US1806383A - Electric iron - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1931. w. E BELCHER 1,806,383

ELECTRIC IRON Filed Aug. 10, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR lMay 19,` 1931. w E. BELCHER 1,806,383

ELECTRIC IRON Filed Aug. 1o, 1929 'z'sheetsneez 2 Patented May 19, `41931 l l UNITED STATES PATENT oEEicE WALTER E. BELCHER, OF WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA ELIlCClliIC IRON Application led August 10, 1929. Serial No. 384,901.

The invention relates to improvements in With the above more important and other electric irons and an object of the invention is minor objects in view which will become more to provide a latch or trigger associated with apparent as the description proceeds, the inthe handle of the iron andwhich can be convention consists essentially in the arrange- 5 veniently gripped by the hand gripping the ment and construction of parts .hereinafter 55 handle and when gripped will operate more particularly described, reference being 'through a suitable switch provided and emhad to the accompanying drawings, in bodied as part of the iron equipment to mainwhich tain the circuit containing the iron heating Fig. l is a view of the iron, the base being l 10 clement closed and which is arranged further shown for the greater part in side elevation 60 that upon the linger pressure being released and the upper part thereof in vertical longifrom the latch during the ironing operation, tudinal section. .c the latch will move under spring pressure Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view cenand the `movement so occasioned will actuate trally through the iron7 certain parts being 15 the switch to stop the flow of current to the Shown in side elevation and the iron appear- 65 heating element of the iron. i ing in rested or not in used position.

A further object of the invention is to pro- Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the vide an iron embodying aswitch controlling thermal strip used. the circuit containing the iron heating ele- Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the interior 0 ment and wherein the circuit is automatically Construction of the plug used. i broken throughthe switch upon the heat of Fig 5 iS an enlarged detailed Veltieal Secthe heating iron reaching a predetermined `ODll VeW thIOllgll e POIOII 0f the Plug and temperature. showing the type of toggle switch used.

A further object of the invention is to pro- Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed vertical sec- 2" vide an iron which can be heated to several tiOnal View at 6-6 Figure 4- 75 temperatures but wherein the electric circuit Fig- 7 iS a perspective View Showing the leading to the element is automatically broken SllppOrt fOr the Switchn when each selected temperature is reached F 10S. 8 and 9 are peISpeCtlVe Views 0f the and the iron will not continue to heat further members forming the toggle switch.

0 unless the operator actuates a latch provided Fig. 10 is an enlarged detailed vertical sec- 80 for the purpose. tional View at 1 0-10 Figure 3.

A further object of the invention is to pro- In the drawings like characters of refervide a heating iron wherein the normal gripence indicate corresponding parts in the sevping movement of the fingers of the hand in erelgll1e$ 35 gripping the iron handleis used to actuate a The body of the iron comprises the base 0ry 85 spring pressed latch and such movement of S01@ 1, an OVellyng eleetlieal heating elethe latch operates a switch to close the circuit ment Indicated generally by the reference leading t0 the heating element of the iron and iiuiiieral 2 and a metal block 3 thereabove, the wherein also, gravity actuated locking means blOCk belng filSteIleQ t0 the base by Sultably is provided for automatically locking the located screws 4 which also serve to hold the 90 latch with the switch closed and upon the iron element in place. A casing 5 encloses the being brought to an up ended position with block and bears on the upper face of the sole the butt thereof down and to associate also being fastened by screws 6 screwing into the with the iron a thermostat operated by the bleek 3. f p heat of the iron and adapted to release the The rear end of the iron is provided with 05 locking means upon the heat of the iron reachthe customary pair of contacts,- one of which ing a predetermined temperature, such reis indicated in dotted outline at 7, these consulting in the breaking-of the electric circuit tacts being carried by the casing 5 and suitthroughv the switch under the pressure of the ably insulated therefrom and being connected o latch spring. electrically within the casing as indicated 100 vreceiving socket 9 is at 8 with the opposite ends of the heating element. To the 'rear end of the casing a plug also attached by bolts 10, the socket takino a slightly inclined upstanding position and containing the contacts 7. The socket is extended to provide two rests or legs 1l and 12 which are adapted when the iron is turned to the position shown in Figure 2 to support the iron in its not in use or resting position.

