US2231894A

US2231894A - Mechanical ironing device

Info

Publication number: US2231894A
Application number: US747241A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin E Foster
Original assignee: MAJIKIRONERS Inc
Current assignee: MAJIKIRONERS Inc
Priority date: 1934-10-06
Filing date: 1934-10-06
Publication date: 1941-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 1958-02-18

Description

Feb. 1s, 1941@ E E FOSTER l 2,231,894

MEGHAN I CAL IRON ING DEVI CE 'Filed oet. s, 1934 5 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 18, 1941.- E. E. FOSTER MI:"CI IANICAI.|A IRONING DEVICE 4Filed Oct. 6, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 18, 1941. E. E. FOSTER MECHANICAL IRONING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 6. 1934 imm/HMA Feb.4 18,l 1941. E E FOSTER 2,231,894

n y MECHANICAL IRONING DEVICE Filed Oct. 6, 1934 v 5 Sheet s -Sheet 4 Feb. 18, 1941. E. E. FOSTER MECHANICAL IR'CNINC DEVICE 5 sheets-sheet s Filed Oct. 6, 1934 .Patented Feb. 1s,l 1941 PATENT OFFICE l 2,231,894 MECHANICAL moNING DEVICE Edwin E. Foster, Austin, Tex., assignor to Majik- Ironers, Inc., Austin, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application October 6, 1934, Serial No. 747,241

, 19 Claims.

The present invention relates to a mechanical ironing device and is an improvement over the ironing device in accordance with my copending application for Letters Patent Serial No. 683,218, filed August 1, .1933, now Patent No. 2,027,274, dated January 7, 1936.

The object of the present invention is to provide an ironing device having a mechanical arm and mounted adjacent an ironing board. The mechanical arm is constructed as simply as possible with a minimum of moving parts. The iron and arm are counterbalanced and when the iron is forced onto and contacts with the ironing board, which force is very slight, the iron automatically receives a force equal to that required lto iron successfully so that the operator need not apply any pressure on the board. It is thus only necessary to push the iron laterally overL the board, and when the weight of the operators hand is removed from the handle of the iron, theiron is raised automatically by the arm of the iron to leave the iron suspended a few inches above the board.

The advantagesof a mechanical ironing device according to the present invention are as follows:

. Itis not necessary to lift the iron at any time nor is it necessary to ride, the iron during ironing as the mechanical arm does all the work of lifting, lowering and pressing the iron onv the board. For. this reason the iron itself isV extremely light and in its suspended position it is easily pushed or pulled out of the way without undue manual effort. A slight push down on the handle of the iron will result, when the iron touches the` board, in the mechanical arm forcing the iron downwardly on the board with all the pressure necessary for perfect ironing.' The cord for the electric current for heating the iron enters at the end of the arm and thus the electric wires .areprovided in the arm to the iron so that the cord is at all times completely outA 'ofthe Way and well protected. AThe iron cannot fall off the board assit-is permanently secured to the mechanical arm. Also it cannot cause` ii-res or scorching by remaining on the board when not in use as the iron Ais forced upwardly by the mechanical arm a slight distance the in stant the hand is removed from the handle of the iron. The arm of the ironing device uses no electric. current as it is entirely mechanical. lFinally the entire ironingl device can be neatly and easily folded up and stored away as a com'- pact and portable household appliance.

of the board.

The lforegoing are all advantages and objects of the present invention but others will suggest themselves when the following description is taken into consideration together with the accompanying drawings. As an example the me- 5 chanical arm is operated by a single spring which not only acts as a counterbalance for the arm and iron but also supplies the pressure necessary to force the iron on the board when the iron touches the board and continues to press the iron on the board during the entire ironing procedure.

