RU2652566C1 - Device for locking steam iron - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: household appliances.

SUBSTANCE: ironing system (1) according to the invention comprises an iron (10) and a base (20) with a locking device for the iron, wherein the locking device has a second locking element (31, 32) opposite the first with respect to the iron, which are intended for engagement with the first or correspondingly opposite second end (11a, 11b) of the iron (10). Second locking element (32) in the unlocked position is not in engagement with the second end (11a) of the iron and when the iron is pressed down on the locking device, it is released and moved to the locking position, in which the second locking element (32) is meshed with the second end (11a) of the iron.

EFFECT: ironing system has been proposed.

7 cl, 10 dwg

Description

This invention relates to an ironing system consisting of a base and an iron, which provides the user with a device for blocking a steam iron the possibility of reliable transportation and storage of the ironing area in a locked state.

State of the art

The ironing systems of the type indicated at the beginning consist, as indicated above, of the base, which contains a water tank and devices for creating steam, as well as of the steam iron itself, which is connected to the base with a hose through which the heated steam generated in the base is supplied to the iron . Due to this, the iron itself can do without a water tank and the necessary electrics for heating, which provides the user with easy maneuvering along the ironing surface.

At the end of the ironing process, the iron is again installed by the user on the base, for which an appropriate support or holder is provided on the upper side of the base, which in most cases has a slight inclination relative to the base in order to allow residual water to drain from the iron. In particular, during subsequent transportation of the ironing system to a storage place, for example, in a cabinet, but also during frequently used open storage, in which the ironing system always stands in one place, there is a danger of the iron falling from the base when it is not properly held or, accordingly, It does not block on the base support with a corresponding risk of damage and injury. In accordance with this, a holder corresponding to the weight and size of the iron or, accordingly, blocking is necessary to eliminate the above-mentioned dangers. However, in this case, immediately after using the iron, there may be a danger that the user may get burned when the iron is blocked on the base support.

An ironing system is known from WO 2006/027464 A1 in which the iron comprises a sole and a handle. The base, on the other hand, comprises a device for attaching the iron to the base, the device engaging on the rear side with the iron, and on the front side covering the tip of the iron with a bracket. When applying the bracket, which must be turned from the base upwards over the tip of the iron, the user may get a burn on the still possible hot sole of the iron. In addition, with frequent use, the bracket may break.

An ironing system is known from WO 2008/146254, which has an iron and a base with a receiving area for the iron. A locking device is provided at the base, which comprises a first front clutch member and a second rear clutch member that engage with the sole of the iron. Thus, for example, the front clutch element is mounted with the possibility of shear in the opposite direction to the rear clutch element and is pre-stressed by means of a spring in the direction of the rear clutch element. If the user wants to block the iron on the receiving area of the base, he must first insert the tip of the iron into the front blocking element, which has a shape corresponding to the tip, move it against the force of the prestressing spring forward, and then align the back of the sole of the iron with the rear blocking element, t .e. put the back of the sole on the support so that the iron can be shifted back, in order to bring the sole into engagement with the rear locking element. This backward shift is provided by the prestressing spring of the front locking member as soon as the user no longer applies force to the iron.

The disadvantage of this solution is that when the tip is inserted into the front blocking element, the longitudinal axis of the iron is not always oriented in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the receiving zone, and thus, when introducing the rear part of the sole of the iron into the rear blocking element, it often needs to be turned here and there, in order to proper engagement when the iron is shifted backward by the force of the prestressing spring. If the user does not carefully follow the introduction process, the back of the iron may still not be aligned correctly with the rear locking element, and when the iron is subsequently released, it may again jump out of the locking device due to the force of the prestressing spring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ironing system, and in particular a locking device provided therein, which has an improved locking function, which provides an even simpler and more reliable introduction of the iron into the locking device of the base. This problem is solved using an ironing system with the features of paragraph 1 of the claims. Preferred embodiments are indicated in the dependent claims.