All'the above parts of the'iron are of well known and ordinary construction and accordingly I have'not considered it necessary to herein give a more detailed description of the same.

The iron handle 13 is provided at the under side with a longitudinally extending channel or groove 14 and it is supported in its position abovel the body of the iron by a bar 15 fastened to the casing by the screws 6 and having the ends thereof up turned as shown and secured by screws 16 to the ends of the handle. The up turned rear end of the bar 15 is provided with a vertical slot 17 and the up turned front end of the bar is provided withaslot 18. A pivot pin 19 crosses the rear end of the channel 14 being carried by the handle and the pin supports pivotally a finger latch or trigger 20 which has the rear end `ena provided with a substantially V-shaped notch 21 and the forward end provided at the lower corner with a right angled notch-22, it being observed that the rear end of the latch protrudes freely through the slot 17 and that forward end thereof terminates within the up turned forward end of the bar 15.

A spring 23 is interposed between the latch and the handle which spring operates to continuously press the forward end of the latch downwardly. The socket 9 receives a contact plug indicated generally by the reference numeral 24.-, the plug having the lower end thereof fastened permanently within the socket by a bolt 25 provided and having feed wires 26 and 27 leading from the upper end and communicating with a suitable source of electric current, as is usual. The plug contains similarv electrical spring contacts 28 and29 of well known type adapted, in the inserted position of the plug as shown, to make electrical connection with the contacts7 hereinbefore mentioned and the plug embodies in its construction a toggle switch indicated generally by the reference numeral g toggle switch is in that it embodies pivoted trip 30 which controls the passage of current to the heating element of the iron.

`The details/of the switch will be shortly described but I might at thistime mention as part of` its structure a bar 31 projecting from the plug and entering the notch 21 of rangement being such that when the latch 20 is in the position shown in Figure 2, the the on position and curl rent is flowing to the heating element of the the block in a such time the front the irom the ariron and such that when the latch is permitted to swing to the position shown in Figure 1, the trip bar 31 is actuated by the latch to turn the toggle switch so that it is in an od position and there is no current flowing to the heating element of the iron. Accordingly, the position of the latch controls the on or off condition ofvthe iron.

A lever 32 is pivotally supported by a in 33 from the bar 15 and this lever is curve to approximate theicurvature of the forward end of the bar and has the upper: end thereof terminatingl in a weight or ball 34 and provided also with a horizontally disposed locking pin 35 and the lower end extending through a longitudinally extending slot 36 provided in the lcasing 5 and terminating in a plurality of down turned spaced fingers 37, 38'and 39 which. overlie the upper face of the block3. A thermostat 40 in the form of a curved semicircular shapedv strip is secured by a screw 41 to the block 3, the thermostat lying in the horizontal plane and having the free end thereof crossing location considerably lin advance of the pin and positioned such that it will be caught by one or other of the fingers in a manner later described. The strip is formed from two pieces of metal having different co-eficients of expansion and contraction and it is closely associated with the block so that it will expand and contract under the varying temperature of the block, the free end of the thermostat drawing closer to the pin 41 as the temperature increases and passing further away from the pin as the temperature diminishes.

The pin 35 passes and any suitable means can be employed for preventing the withdrawal of the pin from the slot under the gravitational influence of the weight 34. Such is herein shown as a tit 35 on the inner end of the pin ada ted to en-gage with the lower end of lthe s ot 18.

Obviously the same object could be accomfreely through the slot 18 v lished by dispensing`with the tit and limiting the down swinging of the upper end of the lever 32 by Contact of the lower end thereof with the under side of the bar 15.