The drawings show a form of the invention in which the same reference numerals indicate corresponding cr similar parts throughout the several views and inv which:

Figure 1 is a. front-side viewof the entire mechanical ironing device,

Fig. 2 is a top view of the entire device,

Fig. 3 is anend-side View of the entire device on a somewhat larger scale,

Fig. 4 is a' side view. of the iron and its arm together with the mechanical operator for the arm,

Fig. 5 is a. top view of a portion ofthe arm partly in section,

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the iron and a portion of the arm, i

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the mechanical operator and a portion of the arm,

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the operator taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the operator taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side view of a portion of the operator,

Figs. 11 to 14 are diagrammatic side views illustrating the operator in four different positions, Y

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional View of the universal. joint in the iron, and

Fig. 16 is a top view. ofV the iron with a number of parts removed. A

The complete device as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 includes a preferably tubular frame I- having a 45 plurality of legs 2, an ironing board 3 mounted on the frame I, and an iron operator 4l supporting the arm 5 andthe iron 6 and mounted on the frame I. The entire machine can be folded up by unscrewing the legs 2, loosening the bolts l and by rotating the operator I 270- clockwisey (Fig. 3) around the linear pivot 8 (Figs. 3, 4 and 7) as a center so that the operator, arm and the iron will be adjacent the bottom surface electric cord 9 and a switch plug I6 to the top operator 4. y

The iron 6 is mounted on the arm 5 as shown 4in Figs. 4 to s. The arm s is jointed so that itv comprises two sections II and I2 movably connected together by the joint I3. A lever 'system passes through the arm portions II and I2 and through the joint I3 and consists of a lever I4` pivoted at I5 in the'arm II. -A lever I6 is pivoted at I1 in the arm I2 and both arms in the joint I3 are connected to each other by a pull rod I8. The other end of the lever I6' is connected to an operating rod I9 which extends from the end of the arm 5 into the operator 4.

The operator 4, Figs. 7 to 14, comprises a staltionary frame member 20 rigidly secured to the frame of the entire device. A movable mem-- ber 2| carries the arm 5 and is mounted to move vertically by means of interconnecting links 22 connecting the

members

20 and 2| in the form of a parallelogram.

As shown in Figs. 7 vto 10, two links 22 are provided at the lower end of the parallelogram, Fig. '7, and one link on the upper end, Fig. 8. The lower links 22 are interconnected by means of a bar 23. The parallelogram, therefore, comprises the

members

20 and 2| and the links 22. v

A bracket 24 is secured to the member` 2| by means of screw 25 and a cap screw 26. A double arm 21 is pivotally connected to the bracket at 28 and has one end of a spring 29 secured thereto by means of an adjustable link 3|) mounted on Ya pin 3|. This link 30 is adjustable by means of the set screw 32. A section 33 extends across the arm 21 to which the operating rod I9 is secured. The other end of the spring 29 is connected to a pin34 secured toa bracket 35 which in turn is fastened to the upper link 22.

As clearly shown in Fig. 9 the lower links 22 are mounted on ball-bearings 36 which are maintained in place by screws 31 in shafts 38.

The operation of this parallelogram arrangement is as follows:

Referring to Figs. 11 to 14, Fig. 12 shows the vertically movable member 2|' of the four bar linkage in its extreme upward position. The spring 29 has a slight tension therein but is in its unstretched position. Fig. 11 shows the parts in the half-way position in which the distance betweena center line of the spring 29 to the point B is less than the distance between a center line of the spring 29 to the point B in Fig. 12. In other words the effective lever arm for tensioning the spring lessens as the member 2| moves downward and therefore compensates for the fact that the tension onthe spring increases. In Fig. 13, the member 2| has travelled still lower so that the points C and D almost coincide but the spring 29 still continues to lift upward with about the same force that it did at the beginning or middle of the stroke. At this position the iron would be adjacent Ato the board. Then the weight of the hand of the operator upon the handle of the iron moves the arm- 21 upwardly as shown in Fig. 14. In this position the spring is pulling downward. When the arm 21 is in line with the upper link 22, the spring is neither pulling upwardly orydownwardly. By providing the stops 39 adjustable on the member 2| the lifting force and the pressure force may be easily adjusted to any combination. Thus the throwover of the arm 21 takes place preferably before C and D attain coincidence.

