US2502006A - Cordless iron - Google Patents

Description

March 28, 1950 D. D. HARDING 2,502,006

CORDLESS IRON Filed Sept. 6, 1945 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 28, 1950 D. D. HARDING CORDLESS IRON 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 6, 1945 DONALDD HAEDING Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CORDLESS IRON Donald D. Harding, Anderson, Ind assignor to John H. Lickert, doing business as Griscer Industr'ies, Allen County, Ind.

Application September 6, 1945', SeriaI'NO. 614,707

17' Claims. (01. 210-25) This invention relates to improvements in cordless electric sadiron assemblies--assemblies in which the iron, designed to be heated electrically, has no direct cord connection with the current supply, but receives its current through the rest upon which the iron is seated during the ironheating period.

Electrically-heated sadirons are well-known commercially, the iron carrying one or more heat ing elements installed therein, the iron carrying a suitable cord connection which permits ready attachment to a socket fixture to complete a current supplying circuit to the heating element. Such structures, while efficient, havethe disadvantage of the tendency to tether the iron by the length of the cord, with the cord itself tending to hamper the'free ironingoperation by its presence.

The present invention is designed to obtain the advantagesaccruing'through the use of electric heating-of the element, but eliminate the disadvantages of the cord presence during ironing operation. Since a cord connection is essential to obtain the current needed for the element hea ing, this is carried by the rest upon which the iron is seated while being heated. This leaves the heated iron free from cord connection when removed from-the rest and ready for service thus providing the untrammeled serviceability available with a sadiron heated by a separate source :7

and, in addition, having the advantages of the rapid and controlled internal heating that is present with the installed electrically-activated heating element. The change involves a number of problems requiring solution.

For instance, since the heatingelement is internal of the sadiron, the current for. activating the element must be brought to the element from an external source, inasmuch as the sadiron is to be free of cord connections; the rest for the iron carries connections with a source of current supply; hence, theproblem of extending the current path from the rest to the interior of the sadiron without the use of cord connections is prescut. This is the fundamental problem, but its solution involves many. correlated problems due to the fact that electric current is being utilized, these involvingthe use of contacts which must-be made operative to provide a complete circuit; the

need for preventing short-circuits; the isolationor the current path to prevent electrification of the body of the iron by current activity during element heating; control of the heating temperature of thesadiron; automatic limitation-oi current supply to periods when the sadiron is in po- 2 sition for heating with a manual control present to determine when the heating shall take place when the ironin its position for heating. These are a few of the problems involvedin solving the fundamental problem, others occurring in attempting to solve these and'other conditions.

The present invention has for itsprincipal objects the construction'of a sadiron assembly (a sadiron and its rest) designed to solve these and other incidental problems the solution of which is essential in providing a sadiron capable of being heated electrically by an internal heating element'but which, for ironing purposes, is free from cord connections witha sourceof current supply. The details of the problems, the way of solving them, and the means employed insolving them inthis way, are set forth in detail.

To these and other ends, therefore, the nature of which will be more clearly understood as the invention'is herein disclosed, said invention consists in the improved constructions and combie nations of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and morepa-rticularly defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying-drawings, in which 1 mlar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of theviews- Figure l is a central longitudinal section of the sadiron. t v

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the sadiron, taken on line 22 of Figurel.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the rest or support, with cover omitted.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary'sectional View of the rest base,- showing a modified formof contact mounting.

Figure 5 isa detail sectional view to illustrate a movement limiting means.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of thecontact carrier.

Figure '7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rear portions of the rest and sadiron with the latter in position onthe rest;

Figure '8 is; a plan view, partlyin section, of the showing of Figure 7. v

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view showing one form of mounting of a heating element contact within a heel part.

Figure 10 is a detail *sectional'view taken on line 50- 4 0 of Figure 3.

The sadironof the present invention is shown more particularly in Figures 1, 2,"? and 8 and has its general configuration conforming to the'type in which" the front. end isqpointed with :the rear end blunt. structurally, however, it differs materially from the usual irons of this type, due to the fact that the active ironing surface-the under surface of the heel-is not an integral formation as in the commercial sadiron structures, although the ironing surface is itself a continuous face, the heel zonewhich substitutes for the usual sole-plate being formed in two parts 55 and I6 which are connected together as by insulated bolts H with an intervening insulating element 18 which may be mica or insulating fibre or the like-to thereby insulate one of the parts from the other. The division between the parts is longitudinally of the heel, and is preferably in a straight line, but can obviously be varied from a straight line as long as the opposing configurations of the division are generally complemental to each other.

