US1036868A - Electric switch for sad-irons. - Google Patents

Description

C. P. MADSEN. ELECTRIC SWITCH FOB. SAD IRONS.

nrLIoA'rIon HLBD FEB. 11, 1911.

1,036,868, Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

DI Ey. l.

UNITED sTATEs IJATENT OFFICE.-

CHAnLEs P. MADSEN. or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGivoa, BY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To

PELOUZE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

p ELECTRIC swIrCHrron san-mons. i

1,036,868.- riginal application nled January 22,

To all 'wh-0m t may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES I. MAnsEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have in vented a certain new, useful, and Improved Electric Switch for Sad-Irons, of which the following is a full, true, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to electrically heated articles and has particular reference to means for controlling the electric current to electric sad irons.

A serious objection to the usual electri.

cally heated sad irons lies in thel fact that the current supply to the iron cannot be regulated or controlled. In consequence the proper ironing temperature cannot be maintained, and the iron becomes abnormally heated if left in the circuit too long and thereby scorchesthe clothes.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide means for controlling the electric current supply to the iron at the will ,of the operator and while the iron is in use so that the temperature of the iron may be properly regulated to suit ironing conditions.

From another standpoint an object of my invention is to provide a separable plug for the iron which may be readily connected to or disconnected from the iron but which will be so related to the iron and particularly to the handle thereof as to .constitute a controlling switch operable by a hand gripping the handle during the ironing process for shutting olil 01' turning on the current as described.

Another and more particular object of my invention is to provide an electrically heated sad iron and a heater therefor, in combination with an attachment or terminal plug co-acting with the terminals of the electric heater to form a combined controlling switch and plug, together with means for holding vthe plug in its proper position while it is serving its dual function.

Other objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

I will describe one of the numerous embodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a sad iron showing the correlation of the Specioation of )letters Patent. Patented Aug. 27, 191,2.

190s, serial no. 412,176. Divided and um appuaaon med February 11, 1911. sum1 No. 608,051. l

iron and the-fmeans for controlling the current; Fig. 2 1s a transverse vertical sectlonal v view o n line 2--2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3is a top plan View of the iron shown in the preceding figures, the handle being removed so'as not to interferet with the view of the parts beneath the handle, this view bein taken on the section'line 3-3 of Fig. 1; ig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the switch and plug member; and Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the combined switch tand plug, part thereof being shown in secion.

The sad iron which is shown in the drawings and which I have chosen as best illustrative of my invention, is of the type shown in my co-pending applications, Serial No. 412,176, filed January 22, 1908, and No. 454,355 filedv September 23, 1908, wherein the subject matter of this application is disclosed; this being a divisional application primarily of my said application Serial No.

'A, which is provided with a polished bottom`for smoothing and ironing purposes; the heater element or unit B, by means of which the heat is supplied to the hot plate; the top or weight member C, which furnishes the desired weight to the iron; and the handle D. The hot plate preferably consists of a flat, thin rimless metal plate, of substantially triangular shape, aI1d`constitutes the bottom element -of the iron. This plate has a central upstanding enlargement A, preferably of triangular form, which is adapted to interlock with a correspondingly shaped opening in the heater element so as to prevent relative rotation of the heater element and hot plate. In this construction' of sad iron, the\heater element B is preferably made as a separate article of manufacture, and is made conveniently removable as a unit so that it may be replaced by a new heater at comparatively small cost"4 in the event the heater should become damaged.' It consists of a plate of refractory insulating material B having a triangular central opening B which receives and interlocks with the upstanding enlargement on the hot plate. 0n its under surface or face this insulating plate has a broad, shallow, fiat-bottomed recess B wherein is preferably embedded a single plane heating conductor 1. '.llus heating conductor lies close to the hot plate, as shown in Fig. 1, so that practically all of the heat is transmitted directly to the hot plate, very little, if any, being dissipated 1n the upper portion of the iron body. The conductor is electrically insulated from the hot plate, however, by means of a sheet of mica 2 or other suitable insulating material.

In order to further carry out the unitary idea of the heating element. the ends o f the winding are connected, as shown in Flg. 2, to parallel upstanding contact blades or strips 3 suitably secured to the insulating plate. These blades are stiifened and held in their proper position by means of a column of insulating material fastened to the plate and projecting upwardly through a tapered opening 5l in the top element or weight portion of the iron.

The heater unit constitutes the intermediate element of the sad iron and is interposed, as will be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, between the hot late and the upper member, the three portions or elements of the iron being preferably clamped together by means of a single fastening or clamping device. This consists of a bolt 6 upstanding from the central enlargement of the hot plate, and a nut 7 screwed on the upper end thereof for clamping the elements together, the bolt passing through an enlarged hole 8 in the member C.

