US1391296A - Electric iron - Google Patents

Description

n. B. BENJAMIN.

ELECTRIC lRON. APPLICATION mio nic. 8,1919.

1,39 1,296, Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

2 SHEETS-#SHEET I.

Wo rn egys R. BI BENJAMIN. ELEcTmc mon.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8, 1919.

Patented Sept 20, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATESy REUBEN E. BENJAMIN, oF CHICAGO, ILLINoIs, AssIGNoR To BENJAMIN ELECTRIC:r

eA'rlaiNr l OFFICE.

. MANUFACTURING COMPANY, for CHICAGO, ILLINOIS," Ay CORPORATION 0E ILLINOIS.

y n ..Application led December To all whom it may concern:

- Be itknown that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventedy new and useful Im-y provements in Electric Irons, of whichr the following ris a full, clear, concise, and exact description', referencejbeing had to theY ac- Oneof the objects yof my invention is to provide improved means .fory automatically ,n opening they circuit, thus preventing unde.y

- sirable'results in case the iron is allowed to with thesource of cur' stand connected up rent supply. i

y A furtherv object of `my `invention is to provide a construction which will be simple, cheapto manufacture, durable and eiicient inuse. j@

Another-object of thisinvention is to provide means Awhereby the user of the iron may regulate, either while the iron is in use ory before using the same, v the temperature atwhich thecircuitwill be opened' by the automatic means. .In thefuse of this kiron vthe operator may Set the automatic means to open either at a comparatively low tempera- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view7 of IiIlyL device; y l

Fig. 2 is a sectional vview takenon the line 2--2 of Fig. `1; v

Fig: 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; l

Fig'. 4 is a detail view ofya part of the switch controlling mechanism, f

f ELECTRIC IRoN.

Y'Specificatiim o1' Letters atent. Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

8, 1919. Serial No. 343,251.

Fig. 5 is a detail` view fromthe rear end of the handle portion showing means whereby said iron is electrically connected;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a part of the switch mechanism; i

Fig. 7 is a plan viewof the vthermostatic switch controlling mechanism; and y Fig. .8 is .a detail perspectivel view of the Vfree ends of the thermostatic plates sepai rated lfrom each other.

In order to give a generalidea of my invention, I will outline briefly some of the main features of construction before. describing the parts in detail. iron shown comprises the body portion 10 of the iron which body contains an electrical resistance forming the heating element 11, a handle 12 securedtothe body 10 for manipulating the iron, aV plug-in device 13 for connecting up the iron with the feed wires 14, a switch mechanism 15 for controlling the circuit ybetween the feed Wires 14 of the heating element 11 and a thermostatic `element 16 controlled, by the heating element.

11 and in turn controlling the switch mechswitch mechanism to allow it to move to off position incase the heatv becomes excessive. i

In the ordinary use of the iron, the heat is conducted away from theface of the iron due to rthe moving contact betweenthe face of the iron and thefgoods which are being ironed. 'f This conduction of the heat away from the face ofthe iron keeps the temperature ofthe iron down to'what may be termed normal temperature for working.` If, however, the iron is allowed to stand and par-K ticularly if it is yallowed to stand with they face of the iron in contact with the goods, the heat is not conducted away very rapidly and the temperatureofthe body portion 10 of the iron rises and becomes excessive and results in damage to the goods and to the iron and possibly results in a fire unless means are provided to prevent this excessive rise of temperature. A For the purpose of preventing this excessive rise in temperature, the connection between the thermostatic element 16 and the switch mechanism 15 is so made fthatwhen the temperature of the iron exceeds a predetermined degree which has been determined as kthe critical temperature, the thermostatic element will n act to cause the switch mechanism to be The electric moved to oit position to disconnect the heating element 11.

I will now describe the construction in detail. The body portion 10 of the iron comprises upper and lower portions 17 and 1S respectively betweenwhich the heating element 11 is located, the portions 17 and 18 being held together by means of screws 19.

The thermostatic elementi 16 comprises two strips 2O and 21 respectively, these strips being of different material (for instance the upper one may be of steel and the lower one zinc) having different coefficients of expansion for heat, the coefficient of expansion of the lower strip 21 being greater than the coefficient of expansion of the upper strip 2O so that under the influence of heat, the composite element will tend to straighten out as the two strips are secured together at one end at 22 and their other end irmly secured to the base 10 by means of a screw 23.

In order to prevent possible injury to the thermostatic element due to excessive high temperature, a sheet of heat insulating material 24 may be placed between the thermostatic element and the main body 10 of the iron.

The manner in which the two strips 2O and 21 are secured together at 23 is indicated in Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 8, the upper strip 20 has an oii`set shoulder portion 275 having an opening 26 therein, and the lower strip 21 has an offset shoulder portion 27 and has a tongue 28 struck up therefrom which extends through the opening 26 in the upper strip 2O and positions the members 20 and 21 with respect to each other and holds the shoulder portions 25 and 27 in engagement with each other.