According to the present invention, the ironing system comprises an iron and a base with a locking device for the iron, the locking device having a first and second locking element opposite to the first relative to the iron, which are suitable for engaging with the first or correspondingly opposite second end of the iron, while the ironing the system is characterized in that the second locking element in the unlocked position (in the unlocked state) is not in engagement with the second end of the iron and when the iron is pushed down onto the locking device, it is released and moved to the locking position (locking state), in which the second locking element is engaged with the second end of the iron. Thus, as soon as the user brings the first end (for example, the rear end) of the iron into engagement with the first locking element and presses the locking device with the iron, it is ensured that the second end (for example, the front end) of the iron (sole of the iron) is engaged the second locking element, and thus the iron is blocked without the possibility of shifting or improper blocking. During all this time, the user is in contact only with the handle of the iron, i.e. there is no possibility of burns on hot parts when blocked. At the same time, precise alignment is not required to bring the second locking element into the locking position (to ensure fixation). In this case, the unlocked state or, accordingly, the unlocked position is the state or, accordingly, the position in which the iron is removed from the locking device or, accordingly, is not pressed against the locking device. In this state, the first end of the iron can be engaged with the first locking member.

In this case, it is preferable that the first locking element is a rear locking element, and the second locking element is a front locking element, each of which is suitable for engaging with the rear or, accordingly, the front end of the iron, since thereby the execution of the locking and unlocking movements is better visible to the user tip, i.e. on the front end of the iron (which corresponds to the second front locking element).

According to one preferred embodiment, the second locking element comprises a locking slider which, with the help of the elastic element, is prestressed in the direction of the locking position and, when pressed by the iron on the support, moves to the locking position. The prestressing can be carried out, for example, using a compression spring as an elastic element. Such a movable slider makes it possible to engage with the second end of the iron in various ways, for example by means of a geometric closure or by means of hooks, snap fastening or the like. and thereby mounting, i.e. fixed fixation of the entire iron on the locking device, without the need for preliminary orientation of the iron manually.

In another preferred embodiment, the locking device comprises a movable support, which in its upper position (unlocked state) lies in the zone of movement of the second locking element so that it is held in its unlocked position, and in its lower position (locked state) lies under the zone of movement the second locking element, so that it moves to the locked position, while it holds the support there in its lower position. Thus, the support is held in its lower position for as long as the second locking element is in the locking position (locked state). If it moves from the locked position back to the unlocked position, then the support can again return to its upper position.

For this, in one preferred embodiment, the support is prestressed upwards by means of preferably at least one spring. Due to this, the support when shifting the second locking element returns back from the locking to the unlocked position again to its upper position.

Finally, in addition, it is preferable that the second locking element has a hand lever with which the user can move the second locking element, in particular against the action of the elastic element, in the unlocked position. Thus, the user can use the handle to slide back the second locking element from the locked to the unlocked position and is additionally protected from inadvertent contact with the hot sole of the iron.

Preferably, the hand lever is pivotally mounted on the second locking member (32) and tilted forward in its locked position. In addition, a pre-tensioned locking cylinder may be provided, which, when the second locking element is moved to the blocking position, holds the hand lever in the tilted position and when the second locking element is moved to the unlocked position, it holds in the non-tilted position. Thus, the user can optionally actuate the manual lever in order to enable the second locking element to be returned to the unlocked position, the user must actively turn the manual lever against the prestress of the locking cylinder, which provides an additional protective mechanism.

Finally, according to one preferred embodiment, the interlocking device comprises a signal field which is closed by it in the unlocked state of the second interlocking element and is released by it in the locked state, and signals the user a blocking state.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The drawings show:

FIG. 1a and 1b show an ironing system as well as a base support according to the invention in an isometric view;

FIG. 2a is a vertical longitudinal section of an iron on a support, and

FIG. 2b and 2c are a partial vertical longitudinal section through the first (rear) and second (front) blocking element of the ironing system according to the invention in the unlocked state before fixing the iron, on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3a and 3b is a view as in FIG. 2a and 2c, and

FIG. 3b is an ironing system according to the invention, however in a locked state after fixing the iron, in isometric view; and

FIG. 4a and 4b are a partial longitudinal section through the second (front) locking element of the ironing system according to the invention, respectively, in the unlocked state (FIG. 4a) and in the locking state (FIG. 4b, on an enlarged scale.