. l 2,231,894A i Electric current is brought to the device by an The iron 6 is mounted on thev section II of the arm 5 by means of a swivel joint arrangement as shown in Figs. 6 and 15. The section II terminates into a collar 39' which is surrounded by a ring 40. A second ring 4I surrounds the ring 40, and by .means of pins 42 threaded into the l rings and collar a swivel action is attained as..

clearly seen in Fig. 15. This swivel mounting allows the iron to tilt to travel over any slight irregularities resulting from the articles to be ironed. Y

Around the second ring 4| a pair of conducting rings 43 are secured and each ring has a sliding contact member 44 for the electric current for the heating element 45 as shown in Fig. 16. These conducting rings revolve with the arm 5 and in this way the iron may be rotated through 360 with current at all times ilowing to the heating element.

The handle 46 of the iron is held on the fork 41 which is secured on the iron by means of a spindle 48. This spindle is secured to the fork by a screw 49 and to the iron6 by a bushing 50 and pin 5|, Fig. 6. As seen in this figure, the

spindle 48 does not extend to the bottom plate of the iron in. order to permit vertical movement of the-handle 46, fork 41, and spindle 48 relative to the iron. The screw 49 is suilicient to tightly hold the fork 41 to the spindle 48 so that both will rotate together but if desired to guard against any slippage a ball 48 may be inserted between these members, and this ball acts as a key. A ball-bearing 52 between thering 4| and the bushing permits the iron 6 together with the fork 41 and handle 46 to be rotated 360 on the arm 5. A cover 53 is provided under the fork which is stationary and'which has aY slot 54 therein fr the arm 5. 1 l

The end of the lever I4 is connected to one end of a short lever operator 55 pivoted in the arm portion II at' 56 of which the -other end terminates into a ball 51 in the iron. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a slot connection 58 is provided for the operator 55 and thelever I4 in order to (change directions of the strke, as a, downward movement of the iron handle must result in an upward pull of the operating link I9. y

The operation of the device is as follows: When an operator pushes the iron down which results by merely resting the weight of the hand or the hand and arm on the handle 46, the, iron 6. arm 5 and-the iron operator 2| move downis on the board and upon further .downward movement of the handle 46 a downward movement of the fork 41 slightly rotates the lever operator V55 around pivot 56. 'I'his rotates the lever I4 around pivot 'I5 causing a downward travel of the pull rod I8 and a slight rotation of the lever I6 which in turn pulls the operating rod 'I9 upwardly. This latter results in the

members

29 and 21 assuming a position shown in Fig. 14 from the position 'of Fig..13. The spring 29 will now exert a downward pull on the operator 2| which leirerts a downward force on the iron 6 by means of'the arm 5 yas long as the operators hand exerts a slight force on the handle 46. Upon releasing this force on the handle 46 the various elements reverse their movementsv so that the spring 29 will restore the parts 22, 5 and 'iron 6 to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 12.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7 /tlae electric cord 6I is mounted and having means associated therewith to apply an ironing pressure to the iron, and

' means operable from the iron by movement with respect to the arm and to the parallelogram device to apply pressure on the i'ron through the arm by means of the parallelogram device when the iron contacts an ironing board or the material to'be ironed.

2. A mechanical ironing deviceA comprising an iron, an arm on which the iron is mounted, a handle mounted for movement with respect to said iron, a jointed parallelogram device to one link of which the arm is rigidly secured and having means to counterbalance the weight of the iron or to apply ironing pressure on the iron, and means operable by movement of the handle with respect tothe iron to remove the influence of the counterbalance and to apply ironing pressure on the arm and iron when the iron contacts an ironing board or the material to be ironed.

3. A mechanical ironing device according to claim 2, in which the last-mentioned means consists of a linkage system in the arm.

4. A mechanical ironing device according to claim 2, in which means is provided on the handle and in the iron to permit vertical movement of the handle relative to the iron, and in which the second-mentioned means consists of a linkage system operable by themovement of the handle;

5. A mechanical ironing -device according to claim 2, in which the first-mentioned means includes a spring.

6. A mechanical ironing device according to claim 2, in which the first-mentioned means includes a spring, and in which 'the last-mentioned means includes a plurality of links pro-. vided in the arm.