When the heating element 4of the iron is not heated, the controlling toggle switch is in the position shown in Figure 1 and at end of the latch is down and the locking leven` is free, that is to say, it is held in the out position or in a direction away from the handle by the gravitational action of the ball and at such time, the fingers are all above the plane containing the upper edge of thethermostat..

. When one desires the iron to become heated, he grasps the handle in the usual way and naturally grips-the latch and at the same time, he can swing the iron to the position shown in Figure 2 where it is resting on the legs. The gripping of the handlev and the 50 toggle switch and turns ofl'l the current suppractical ironing purposes.' l

55 'automatically to actuate the switch and at a feed wires 26 and 27 'and the bar 43 makes di- 1r 60 do so without fear of burning or scorching lplate 46 is fastened by a screw 46 to the plug latch causes the forward end of the latclito turn on the current and the current will only move towards the handle into the position remain on as long as the latch is gripped so shown in Figure 2 and in such position it bethatthe operator has complete control of the comes automatically locked by the pin 35 heating ofthe iron during the ironing operwhich is at such time forced in by the graviation. I might here remark that while iron- 70 tational action of the weigth which at such lng is being done,the ball operates to hold time is acting to swing the upper end of the the pin 35 clear of the adjoining end of the lever towards the handle. The movement of latch and the fingers clear of the thermostat.` the latch to the position shown in Figure 2 By providing several fingers, Lam able to ,a is sucientto cause the closing of the toggle have Several heat ranges when the lron 1S 7.1 switch and the consequent flow of current to heating inthe position shown in Figure 2 and the heating element. Accordingly the iron this is explained in the following way. Aswill commence to heat the instant it is sumi'ng that the latch has been released by brought to the up ended position as shown the engagementof the thermostat with the f 1b. in Figure 2 and simultaneously the latch is first finger 37 in the manner already exo automatically locked by the pin so that one yplained, one can, if he desires, pull the latch can then release his hand grip and leave the again towards the handle at which time, it iron to heat. K l will be automatically locked by the pin 35 The movement occurring in the lever unand the free end of the thermostat will then der the influence of the weight when the iron be between the first and second fingers 37 and 25 is brought to the up ende position is suf- 38. The latchwill remain locked with the cient also to swing the fingers towards the current on until the thermostat, due to the block 3 and into a position normally to the Vincreasing temperature of the iron, engages inner side of but clear of the outer end of the and shifts the second finger an amount to the outer end ofthe thermostat is at this time This can be gauged to occur when the temfrom the front linger 37 is utilized as a timperature of the iron has reached say 450 F. ing element determining when the latch will if this temperature is iiotsufficient for the will be unlocked and the toggle switch thrown particular ironing purpose of the operator,

to open position. 4 he can again move the latch towards the 95 O bviousl as the iron heats in the osition handle where it becomes locked automaticalshown in igure 2, thev free end of the therly, the current is turned on and the free end mostat will radually move towards the anof the thermostat is then between the fingers chored end t ereof and I desire it to contact 38 and 39. When the thermostat has further with the finger 37 approximately about the contracted, due to increased temperature, to M) time that the iron is heated a sufficient teincontact with the finger 39 and move it suffiperature for ordinary ironing purposes which ciently far to withdraw the pin 35,- the latch will be approximately around 350 F. After will be again released and the current turned contacting with the first finger 37, the further off at which time the temperature may be ap- 40 in movement of the free and of the thermoproximately 600 F. 135 stat due to the gradually increasing temper- While I have described a, plurality of atllle 0f the I'OII Will SWlIlg the IOWSI' en'd fingers, of course it will be understood that of the lever away from the block and coincithe iron might, be made with only one nger, dent with the time that the first finger is esas such might be found all that is necessary t5 CaPIlg OVGI the Upper edge 0f the` theIIIlO- for practical purposes, the finger being actu- L stat, thepin 35 is withdrawing from the ated by the thermostat to unlock the latch notch 22 and releaslng the latch to swing and throw the switch to off position at the. down under the action of thespring 23. The time the temperature of the iron has reached instant tha latch is released, it lactuatcs the a predetermined temperature sufficient for all ply to the heating element. Accordingly if The structural details of the toggle switch unattended, the element is in the above maiiwithin the plug are now described. Interiorner protected by the thermostat against bely the plug contains two bars 43 and 44 which ing overheated which latter operatesentirely are connected to the entering eids of the time when a predetermined or selected temrect electrical connection ,with the contact perature is reached.l 29 while, that 44 is connected electrically by If one ,desires to iron after the iron has a screw 45 to an angle plate 45. Directly become heated and the latch released he can opposite the angle plate '45,a further angle ,mi the clothes as the current will remain ofi' unand between the free ends of the angle plates, til' the latch is raised. Should one desire at I locate a pair of spaced substantially V- any time while ironing to heat the iron, all shaped Spanner bars 47 and 48the endsof he has to do is to grip .the latch to cause it to which are"carried byv similar plates 49 and rise and this will manipulate the switch and 50 fastened to the-plug. 1:0