Detailed description

In FIG. 1a and 1b show a general view of the ironing system 1 according to the invention, consisting of an iron 10 and a base 20. The iron comprises a sole 11 with a sharply tapering front end 11a and a rear end 11b. The base 20 contains, in addition to a water tank and electrical connection leads (not shown here), a locking device for an iron explained in more detail below, with which it can be securely fixed to the base, and the ironing system can be transported as a whole.

The locking device contains on its upper side a support 21, which is connected by a hinge 23 to the base 20 with the possibility of movement (rotation) between the upper and lower positions. In the unlocked state, the support with the help of two springs 22 is prestressed to its upper position (only one spring 22 is visible in Fig. 1b). In the shown exemplary embodiment, additional transverse partitions 25 of heat-resistant and poorly heat-conducting material are installed on the support 21, which carry out the actual contact of the support 21 with the sole 11 of the iron. The transverse partitions 25 prevent heat loss by the soleplate 11 of the iron due to contact over a large surface with the support 21 and, accordingly, excessive heating of the support 21, which is fraught with danger of fire. At its front end, the locking device comprises a front (second) locking element 32, which is located on the front end of the support 21 and is designed to engage with the front end 11a of the iron.

As shown in more detail in FIG. 2a, 2b and 2c, a recess 31 is provided at the rear end of the support as a rear (first) locking element, into which the rear end 11b of the iron (sole of the iron 11) can be engaged. The front locking element 32 consists of a slider 33, which is pre-tensioned with a compression spring 35 in the direction of the rear end of the support. A hand lever 34 is mounted on the slider 33 with the possibility of rotation, with which the slider can be moved from the locked position (Fig. 3c) to the unlocked position (Fig. 2c). In this case, the end of the slider 33 facing the iron has a shape corresponding to the tip of the iron 11a, so that it engages with it with a geometric closure and can fix it both in the vertical and horizontal directions. Naturally, other clutch mechanisms are also possible.

Bearing 21 is in a released state, i.e. when the slider 33 is in its retracted, unlocked position, in the zone of movement of the slider and thereby prevents it from moving to the locked position by the force of the compression spring 35. In this case, the motion zone is understood as the spatial zone that the slider passes, in other words, the projection of the slider in the direction of motion. In FIG. 2c shows how, in this unlocked state, the end surface 26 of the support 21 lies in front of the end surface 36 of the slider 33 and prevents the slider from moving to the locked position.

As mentioned above, when installing the iron on the support 21 of the base 20, the rear end 11b of the sole of the iron is inserted, respectively, inserted into the recess in the form of a recess, the rear locking element 31 and thereby engages. The front locking element is still in the unlocked state (see Fig. 2c). Then, the user presses the support 21 with the iron 10 (see FIG. 3a), whereby the support 21 is rotated downward around the hinge 23. In this case, the support 21 moves under the movement zone of the slider 33, i.e. the end surface 26 of the support 21 is no longer in the path of movement of the end surface 36 of the slider, so that the slider 33 under the action of the compression spring 35 can move from its unlocked position to its blocking position (see Fig. 3b and 3c). The slider 33, the front end of which has a shape corresponding to the tip of the iron 11a, engages with the iron 10 and fixes it in its position on the base 20. Due to the position of the longitudinal section in FIG. 3a and 3c, this clutch is better seen in FIG. 4b, where the front end of the slider 33 is clearly above the tip 11a of the sole of the iron 11 and thereby fixes it in the vertical and lateral direction.

The implementation of the front end of the slider 33 in the form of a substantially V-shaped recess, which corresponds to the tip of the iron, additionally performs the function of centering the tip of the iron in the middle when the slider is shifted. Thus, the user, when introducing the rear end 11b of the iron into the recess 31, as well as when pressing the iron down, does not care about the correct orientation of the iron on the support 21, since due to centering and engaging with the slider 33 (front locking element 32), reliable fixation is always ensured. even when the user, after engaging, puts the iron on the back crookedly on the support.