The thermostatic element 16 is housed by means of a sheet metal cover 29 which is secured to the body portion 10 ot the. iron by means of screws 30 which screws 30 also serve to hold the handle 12 in position on the body 10. For this purpose the screws 30 extend through openings in the U-shaped strip 31 which is secured to the handle proper 12 by means ot a rod 32 and a nut 33 threaded on the end of the rod 32. Washers 30a are placed between the sheet metal cover 29 and the strip 31, the screws 30 extending through said washers 30, the sheet metal cover 29, the thermostatic element 16 and the heat insulating plate 24 and being threaded into the base member 17.

The handle 12 is made in two halves which are recessed so as to inclose between Ythem the switch mechanism 15 and associated parts, the handle parts being held together in any suitable manner.

The switch mechanism 15 comprises two stationaryr contact members 34 (Fig. 3), a

pivoted bridging member 35 which electrically connects the contacts 34 in the on position of the switch, a coil tension spring 36 pivotally connected at one end to the pivoted bridging member 35 and a spring actuated plunger 37 to which the other end of the spring 36 is pivotally connected at 38. This spring actuated plunger 37 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the engagement of a shoulder portion 39 with a latch member 40 (Figs. 1 and 4).

The spring actuated plunger 37 is released from the latch member 40 when the emergency arises by means of a lift rod 41, the lower end of which rests on the free end of the thermostatic element 16 and the upper end of which engages underneath the spring actuated plunger 37. This lift rod 41 is `guided in an opening 42 in the cover 29 and in an opening'in a small bracket 43 which-is secured to the strap 31.

For actuating the plunger when it is released from the latch 39, a coil compression spring 44 is provided. one end of which bears against the shoulder 45 on the plunger and the other end of which bears against an abutment portion 46 of the switch frame 47 (Fig. 6). The pivoted bridging member 35 is mounted on two laterally extending lugs 48 struck up from the switch frame 47 which switch frame is secured to one of the halves ot the handle 12 by means ot an eyelet 49, and is positioned in the handle by means oit lugs 50 which engage corresponding recesses 51 in the handle 12.

In order to insulate a portion of the plunger 37 which engages the latch member 40, the metal part of the plunger is made in two portions which are connected together by insulating strips 52 (Fig. 1) so that the portion of the plunger 37 which extends outwardly at the front end of the handle is not electrically connected with the switch frame and bridging member which switch trame and bridging member, as will be noted, are live parts when the switch is in on position.

In order to change the point at which the spring plunger will be automatically released by the thermostatic element, the retaining latch member 40 is made manually adjustable. for this purpose being pivoted to the handle 12 at 53, this latch member being movable from the dotted line position shown t0 the full line position so that the upper edge of the latch member which engages the spring plunger (see Fig. 1) can be raised or lowered so as to require a greater or less lift of the lift rod 41 to release the spring pressed plunger.

The handle 12 has mounted thereto a pair of stationary contact blades 54 (Figs. 1 and 3) for engagement with the contacts carried by the cap 55 of the plug-in device 13, this cap having binding terminals elecfeed wires 14.` v

trically connec tedi'with its contacts for the ductor 56, rtht-#conductor 56 leading tothe t heating element `11 located in the body 10 of the,l iron, the current flowing from the conductor 456V through the heating element and thence through a conductor 57 to the, -other vswitch contact' 34 of the switch. I 1When`the` switch is in on position as shown in Fig. 3, the circuit. is from one of thefcon'tactsk54 through'the conductors 56, heating element 11,:condu`ctor 57, one of the switch 'contacts 34, through the bridging element'35,to the otherswitch contact 34 and thenceto the othercontact'blade 54.

`When theswitch is in ol' position'the circuit` is broken at two points by thek bridgy king element 35 moving out frombetween the the s ring actuatedplunger 37 by means ofv switch contacts 34.

After the springfactuated plunger v*37 has been automaticallyreleased, the circuit may be again completed after theflron has cooled down sufficiently by pushing in on a pus button58 1)r causing the shoulder portion 39`fto drop in back of the la'tch'rf` ing member 40. j; y y y c The use yandoperation rof the iron has "been outlined in connection with the description of the construction. In use, the

pivoted latch member 40 is set at a position `that the` ironhas been left standing connected up with the electrical circuit, the'temperature of 'the body portionwlt)y will rise because of the slow conduction of-the heat away from the `face of the iron. This rise of temperature will cause thek thermostatlc element 16 to straighten out and will lift the free end of the thermostatic element` to raise the lift rod 40. When the lift rod 40 has been raised high enough to free the shoulder 39 of the spring actuated plunger from the latch member 40, the spring 44 will throw the plunger 37 outwardly, moving the pivotal connection 38 of the spring past the dead center (the line connecting the pivotal point of the bridging member with the pivotal connection between the bridging member and spring) causing the bridging member to be moved out of contact with the switch-contact 34 and breaking the circuit and disconnecting the heating element 11.

