US2263765A - Ironing table - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 25, 1941. H. B. FAY.

l 7 1301mm TABLE Original Filed Aug. 6, 1958 2 Sheets-Shaet 1 INVENTOR BY H. B. Hw-

- Amp/Era Nov. 25, 1941-. H, Y I "2,263,765

IRONING TABLE v Original Filed Aug. 6, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vINVEN IOR; I H.B.F7w"

ATTORN Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE creases i IRONING TABLE Horace B. Fay, Willoughby, Ohio, assignor to Gridiron Steel Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio 2' Claims.

The present invention, relating as indicated to ironing tables, is particularly concerned with the manufacture of a metallic structural element adapted for use as the top of an ironing table or analogous structure in which strength, ab-

sence of fire danger, low weight and low cost are important. The invention, while adapted for various uses as will be evident from its construction as hereinafter described will here be illustrated in the form of a folding ironing table of generally conventional type.

The object of my invention is to provide a metal ironing table which combines convenient weight to suflicient strength, and which has in addition the safety factor which no wooden table can have, namely, the complete elimination of any fire hazard. A further object is to provide a metal ironing board so constructed and designed that a heating element can be included within the box-like board structure with absolute freedom from -fire danger. Other objects will be apparent in the subsequent description.

Folding ironing boards have been in use for many years and consist of a fiat top made from a single piece of wood and folding legs either of wood or metal hinged to the lower surface of the board to fold flat against the board proper when not in use. In this structure the wooden top is obviously the weakest element because it is subjected to severe and varying conditions such as heat from the ironing operation, bending moments at the outer unsupported end which is spaced a very considerable distance from the lorward legs, compression from the irons weight 'andthe pressure imposed upon it by the user.

The'repeated absorption and yielding up of moisture, the gradual further drying out of the wood in some climates, and the rough usage result in checking, warping, cracking and finally in the breaking of the top.

Various attempts have been made to produce a metal top for an ironing table iior analogous uses but without success. The requirements of such anarticle are severe and varied. Its cost and weight must approximate closely those of a wooden top. It must have uniform minimum resistance substantially all over its surface to the operating pressure oi the ironand it must withstand severe ber ding strains imposed upon'lts forward overhanging end portion which is run-- supported for a considerable'distaiice. This end portion is also weakened by being narrowed with respect to the width of the main portion of the board inorder to accommodate shirts, sleeves and thelike which are slipped over-the extendand one-quarter feet wide, and in wood weighs from seven and one-half to nine and one-half 5 pounds, depending upon the particular wood used and the amount of contained moisture at any given time. It must support forty pounds on the extended narrow end without undue deflection, setting or breakage, and it must withstand transverse bending strains of more than that amount. Previous attempts at metal boards have weighed I 50% to 100% more than the conventional wooden boards, at two to three times the cost. My improved board has the strength and weight of a wooden board at a comparable'cost. It secures these characteristics by fabricating a given weight of metal in the form of sheets into a closed box-like structure of a predetermined area with high resistance to bending moments box-like characteristic not only gives it extreme strength for its weight, but lends itself 'perfectly to the inclusion of electrical heating elements to warm the upper surface and facilitate and hasten the ironing operation, which is one purpose to whichthe board may be adapted, as will be explained later herein.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims: the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detailcertain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used. i

In said annexed drawings- Fig.1 is an elevational view of an ironing board mounted on a set of folding legs;-

Figs. 2 and 3 are a top plan view and a bottom plan view respectively, of the ironing board top 45 with the legs removed;

li ig. 2; 1

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section showing the use of the insulating material; and

,. Q l, but showing a modified construction.

Referring more particularly tothat form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, it will be seen that the ironing table-consists of a top it and a-conventional set of folding legs l2 suitably secured thereto, the legs being shown longitudinally, transversely and diagonally. Its v Fig. 6 is across-sectional view similar to Fig. I

in their extended position and being foldable forwardly about their hinge attachment 16 to the of the lower sheet and are then rigidly secured together preferably by spot welding. Obviously, however, all of the buttons need not be welded or otherwise secured to the top sheet to maintain the desired relationship between the sheets. This forms the sheets into a box-like structure as shown in Fig. 4, equivalent to a wooden top in stiffness.