In FIG. 4a and 4b show longitudinal sections of the front locking element 32, which are made in a different plane than the sections in FIG. 2a-c and 3a, 3c, in order to display the position of the locking cylinder 40 and its interaction with the slider 33, respectively, with the hand lever 34. The hand lever, as mentioned above, is fixed with the possibility of rotation (tilt) around the hinge 37 on the slider 33. The locking cylinder 40 is mounted on the support 21 motionless relative to the slider and pre-tensioned upward by means of a compression spring (not shown). In the unlocked state (see FIG. 4a), the locking cylinder 40 is in its lower position and presses the end of the manual lever 34 located on the side of the iron so that it remains in its horizontal, not tilted position (see FIG. 4a). When the slider 33 is moved to the lock position, the hand lever 34 also moves, so that the locking cylinder 40 comes to the other end of the hand lever and can be extended upward by the compression spring, whereby the lever 34 tilts forward (see Fig. 4b). In the forward inclined position, the hand lever prevents a possible slide of the slider 33, for example, by the fact that the locking cylinder 40 extends beyond the corresponding edge 39 in the slider 33.

Thus, in this locked state, the slider 33 is held by the compression spring 35 in the locked position so that the iron remains securely fixed to the base. At the same time, the locking cylinder ensures that the front locking member 32 cannot simply be pushed back to its unlocked position, as it pushes the hand lever into its forward inclined position (see FIG. 3c). Only when the user turns back the manual lever 34 against the action of the spring force of the locking cylinder 40 in the straightened position (see Fig. 2c), then the slider 33 can be retracted back to its unlocked position.

In the unlocked state (see Fig. 2c), the slider 33 overlaps the indicator 50, respectively, the signal field, which is provided in the locking device on the base. However, if the iron is placed on the support 21 and fixed, then the slider 33 of the front locking element 32 moves forward, as indicated above, and releases the signal field 50, which can thereby signal a blocked state, respectively, due to the execution of the color signal field 50 (see Fig. 3b). Alternatively, an indication is also possible with a light signal.

Naturally, you can also change the location of the front and rear locking elements relative to the iron. In this case, the rear locking element may have a slider and a manual lever, while the front locking element serves only to introduce the front end of the iron and to engage.

Although the description of the present invention is given above with respect to the ironing system, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide a locking device on the ironing board. In this case, the ironing system is a combination of iron and ironing board, while the ironing board functions as a base for placing / for setting the iron.

Claims (7)

1. An ironing system (1) comprising an iron (10) and a base (20) with a locking device for the iron, the locking device having a first and second locking element (31, 32) that are opposite to the first relative to the iron and which are designed to engage the first or opposite opposite second end (11a, 11b) of the iron (10), the second locking element (32) in the unlocked position is not in engagement with the second end (11a) of the iron and when the iron (10) is pressed on the locking device and moves to b okirovochnoe position in which the second locking member (32) is in engagement with the second end (11a) of the iron, characterized in that the second locking member (32) comprises a locking slide (33) which by an elastic member (35) is prestressed in direction of the locking position and when pressed with an iron on the locking device is moved to the locking position. 2. Ironing system (1) according to claim 1, in which the locking device comprises a movable support (21), which in its upper position lies in the zone of movement of the second locking element (32) so that it is held in its unlocked position, and in its lower position lies under the zone of movement of the second locking element (32) so that it moves to the locking position, while it holds the support there in its lower position. 3. Ironing system (1) according to claim 2, in which the support (21) is prestressed upward by at least one spring (22). 4. Ironing system (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which the second locking element (32) has a hand lever (34), with which the user can move the second locking element (32) against the action of the elastic element (35) in the unlocked position. 5. The ironing system (1) according to claim 4, in which the hand lever is mounted rotatably on the second locking element (32) and is tilted forward in its locked position. 6. The ironing system (1) according to claim 5, further comprising a pre-tensioned locking cylinder (40) fixed to the support, which, when the second locking element (32) is moved to the blocking position, holds the hand lever in an inclined position and when moved to a unlocked position the position of the second locking element (32) holds it in a non-tilted position. 7. Ironing system (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-6, in which the locking device contains an indicator that in the unlocked state of the second locking element (32) is closed by it, and in the locked state it is released and signals the user the blocking state.

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