B; HK1226110A1; GB201318756D0; EP3060715A1; WO2015059441A1

Abstract

The ironing assistance pad (1, Figure 1) is formed from a central layer 2 having two parallel opposed planar faces and a resiliently deformable body. First and second outer cotton sheet layers 3, 4 are formed to allow the penetration of steam and heat from an iron. Each sheet layer is sized and shaped to cover a face of the central layer. The pad can be placed inside clothes or other items to be ironed to hold them in shape while they are ironed, or placed between an iron and clothes to help shield the clothes from excess heat or steam produced by the iron. Steam and heat may still freely penetrate through the pad to allow clothes to be ironed to the required finish and help to prevent telltale pressed seam lines. The two sheet layers may be connected to one another around their perimeter edges by stitching 5. The two sheet layers may also be metalized and perforated. The pad may be sized to fit within a shirt or trouser pocket or a hip section of trousers.

Description

AN IRONING ASSISTANCE PAD

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an ironing assistance pad for use with an iron to assist with ironing, in particular for assisting with ironing multiple layer items.

Background

Ironing, especially in a domestic context, involves sweeping the hot metal plate of a hand iron across fabric such as clothing, bed linen or similar to remove creases. The ironing process can leave creases and telltale pressed seam lines on clothing and it can be very difficult if not impossible to get a smooth, crease-free and line-free finish when ironing by hand.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: US2009/0000164 describes and shows an ironing cloth includes a fabric sleeve having a top layer, an intermediate layer and an attachment layer. The top layer and the intermediate layer are attached to form an upper portion of the sleeve. The attachment layer is attached to the upper portion of the sleeve on a side of the intermediate layer such that an opening for receiving a lid of a top loading washing machine is formed therebetween.

US81 12917 describes and shows an ironing aid for assisting in ironing of clothing including at least pants and shirts by extending inside of a sleeve or pant leg. The ironing aid includes an elongated handle extending along a longitudinal handle axis and including proximal and distal ends with the proximal end for grasping by a user for insertion into a sleeve or pant leg; a support block having one and other ends with the handle mounted at the one end thereof; a pair of arms each having respective proximal and distal ends with the distal ends thereof for contact inside of the pant leg or sleeve to provide a pressing action by an iron as the ironing aid is moved inside the clothing in advance of the iron, said pair of arms capable of transitioning between open and more closed positions; a pivot for respectively supporting the pair of arms on either side of the longitudinal axis and from the other side of the support block; and a spring disposed between the pair of arms for biasing the arms to an open position to contact inside the clothing.

W02011/112580 describes and shows a steam permeable pad for a steam appliance, such as a steam mop or garment press. The pad includes an outer fabric layer and an internal steam management layer which may include a terry fabric. The pad may further include a laminate of Jerry fabric, cushioning knit, and open mesh.

An attachment feature allows the pad to be mounted to a head or frame of the steam appliance.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ironing assistance pad which goes some way to overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public or industry with a useful choice.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, in an aspect the present invention may broadly be said to consist in an ironing assistance pad, comprising: a central layer having two substantially parallel opposed planar faces and a resiliently deformable body therebetween; and first and second outer sheet layers formed to allow the penetration of steam and heat from an iron; each sheet layer sized and shaped to cover a face of the central layer.

Typically the central layer and body, is formed to allow the penetration of steam and heat from an iron, or through-passage thereof at least. Such may be achieved by perforations and/or a cellular structure.

The pad can thereby be placed inside clothes or other items to be ironed to space apart layers of clothing and as a consequence hold the layers and surrounding blothing in shape while they are ironed, or placed between an iron and clothes to help shield the clothes from excess heat or steam produced by the iron while they are being ironed, while steam and heat can still freely penetrate through the pad to allow clothes to be ironed to the required finish, and help to prevent telltale pressed seam lines.

Advantageously, the first and second sheet layers are cotton and connected to one another around their perimeter edges. They may be flocked or otherwise textured.