It will be seen that if the user of the iron finds that the switch opens at a temperature which is lower than is required for the class of goods upon which the work is beingy done, and that it is therefore desirable that the switch be set to open at af considerably higher temperature, thisk condition'may be met by simply depressing the lever 40 by placing the thumb upon the button which is carried thereby. The lever may be moved only a sufficient distance to slightly raise` the latchl or retaining portion 390i the lever a short distance, or it may be depressedv until the switch stem is raised against the upper edge of the opening in the standard 31. Inv this latter case the thermostat will not be permitted to release the switch and allow it to open as long as the operator continues to hold down the button. It is thus possible during the use of this iron to regulate the temperature to suit the user or the class of goods being worked upon.

Having thus described my lnvention, what I claim as new and desire to secured by Let-v ters Patent is:

1. An electric iron comprising a body'portion provided with an electric heating element and a handle, a switch in said'handle arranged to bef manually set in open or,

closed condition, thermostatic means for opening theswitch uponvrisebf temperature ln-the irony to apredetermined point,

and means arranged for manual setting and` capableof being set while the iron "is in use for :raising the temperaturey at which' said switch will be opened by the thermostatic means.

2. `An electric iron comprising an electric heating element, a switch carried b v said iron, thermostatic means carried by said iron for opening said switch upon rise of temperature in said iron to a predetermined point, and means arranged for manual operation while the iron is inuse for preventing the opening of said switch by said thermostat.

3. An electric iron comprisinga body portion provided withy an electric heating element, a handle for said iron, a switch arranged in said handle, said switch 'tending to open, and adapted to be set in closed con; dition, thermostatic means arranged to release said switch and permit it to open when the temperature of the iron reaches a predetermined point, and means arranged for manual operation and capable of being used while the iron is in use for retaining the switch in closed condition against the tendency of the thermostatic means to release said switch.

4. An electric iron comprising an electric heating element, a handle yfor the iron, a switch adapted to be set in closed condition,

thermostatic means for opening said switch temperature, higher than that at which the switch would otherwise be opened, has been reached by the iron.

5. An electric iron comprising a body portion provided with an electric heating element, a handle portion for manipulating said body portion, a switch mounted on said handle portion for controlling current to said heating element, and means for controlling` said switch comprising a spring pressed releasable plunger extending out at the front end of the handle, a thermostatic element mounted on said body portion, and a lift rod extending from said thermostatic element up to the spring actuated plunger to actuate said plunger and control said switch.

6. An electric iron comprising a body portion provided with an electric heating element, a handle portion for manipulating said body portion, a switch mounted on said handle portion for controlling the current to said heating element, and means 'for controlling said switch comprising a spring pressed releasable plunger extending out at the front end of the handle, a thermostatic element mounted on said body portion and a lift rod extending from said thermostatic element up to the portion of said plunger extending out of said handle to actuate said plunger and control said switch.

7 An electric iron having a quick make and break switch, means tending to open said switch, latching means for retaining said switch in closed condition, thermostatic means arranged to disengage said switch from said latch upon a sufficient rise in the temperature of the iron, said latch being manually adjustable to modify the action of the thermostatic means upon said switch.

8. An electric iron comprising a body portion provided with an electric heating element, a handle portionI for manipulating said body portion, a switch mounted on said handle for controlling the current to said heating element, said switch comprising a spring pressed releasable plunger and a plurality of means for controlling said plunger to control said switch, said plurality of means comprising a thermostatic element arranged to release said plunger and a button for manually preventing the release of said plunger.

9. An electric iron comprising a heating element, a quick make and break switch, a handle for said iron inclosing said switch, an operating member for said switch extending from the front end of said handle, and contact pins at the opposite end of said handle adapted for coperation with a separable connector for supplying current to the iron.

l0. An electric iron comprising a body part, a heating element in said body part, a handle, a switch arranged within said handle and having a manipulating part extending4 from said handle, spring means tending to open said switch, means engaging said switch for retaining the same in its closed condition against the tendency of said spring means to open the same, a lift rod extending from said switch into said body part, thermostatic means within said body part arranged to thrust said lift rod against the manipulating part of said switch, and disengage the same from said retaining means, and adjustable means for regulating the temperature at which said thermostatic means is permitted to disengage said switch from said retaining means.

1l. An electric iron comprising a body portion provided with an electric heating element, a handle portion for manipulating said body portion, a switch for controlling the circuit in said electric heating element, a latch for holding said switch in on position, and a thermostatic element for releas ing said latch, said latch being manually adjustable when in use to control the releasing action ci' said thermostatic element on said switch.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

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