thermostat or strip 40. The distance which withdraw the pin 35 and release the latch. 90

lOperates in Figure 1 to b the heating Aelement o the latch is up, the toggle switch lieatin g element.

. While I have en scription of the p "employed,.l wish any type of switch whi Ithe swinging break the circuit'co serve my. purpose.

What I claim as my 1 1. The combination with heated' ilat iron, of a norma controlling switch thereor, latch pivotally carried by t and having operati switch and arrange latch towards the h and in the release of th switch under gravity operate against moveme the switch and upon into a-resting position controlled by the risin iron for releasing the uponl a preselected reached.-

The Spanner turned tongues outer ends passed throug provided in the angle pl these tongues f yoke 53 w having a f a cross strip 3l provid of thev trip bar outwardly through vided in the plug an of fitted with extendi receiving openings 56 pr ner bars 47 and 48. around the spindle and the forks and norma continuously tow insulating p this overlying cut away centrally t When the protruding out lbar is pressed in one d is in direct elect 44 swings back strip 58 and wh the other direction, the yo makes contact bar 60 which is in tion with the contact 28.

The spring toggle swit when the yo position.

carries slidably ards the cross strip 31 58 is inserted in the plug, 3. The combinationwith an electrically tho bars Ligand and being heated fiat iron, of a member conveniently o receive the yoke. l

or end of the trip grasped and moved towards the handle in the yoke which the gripping of the handle, means holding l contact with the bar and strikes the insulating on the trip bai is moved in heating circuit of the iron upon the member ke swings over and with the ntumod ond 59 of a automatically locking the latter member in direct electrical conneclts of course acts to make the operate posi ke is swung jus tively and quickly t past dead central h b perature. 4 tf hrlltohanl 4. The combination with an electrically heated flat iron, of a 4switch carried bythe As before state actuated by the adjacent e when the latch is down as shown reak the iiow of current to f the iron and when said switch being normally in an open posito close the circuit through and effect the heating of the by the iron handle and adapted to be pressed articular type of switch nvention is an electrically the switch closed and upon the iron being 11y open Circuit. swung to an up ended rested position butt pring pressed l he iron handle perature of the viron for releasing sai tions with the' ing means upon the heat of the iron reac ,l evpressing 0f the ing a predetermined temperature.

andle to close the switch 5. The combination' with` an electrically e llatch to open the heated ilat iron, o f a switch carried by the e vlatch spring,' iro'n and controlling the ironA heating cirg the latch cuit, said switch being normally in an open. n of position, a spring pressed latch pivotally.