To aid in obtaining the desired longitudinal strength without excess weight, the edges of the two sheets are flanged downwardly and then rolled or bent to form a stiffening bead 2| which extends entirely around the top I I inwardly of the peripheral edge thereof. The width of this bead should be suflicient to prevent lateral buckling and the depth should be such as to supplement the stiffness of the box top proper and increase the strength of the entire structure. The use of such bead 2| is for practical or commercial reasons rather than strictly structural strength as it allows for the use of very thin sheets and projections or buttons of a depth that can be easily pressed into the sheet. In forming buttons, it is advantageous to have the edges 24 of the projections overlap both longitudinally and transversely. By this construction the two sheets are formed into a braced girder construction as well as being formed into merely a box and the strength or stiffness of the' board is increased.

A heating'coil or element 50 is placed between the two sheets .of metal, the element being wound between the buttons, and the ends thereof being,

brought out to a contact box I which is provided with the usual wire 52 and plug 53 for connection to a base plug or convenient outlet. The

, contact box 5| may of course be provided with a receptacle or convenient outlet 54 so that an iron may be connected at this point if desired. Means for controlling the heating effect of the coil may also be contained in the contact box if desired as could heating control means for the iron. The heating element itself consists of a heating wire or coil suitably insulated from the metal sheets, such insulation 55 preferably covering the wire or coil itself.

In this type of top, it is preferable to have .the underneath or button surface covered with thermal insulation 51 to prevent excess heat radiation. To accomplish this. an insulating coating 5'! is applied to each surface and secured thereto. In Fig. 5, such insulation is shown on an enlarged scale, and consists of a suitable adhering coating 56, to which is applied small fragments 51 of suitable insulating material, such as ground cork or the like. The adhesive selected must be such as will not later soften under the' ironing temperatures applied to theboard.

The use of a metal top, as described, eliminates the cracking and warping of 'a wooden top, and is particularly advantageous where, as here, a heating element is incorporated in the top,.since the top is thereby subjected to a heating far in excess of that imparted thereto by the iron alone. Another advantage is the complete elimination of the fire hazard always heretofore present.

In addition, my metal top, being formed in a box-like structure with upper and lower sheets being spaced apart by metallic members, provides natural and necessary avenues or passages in which the heating coils can be placed so as to give a uniform distribution of heat and consequent uniform temperature all over the board top. This, it should be further noted, is accom-.

plished without the necessity of perforating any part of the top to provide for the passage of the heating element from one of the inter-button spaces to the other.

It is not necessary that the heating element extend through all of the inter-button spaces, it being only necessary that sufficient wire be used to secure the desired wattage or temperature and that such wire be more or less uniformly distributed over the entire area of the top.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the top is made up of two sheets 43 and 44 with projections or buttons 45. In this construction, the buttons are placed against each other and welded or otherwise secured together. In order to provide a smooth top, a third sheet 46 is placed over the upper button sheet 43 and secured in place by its flanges 48 which are rolled in with the flanges 49 of the button sheets to lock the top sheet securely in place. In this construction, as in Fig. 4, a heating element or wire 50 is provided which is extended through the interbutton spaces in the same manner as in the previously described form of the. invention.

It is to be particularly noted that in both forms of the invention, the heating element does not at any place encounter sharp edges or rough surfaces, such as would tend to cut or abrade the surface coating thereof. In fact all of the interior surfaces of the top are smooth and free from sharp bends and are thus admirably adapted for supporting the heating element.

This application is -a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 223,441, filed August 6, 1938, and now issued as Patent No. 2,233,735.

By the addition of controlled heat in the table top itself, the ironing time is materially reduced as the heat in the top assists in drying the clothes being ironed and in maintaining the pad or shield substantially dry at all times. By incorporating a heating element within the metal top which is free from sharp corners, a very satisfactory structure is obtained and one which furnishes a safe manner of holding and using the heating element.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In an ironing tabel top, the combination of two metal sheets, means to secure the sheets towardly from the latter-and having their upper portions rigidly secured to the top sheet to space the two sheets equi-distantiy, the edge of the top sheet being formed into a continuous downturned flange, one of said sheets having an edge portion formed into a bead enclosing the raw edge of the other sheet and thereby preventing hand contact A with the raw edges of said sheets and forming a box-like structure, and an electric heating element turned about at least some oi said spaced deformations and extending through the natural openings provided in said box-like structure by said deformations, said deformations and said electric heating element being distributed substantially uniformly throughout said box-like

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