)t very desirable feature in electrically heated sad irons is to maintain theY upper portion thereof as cool as possible, and to' confine the heat to the bottom or ironing surface. In o-rder topcarry out this idea, I prefer to provide the weight element or member C with a large comparatively deep cavity C in its underside, and to till this cavity with a loosely packed heat insulating material such as asbestos and magnesia. In addition to this, I interpose an insulating washer 9 between the nut and the member C, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to prevent the heat from the upstanding post or bolt 6 from reaching the member C. It will be seen that this construction provides a rather thin flange, so to speak, at the lower edge of the member C which reduces the actual contact between said member and the heater to a comparatively small area. This flange co-acts with a shouldered edge Bm of the insulating plate and constitutes a periph eral interlockment therebetween which prevents any relative rotation.

It will be noted that the insulating washer, the nut and the end of the bolt all lie within a rather deep recess or depression 10 in the member C, the purpose of this being to keep these parts well within the body of the iron and at the same time have as little iron as possible immediately surrounding the bolt so that the heat will not be absorbed thereby. The handle member D, by which the iron is manipulated, comprises a gripping portion D located above the body of the iron and substantially parallel thereto. The grip D is mounted u on a suitably formed post D securely astened to the front end of the member C by means of a bolt D.

It will be noted that the handle is fastened to the front end of the iron only, the purpose of this being that it leaves a clear space between the rear port-ion of the handle and the body of the iron for the connecting leads and for the proper manipulation of the switch, as hereinafter described. The hand le also performs another function: It cooperates with the lu s G projecting from the rear end of the iron to form a rest for the iron when it is tipped up on end.

As before intimated, the contact blades 3, which are carried by the heater unit, project upwardly beyond the insulating cols umn 4 and into a rectangular recess or groove 12. This channel or recess extends from t-he depression 10 to the rear end of the iron and forms a guide for the movable switch plug S. In some instances I make the switch permanent on the iron in position to be operated from the handle. D, and I provide a separate plug for connect-ing the conductor leads to the iron, but, speaking generally, the most acceptable arrangement is the combined switch and plug, this being preferably reciprocatory or movable in the channel guide 12 so as to engage or disengage the contact blades or heater terminals 3 which project into the channel 12. It being essential that the block be held in the channel subject to its reciprocating movement, and at the same time be capable of being completely removed when desired to entirely disconnect the iron, I have provided a spring member which yieldingly presses upon the upper side of the block. One end 13 of this spring is provided with an enlarged hole through which the bolt 6 passes, and is rmly clamped under the insulating washer 9. It has an intermediate portion 13 which rises upward at the end of the guide channel 12. From the upper end of the portion 13 is a portion 13" lying substantially parl allel and above the switch block S. This portion of the spring is bifurcated or forked so as to provide a slot for the reception of the knob of the switch block and in addition it serves as a limit stop for the switch. The free ends of the bifurcations are bentto form catches 13 which snap into shallow grooves 14 in the upper face of the block. The grooves 14 correspond to the position wherein the switch plug is disconnected from the heater contact blades. llVhen the switch is moved into engagement with thecontact blades the bent ends of the s ring snap over the rear of the block an yieldingly hold the block in such position. It will be noted that, although the switch plug is partially locked in either of its operative positions, it may at any time be easily removed from the iron by simply pulling it out ofits channel endlSe- Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the switch block is disposed in a position beneath the handle of the iron. My reason in so positioning the switch is to make it possiblefor convenient operation in its channel by the persons hand While gripping the handle during the use of the iron. It is only necessary that one or two of the fingers of the hand grip the little linob S, provided for the purpose, in order to shift the switch into or out of connection with the heater terminals, this being accomplished without removing the hand from the handle. Thus it will be seen that during the process of ironing, should the iron become too hot it is simply necessary to shift t-he switch to its disconnected position, thereby permitting the iron to cool down to the desired temperature without interrupting the ironing process.

It will be clearly understood that` any desirable form of switching device may be used. When the combined plug and switch, which I have shown, is employed it may be made to move laterally or vertically as desired. I lind that the form of combined switch and plug, shown in the drawings, seems to be most acceptableto users of the iron. It comprises a rectangular block 15 of suitable insulating material of a size to slidingly fit the guide channel 12. The block contains longitudinal holes or bores 16 and slots 17, each of the latter opening through the bottom of the block so that the slots and holes form recesses to receive the upper ends of respective contact blades 3. On the sides of the block are lateral holes 18 which communicate with the respective longitudinal holes. Each longitudinal hole contains a contact member which forms a terminal for the conductor leads F. The terminals are adapted to engage the contact blades 3. Each of the contact members comprises a straight leaf portion 19 having an outwardly turned beveled end, and a bent or leaf spring 20 the free end of which is oppositely turned. The two leaves of each contact member or terminal are suitably fastened together and contain a threaded hole for a binding screw 21. The binding screws extend into the lateral holes 18 so that they may be reached by a screw driver or tool when it is desired to connect 'the cord thereto. These lateral holes are suiiiciently larger than the binding screws to permit considerable movement of the terminal members. It will be seen that thus constructed, the

my purpose in arrangin them in this manner 1s to permit them to ave free movement within certain limits so that they .may readily adapt themselves to any irregularlties in construction. Furthermore, should the contact blades or terminals become slightly bent by accident the operation of the switch will not be interfered with. The flexible conductors F are brought together to the rear end of the block through a rubber protector or sleeve F and the ends of the conductor pass through holes 22 in the block and thence to their respective terminal members to which they are fastened by means of the binding screws 21. The purpose of the rubber sleeve is to protect'the conductors and to prevent an accidental shock to the user. In addition to this, I provide a flexible metal spring anchored to the block by the screw 23, for the purpose of holding the leads vertical for a portion of their length immediately above the block so that when the iron is tipped up on end the conductors will not be bent or broken.