the action of -th d means for lockin nt in the closed positio the iron being swung carried by theironhandle andadapted to be butt down and means pressed towards the handle against the actemperature of the tion of the` spring by the hand gripping the atter locking means handle, operating connections between ther temperatu're being latch and the switch arranged to close the bars are supplied with out i 2. The combination with an electrically 5l and 52 which have their heated flat iron, of a normally open circuit li suitable openings controlling switch therefor, a spring pressed ates 45V and 46 and latch pivotally carried by the iron handle s for the ends of a and having operating connections with thev a spindle 54 switch and arranged in the pressing 'of the orked end 55. The forks 55 span latch towards the handle to close the switch the inner end and in the release of the latch to open the trip bar protruding switch under theaction of the latch spring, a suitable opening pro gravity operated means for locking the latch d having the Sides thereagainst movement in the closed position of ng lugs 31 which enter the switch and upon the iron being.swung ovided in the Spaninto a resting position butt down and a spring 57 is passed thermostat actuated by the heat of the iron 54 and engages the yoke and arranged to release the locking means lly presses the foi-ks aforesaid upon the heat of the iron reaching An a predetermined temperature.

located, in respect to the iron handle to be said member normally in a position away from the handle, means closing the electrical being pressed towards the handle, means down and tliermostatically operated means .iron and controlling the iron heating circuit, tion, a spring pressed latch pivotally carried towards the handle against the action of the med ini-.0 a detailed de- Spring by the hand grlpplng the handle, 0p-

' erating connections between the latch and the it to bo understood that switch arranged to close the switch in the ch can be o erated e latch topmako and to open the switch under the pressure of the ntaining the element will latch spring upon the release of the latch, means for automatically locking the latch' by pressing of the latch towards the handle and against movement in its pressed position with down and means actuated by the risin ltei# oc switch in the pressing of the latch towards for releasing the locking means upon the heatl of the iron reaching a predetermined temlill the handle and to open the switch under the pressure ofthe latch spring upon the release of the latch, gravity operated means forlocking the latch in its pressed position with the switch closed upon the iron being turned to an up ended rested position butt down and a thermostat operating under the increasing temperature of the .iron in such latter position to release said locking means upon the heat of the iron reaching a predetermined temperature.

6. The combination with an electrically \heated flat iron, of a switch carried by the iron and controlling the iron heating circuit,

said switch being normally in an open position, a spring pressed latch pivotally carried by the iron handle vand'adapted to be pressed towards the handle against the action of the spring by the hand gripping the handle, op-

erating connections between the latch and the switch arranged to close the switch in the pressing of the latch towards the handle and to open the switch under the pressure of the latch sprin upon the release of the latch, a weighted ever pivotally carried by the iron and provided with a locking pin and arranged in theswnging of the iron to a rested position, butt down, to effect, under the action of gravity, the locking of the latch in its pressed position, b the pin and-a thermostat associated with t e iron and the lever and adapted upon the heat of the iron reaching a predetermined temperature to actuate the lever and withdraw the lockingpin.

7. In an electrically heated flat iron, the combination with a spring pressed circuit controllin member arranged to' be vmoved towards t e iron handle in the gripping of the handle by the hand and to close through 40 such movement the heating circuit of the iron, of means operatin automatically to lock the aforesaid mem er against movement in its hand pressed position upon the iron bein brought to a rested up ended .posi- 46 tion butt own and means actuated by the rising temperature of the'iron for releasing said locking means .upon the heat of the iron reachingl a predetermined temperature.

8. In an electrically heated iiat iron, the

50 combination with a spring ressed circuit controllin member arrange to be moved towards t e iron handle in th'e gripping of the handle by the hand and to close through such movement the heatin circuit4 of the 66 iron, of a vity actuate lever pivotally carried by e iron and operating u n the iron bein brought to an up end rested position utt down, to lock the 'member against movement in its hand pressed posil0 tion and a thermostat associated with the iron and the lever and adapted to move the lever and unlock the member upon the heat of the iron reac a predetermined temperature.

' Signed at inni this 6th day of June, 1929. WAe ER E. BELCHER.

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