This helps to hold the layer in position sandwiched between the layers, wherein such layer is typically foam.

The perimeter edges may have invisible or reversed seams so as to prevent creasing of garments ironing thereonto.

Advantageously, the first and second cotton sheet layers are unconnected to the foam layer. This helps to ensure the foam layer is free to distort and move but is securely held between the layers.

Advantageously, the cotton sheet layers are connected by stitching around the perimeter edges. Stitching provides a secure attachment while being simple and inexpensive.

Advantageously, the cotton sheet layers are metalized and perforated. Metalization of the sheets helps to strengthen the sheets to provide robust service in use, and perforations allow steam and heat to easily penetrate through the pad and allows for better steam circulation.

Advantageously, in plan view the pad has three straight perimetrical sides and an outwardly curved side. The curved side allows the pad to be placed in position easily.

Advantageously, two of the perimetrical sides are parallel and bounded by a straight perpendicular side and the outwardly curved side. This shape is most convenient for the largest number of ironing operations.

Advantageously, embodiments of the pad are sized to fit within a shirt or trouser pocket. This allows the pad to be used for the common ironing operation of ironing on and around a pocket and for the required finish to be achieved.

Advantageously, embodiments of the pad are sized to fit within the hip section of a pair of trousers. This allows the upper section of a pair of troàsers to be easily ironed to the required finish. Particularly where generous cuts have more fabric. In some further embodiments the central layer may allow curvature to accommodate extra fabric, for example wherein a central core of the central layer may be resiliently deformable and/or relative?y rigid, for example in order to allow resilient or permanent bowing upwards in use, and/or wherein a displaceable core or base may be inserted or placed beneath the central layer or pad.

Yet further embodiments may be sized to fit leg sections or other standard garment sections, such as shirt arms.

In another embodiment, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a kit of parts for ironing clothing, comprising a plurality of ironing assistance pads as claimed in any one of the preceding statements, each pad of different size.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, faIling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an ironing assistance pad according to an embodiment of the invention, the pad having a main body with two opposed planar faces, the pad formed so that in plan view the pad has two parallel perimetrical sides bounded by a straight side perpendicular to the parallel sides, and an outwardly curved side.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the pad of figure 1.

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the ironing assistance pad of figure 1, showing detail of a central foam layer sandwiched between two cotton layer which are connected by stitching around their perimeters.

Figure 4 shows the pad being located into the top of a pair of trousers for use when ironing and finishing trousers.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of ironing assistance pad 1 will now be described with reference to the figures. The ironing assistance pad I has a central foam layer 2 that forms a flat layer with two opposed faces when no external forces are acting upon it (e.g. when lying on a table or ironing board).

The foam layer 2 is deformable, e.g. by bending, rolling, etc. The foam layer 2 has a 1 5 body suitable to allow the penetration of steam and heat from an iron. Most advantageously, the foam layer is formed from an asbestos-free material and is heat resistant.

The foam layer 2 is sandwiched between two cotton sheets 3, 4, each of which rests on one of the opposed faces, and each of which is sized and shaped to just overlap the foam layer 2 so that the perimeters of the cotton layers can be brought into contact for connection to one another by stitching 5 around their perimeter edges.

The stitching 5 connects between the cotton layers 3, 4 only so that there are no stitches through the foam layer 2. This helps to hold the foam layer in position sandwiched between the layers 3, 4 while helping to ensure the pad 1 is free to move and distort between the cotton sheets, which helps to protect the pad 1 from tearing or other damage in use.

The cotton sheets 3, 4 are metatized and perforated. Metalization of the sheets helps to strengthen the sheets 3, 4 so that they are robust and will resist the heat from the base plate of the iron and stand up to repeated heating and cooling by the iron and steam therefrom in use. The perforations allow steam and heat to easily penetrate through the pad 1 from the iron to the clothes which are being ironed and for the steam to circulate more effectively.