It will readily be seen that my invention may assume various shapes and be embodied in diii'erent structures Without departing from the spirit of the invention. I desire my invention to be construed accordingly.

I claim:

l. An'electric sad. ir'on, comprising a sad iron body, a handle for said body, and an electric heater located in the body, in combination with a movable switch for said heater mounted on the body to be operated by a hand gripping handle a clip for holdterminals form flexible or floating jaws and sov ing the switch in open and closed positions, v

, with an electrically heated sad iron body, a

handle therefor, and an electric heater located in the body, terminals therefor, in combination with a movable electric switch located on the top of the body independent of but adjacent to the handle in position to be manually moved between fixed points for connection and disconnection with the heater terminals.

4. An electric sad iron, comprising a bod and a heating winding mounted in the bo y and having protruding terminals, an operating handle mounted on the body and extending rearwardly thereabove, a slidable switch mounted on the top of the body to engage the said terminals, a device secured to the body and adapted to yieldingly hold said lswitch in open or closed position with regage and disengage said terminals, a stop device secured to the body adapted to yieldingly bear on the switch and hold the latter in' open or closed circuit position, and a projecting memberon the switch arranged within reach of the fingers of the operators hand when gripping the handle.

6. In an electric sad iron, the combination with asad iron body having an upstanding handle, of an electric heater therein having' terminals projecting from the body, and a combined switch and plug comprising a casing slidable upon said body in position `to be operated without removing the hand from said handle, and a conductor attached to said casing and having terminal fingers that are movable into and out of engagement with the terminals upon the movement of the casing.

7. A switch block for sad irons, comprising a substantially rectangular body of insulating material containing parallel holes, parallel slots and lateral openings, in combination with self-adapting contact'jaws in said holes, binding screws in respective lateral openings, and jaws and electrical conductors in respective holes and connected with respective jaws by respective binding screws.-

8. A switch blockfor sad irons comprising a substantially rectangular body of insulating material containing parallel holes, parallel slots and lateral openings, in combination with a self-adapting contact jaw loosely placed in each said hole, binding screws in respective lateral openings, and electrical conductors loosely placed in respective holes and connected with respective' jaws by respective binding screws.

9. A switch block for sad irons, comprising a knobbed block or body of insulating material containing contact slots and cavities, in combination with Hoating contacts in said cavities, arranged to automatically adjust themselves to the contacts with which they engage, conductors connected with said contacts, within said cavities, suitably insu- 'lated and joined outside said block, and a resilient holder therefor on said block, substantially as described.

10. The improvements herein describedV comprising an electrically heated sad-iron having terminal contacts connected to its heating means, in combination with a terminal plug connected to the current supply leads and adapted to be removably mounted upon said iron in engagementwith said terminals to complete the circuit to the iron,

and means permitting said terminal plug to be .shifted on said iron to open the circuit without detaching said plug from the iron.

11. The improvements herein described comprising an electrically heated sad-iron having terminal contacts connected to its heating means, in combination with a terminal plug connected to the current supply leads and adapted to be removably mounted upon said iron in engagement with said terminals to complete the circuit to the iron, means permitting said plug to be bodily shifted on said iron to open the circuit without-detaching said plug from the iron, and a handle for said iron arranged in position to enable the users hand to operate said plug on said iron without removing the hand from the handle.

l2. The improvements herein described comprising an electrically heated sad-iron having terminal contacts connected to its heating means, in combination with a terminal plug connected to the current supply leads and 'adapted to be detachably mounted upon said iron in engagement with said terminals to complete the circuit to the iron, a holding device permitting vsaid plug to be shifted through a limited range on said iron to open the circuit without detaching said plug from the iron, and an upstanding operating handle mounted on the forward end of said iron so as not to interfere with the free manipulation of said, plug and the attached current supply.

13. ln an electric sad iron, comprising a base plate, a shell, and a handle secured to the top of the shell, an electric heating element contained in the shell, a pair oflead wires for said heating element entering the shell, and a switch mounted on the shell directly under the handle, and adapted for i controlling the connection between the heat-- ing elelnent and the lead Wires.

In testimony whereof, Ihave hereunto set my hand this 4th day of February, 1911, in the presenceof two subscribin witnesses.

CHARLES P. DSEN.

Witnesses:

JOHN R. LEFEVRE, CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY.

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