7. A mechanical ironing device comprising an iron, a handle mounted for movement with respect to said iron, an arm on which the iron is mounted and suspended over an ironing board, a jointed parallelogram device on which the arm is mounted on one of the members thereof, said jointed parallelogram device having a shiftable A spring cooperating with and connected thereto which acts to counterbalance the weight of the iron and its arm when the iron is in a position out of contact with the board, and means passing through the arm and operable bytmovement of the handle with respect to said arm to actuate the sp-ring when the iron is pushed down to contact the board to remove the influence of Athe counterbalance and to apply pressure on the arm and iron.

8. A mechanical ironing device according to claim 7, in which an arm is connected at one end to the parallelogram andthe spring is connected at one end to one of the members of the parallelogram and the other end to the other end of the last-mentioned arm.

9. A mechanical ironing device Ifor an ironing board, comprising an iron, an arm on one end of which the iron is mounted, a handle movably mounted with respect to the iron, a movable member on which the other end ofthe arm is mounted, a stationary member mounted on the board, a pair of links interconnecting the movable and stationary members, an arm pivotally 75 mounted on the movable member, a spring secured at one end to the last-named arm and to one link at the other end, and acting as a counterbalance for the iron, and means-passing through -board by moving said last-named arm.

10. A mechanical ironing device comprising an iron and an arm on which the iron is mounted, a handle movably mounted with respect to the iron, means for supporting the arm including four pivoted members forming a parallelogram, a spring, a link pivotally secured at one end to one of the four members and the other end to one end of the spring, the other end of thespring being connected to one of the otherthree of the four' members and means operatively connected with the handle and the link through the arm and operable by movement of the handle with respect to the iron to shift 'the spring by said link to counterbalance the weight 'of the iron and arm in one position and in another position to force the iron on the material to be ironed with `ironing pressure by moving said last-named arm.

1l. A mechanical movement for changing the direction of a force comprising a member movable in at least two directions, a second member pivoted to the first-mentioned member at a point on said second member, a, spring secured at one end to the other end of the second-mentioned member and having the other end pivotally secured to a point against which the force inthe spring reacts, said pivot points being relatively movable with respect to each other so that they -.may be moved closeto one another or attain relatively moved close to each other or attain coincidence and the second-mentioned member is shifted around its pivot, a force ina direction opposite to the direction 'of the first-mentioned force is imparted to the first-mentioned member by the spring.

12. A mechanical movement according to claim 11, in which the spring follows the movement of and moves with the second mentionedmember around the pivot point of said spring when the second-mentioned member is shifted around its I pivot point.

13. A mechanical ironing device comprising an iron, an arm on which the iron is mounted so that it may be moved transversely/over an ironing board in any direction, a universal joint connection between the iron and the arm to permit the iron to pass over any irregularities on the ironlng board, a pair of contact rings and sliding contacts to carryielectrlc current to a heating element of the iron, and means'so that'the iron may be turned through 360 on the" arm.

14. A mechanical actuator for ironing devices comprising a stationary member, a movable member, means for interconnecting the members to maintain the members parallel to each other,

an arm secured to the movable member and shlftable relative thereto, and tension means secured to the arm and to the first-named means to force the movable member upwardly and to exert a force downwardly on the movable member capable of producing an ironing pressure when the movable member is in a lowered position and upon shifting of the arm.

15. A mechanical actuator for ironing devices comprising a stationary member, a movable member, means for interconnecting the members to maintain the members parallel to each other,`

shiftable means associated with the movable member, and a spring to force the movable member upwardly and to exert a force downwardly on the movable member capable of producing an ironing pressure when the movable member is in a lowered position and -upon shifting of the last members to maintain the'members parallel to each other, an arm pivotally mounted on the movable member, and a spring secured at one end to the arm and at the other end to one of said links to normallyforce the movable member upwardly and to exert a force downwardly on the movable member capable of producing an ironing pressure when the movable member is forced downwardly and when the arm shifts its position around its pivot.

18. An actuator according to claim 16, in which the plurality of links is in the form of a pair of links each pivotally connected at both ends to the members.

19. A mechanical movement comprising a pair of members and means to maintain relative parallel movement between the members,r a third member'pivotally connected to one of said pair of members, and a spring having one end secured to the third'member and the other end secred to said means, said spring being maintained under tension at all times by said members and means and adapted, when shifted by said third member to set up forces of different magnitude ,and direction between said pair of members.

EDWIN E. FOSTER.