In plan view the pad I has three straight perimetrical sides 6, 7, 8 and an outwardly curved side 9. Two of the perimetrical sides 7, 8 are parallel and bounded by the third straight side 6 at on end of the pad 1 and the outwardly curved side 9 at the other end. The curved side 9 allows the pad I to be easily slipped or otherwise placed in position within clothing for ironing operations.

The pad 1 can be provided in a number of sizes, for example sized to fit within a shirt or trouser pocket. This allows the pad 1 to be slipped into a pocket for use in the common ironing operation of ironing on and around a pocket and for the required finish to be achieved. The curved end 9 allows the pad I to be easily slipped into a pocket curved end first.

A larger size of pad 1 can also be used for ironing the upper or hip portion of a pair of trousers, as shown in figure 4, the pad 1 slipped sideways (that is, edge on to the front and rear of a pair of trousers) into a pair of flattened trousers and assists with ironing this portion of the trousers.

The pad 1 can also be placed between an iron and clothes to help shield the clothes from excess heat or steam produced by the iron while they are being ironed.

A number of pads of different sizes could be sold as a kit ranging in size from a small pad for pockets and a larger pad for a trouser finishing operation as described above.

Typical sizes would be as follows: for a large pad the width would typically be 29cm between the parallel sides, and 49cm from the apex of the curved side to the opposite straight side. For a small pad the typical size would be 12cm width and 17cm from the apex of the curved side to the opposite straight side.

Claims

Claims 1. An ironing assistance pad, comprising: a central layer having two substantially parallel opposed planar faces and a resiliently deformable body; first and second outer cotton sheet layers formed to allow the penetration of steam and heat from an iron, each sheet layer sized and shaped to cover a face of the central layer.
2. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second sheet layers are connected to one another around their perimeter edges.
3. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first and second sheet layers are unconnected to the central layer.
4. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the sheet layers are connected by stitching around the perimeter edges.
5. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in any one of claims I to 4 wherein the sheet layers are metalized and perforated.
6. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in any one of claims I to 5 wherein in plan view the pad has three straight perimetrical sides and an outwardly curved side.
7. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in claim 6 wherein two of the perimetrical sides are parallel and bounded by a straight perpendicular side and the outwardly curved side.
6. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in any one of claims Ito 7 wherein the pad is sized to fit within a shirt or trouser pocket.
9. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in any one of claims Ito 7 wherein the pad is sized to fit within the hip section of a pair of trousers.
10. A kit of parts for ironing clothing, comprising a plurality of ironing assistance pads as claimed in any one of claims ito 9 each pad of different size.

Ii. An ironing assistance pad substantially as herein described with reference to the figures.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: Claims 1. An ironing assistance pad for use with an iron and ironing board, comprising: a central layer having two substantially parallel opposed planar faces and a resiliently deformable body; first and second outer cotton sheet layers formed to allow the penetration of steam and heat from an iron, each sheet layer sized and shaped to cover a face of the central layer, in which the pad is sized to fit within a garment section selected from one or more of: a pocket of a garment, a shirt pocket, a trouser pocket, a hip section of a pair of trousers, a leg section and/or a shirt arm such that in use the pad is received within the garment section so as to space apart and hold layers of surrounding clothing of the garment section in shape while ironing.2. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second "cf 15 sheet layers are connected to one another around their perimeter edges.3. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first and second sheet layers are unconnected to the central layer.4. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the sheet o layers are connected by stitching around the perimeter edges.5. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the sheet layers are metalized and perforated.6. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein in plan view the pad has three straight perimetrical sides and an outwardly curved side.7. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in claim 6 wherein two of the perimetrical sides are parallel and bounded by a straight perpendicular side and the outwardly curved side.8. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in any one of claims ito 7 wherein the pad is sized to fit within a shirt or trouser pocket.9. An ironing assistance pad as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the pad is sized to fit within the hip section of a pair of trousers.10. A kit of parts for ironing clothing, comprising a plurality of ironing assistance pads as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 each pad of different size.
11. An ironing assistance pad substantially as herein described with reference to the figures. aD