US1981309A - Electric iron and switch therefor - Google Patents

Description

Nov zo 1934* J. A. cRossLAND Er AL 1,981,309

ELECTRIC IRON AND SWITCH THEREFOR Filed Sept. 27, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 x LI I y m fyi/enfans? y y 4MM MW Nov. 20, 1934. J, A. cRossLAND x-:r AL l 1,981,309`

ELECTRIC IRON AND SWITCH THEREFOR Filed Sept. 27. 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [nya/Maru M. MQ MM @y mw 1f/0mg' otr/72m.

Patented Nov.v 20', 1934 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC IRON SWITCH THEREFOB y John Arthur Crossland and Ernest Milling Crossland, Strangeways, Manchester, England Application September 27, 1933, Serial No. 691,222

4 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to electric irons as used for domestic and laundry purposes, and has for its object to provide an improved iron in which there is incorporated a switch, so placed that the grasping of the iron for use automatically completes the circuit of the current to the heating elements, and by which when the iron is released by the user, the current circuit is automatically broken, means also beingprovided for retaining the switch in the closed position when desired,

say for initial heating up.

The invention comprises both an improved iron, and also the improved switch mechanism for attachment thereto.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings whereinz'- -Y Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation with the switch held in the closed position;

Fig. 2 is a like view, of the handle part of the iron, but showing the switch in the open position;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the switch with a' portion of the outer member broken away to show the interior contacts;

Fig. 4` is a part sectional end elevation ofthe iron shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram.

As shown, thebody of the viron comprises the base member a and the weight member b, between which are the heating elements c and an insulating cover d of asbestos or the like. Above the weight member b is a further insulating member e, whilst a polished metal or like shroud-f encloses those parts above the base member a. v

The handle of the iron comprises a -U shaped part g of metal, to the outer end parts of which are secured by screws h1 .insulating covers h of syntheticresin or like materlalfwhilst between the extreme ends oi' the .part g is a'tubular handle i of similar insulating material, the handle being 40 lshouldered down' below each end to overlie the parts g and h, and being held in position thereon by means of a long screw i1 lying in the through hole i2 of the handle. The parts h are hollow on the inner side, so as to provide between themselves and the member g,- conduits for the wires 1. In the upper face of the handle i is a recess k, `to the door of which are secured by screws l11 long spring contacts I, to which the wires d are connected, the contacts being separated at k1 by an upstanding part o! the handle, to prevent a short circuit. and being limited in their approach towards each other by a further upstanding part k. The con# tacts l are rounded over at their i'ree ends.

Pivotallymounted on the walls o! the recess k is a movable switch arm m. the free end o! which (C1. 21a-z5) Y has a contact m1, adapted to pass between the bent over ends of the contacts l, the part m1 being of slightly greater Width than the projection k2 so as to separatethe parts l and thereby ensure a close contact between the parts I and m.

Pivotally mounted on the handle i'is a cover or shroud n of insulating material, which is shaped so as to enclose the switch parts abov'e described,

and such cover n has on its inner side va projection n1, to the lower end of whichv is connected one end of a spring o, thelother end of the spring being connected to the part ml'oi the switch arm m. The disposition and size ofthe projection n1 are such that when'the cover n is depressed the end of the spring o which attaches to the part nl is below the pivot for the arm m, whereby the spring exerts itself to pull the part m into contact with the parts l, and when the .cover nis released the lower end of the projection nl'is raised above the pivot for the arm m, whereby the same spring operates to pull the contact m1 away from contacts l. By arranging the pivot nl for the cover 11 v y below the level ot the spring o, the spring always tends to lift the cover about its pivot, and break the current circuit. A further spring o1 serves 30 also to hold the cover n normallyin the raised v position, in which position the arm-m contacts Awith the inner face of the cover n and is thereby limited in its upward movements.

' In the outer end ofthe cover n is provided a 35 plunger p having a steppedend p1, and in the adjacent end 4of the handle i is a'double-shoul dered notch into which the part p1 projects. Normally the part p1 abuts against the outer shoulder of the notch and limits the upward movements of thevcover n (see Fig. 2) When, however, the cover n is'depressed the plunger p can be pushed in until the part p1 enters the lower notch, (see Fig. 1) so that on releasing the cover with the plunger in that position, the cover is held in the 95 down or "switch closed position, This is convenient when it ris desired to heat the iron initially ready for use. A spring is provided behind the plunger p, normally tending to move the plunger to the outward position so that when the desired 10 temperature has vbeen reached the mere grasping of the handle of the iron, which results in a depression of the part n, allows the spring to exert itself and push the plunger outwards, so that on again releasing the handle the switch .rises and the circuit is broken.

In use, every time the handle is grasped for use, the current to the heating elements is completed, and when the handle isreleased the circuit is min broken. 'rms avoids um waste of cunent 1,1@

struction, the inner `metal parts y` being a rein,

forcement tothe outerb insulating parts h and z', and, the metal part g, being connected by screws to the weightV and base part of the iron, serves to take the pull and thrust. The parts h of Athe insulating material will usually be highly polished so, as to give a good appearance to the iron. The current is supplied to the iron from the usual plug ttings via the pins q.

What we claim is: Y

1. In an electric iron, a switch handle operated by the normal grasping and releasing thereof,

` comprising a body part of insulating material with a long recess in the upper face, two xed contacts secured in the recess and in series with the heating element of the iron, a pivoted contact mounted in the said recess and adapted in one "position to bridge the saidxed contacts, a pivoted cover overlying the whole of the body part, a spring normally tending to lift the cover about its pivot, and a further spring connecting the ycover to the pivoted contact, the points of connection of thel further spring being such that the pivoted contact is pulled into andout of engagement with the'xed contacts as the cover is depressed and raised respectively.

2. An electric Yiron with an automatic switch handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ixed contacts comprise long strips of spring metal folded back at one end, a-bent-over flange on the folded back portion, to be screwed to the floor of the recess, and a contact block on the other end, and wherein the pivoted contact comprises a.v U-shaped member having its bridge part at right angles to the arms, the arms at their ends being pivoted to the side walls of the recess.

3. In anelectric iron, a switch-handle having xed and movable parts operated by the normal grasping and releasing of the iron to close and open the current circuit, a sliding spring-pressed plunger in one of said parts, and a double-shouldered notch in the other part, the yplunger and one notch holding the switch in the closed position and the plunger and the other notch limiting the relative movement of the parts in the open position.

4. An electric iron comprising a base, a weight, resistance heating elements and an enclosing shield therefor, and a U-shaped frame of at metal to carry a handle, screws clamping all said parts together, a handle of insulating material with a large diameter through hole andstepped atA eachvend to rest yon upstanding ends of the metal frame, the stepped part being in line with the upper wall of said hole, a long screw passing through the through hole in the hollow handle to secure it to the metal frame, and hollow facings on the outer sides of the' metal frame to form conduits for the conducting wires between the heating elements and the switch, such facings also concealing the said screw and through hole, and having enlarged side walls at the lower end extending inwardly beyond the metal frame.

JOHN ARTHUR-CROSSLAND. ERNEST MILLING CROSSLAND.v

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