The peripheral contour of each. of the heel parts l and It presents an upstanding peripheral portion Ifia, Ilia, this being of suitable height and of such cross-sections as to provide a stable heel construction peripherally with the inner wall 16b, forming the vertical wall of the heating element chamber which is located internally of the heel. While the remaining vertical side of each of the parts l5, lG-the mating or division sidemay be flanged from front to rear, if desired. I prefer to utilize only sufficient fianging as may be needed to assure stability at the opposite ends of the division line and such upstanding members as will provide proper connection by the bolts ll, thus leaving the insulating element It generally exposed at this side of each of the chambers. This provides an advantage through reducing the amount of metal required, but the greater advantage lies in the fact that this Wall of the chamber is thus made mostly non-metallic-other than the upstanding flange portions or lugs 59 through which the bolts I! pass in securing the parts together and thus reduce the possibility of the heating element 20 being affected through accidental contact thereof with a metallic portion of a heel part.

The heating element 20 is metallic and positioned within such heel chamber-the latter being closed by a layer of insulation, such, for instance as mica sheet 2! overlying the chamber. Said element 20 has one of its ends secured to a contact 22 located in an end zone of the chamber of heel part l6, and then extends in a more or less sinuous course to the opposite end zone of such chamber, where it passes through an opening in element l8 to the chamber of part 15 in which it extends in a more or less sinuous path to the opposite end zone of such chamber, thus traversing the major portions of the length of both chambers; if the heating circuit is not to be subjected to temperature control, the end of the element is secured to a contact located in such latter end zone.

However, it is preferred to include a temperature control in heating the sadiron, and in such case, the latter end of the element is connected to a supporting member 2a.. The temperature control, indicated at 25, is of well-known construction-operating on rheostat principles-and is not specifically disclosed other than as shown, involving a rotatable shaft operated by a control knob, with the shaft extending into the chamber of part 15, the latter chamber carrying the control elements and the connections to the control elements from member litand from such control elements to a contact 26, the rheostat controlling the passage of current through the heating element 20, thus controlling the tem- 4 peratur of the iron; the device 25 carries indications expressive of the character of material being operated upon, and by setting the control knob on the proper indication, the iron is brought to the desired temperature.

The contacts 22 and 25 are each of suitable formation and extend vertically through openings in the planar portion of the heel parts, the latter carrying openings to permit this as well as the passage of insulating members 21, the exposed ends of the contacts and members 21 lying in the plane of the ironing surface of the heel and thus practically form small areas of such surface. As can be understood, the contacts and insulating members may be of any preferred structure, each contact including a formationthe usual screw, for instance--permitting the element 20 to be removably secured to the contacts, proper insulation being utilized where essential.

In sadirons in which the temperature control is omitted, contact 26 will be located in the position of supporting member 24.

Above mica sheet 2 I, is located a heat-storage plate 28, preferably formed of copper, this plate being secured to the body of the heel parts [5, [6, by screws 29, properly insulated, the body having suitable bosses to receive the screws, the latter passing through the plate 23 and sheet 2!. And overlying the plate 28 is a shielding cover 3! of a desired configuration, the edges of which are mounted in the peripheral zone of plate 28- the latter being stepped for the purpose; the cover is secured to plate 28 by suitable screw mountings 3|. The temperature control button and indicating formation are exposed above the cover. The cover not only serves as a closure for the plate 28, but also as a means for securing a handle 32, the latter having a suitable configuration, with its rear end carrying an operating formation 33 presently referred to in detail, and, if desired, being provided with an indicating means having connection with the circuit of the heating element. For instance, the handle may have a vertical opening 32a the top of which is closed by a suitable indicator such as a ruby lens 34. In opening 32a beneath the lens is a small lamp and reflector unit 35, the connections of which extend downward through cover 30, plate 28, and sheet 2| into the heating element chamber of the heel, where connection is made with the circuit, as by attachment to contacts 22 and 26, thus setting up a parallel relation with the heating circuit, the connections carrying the proper resistance conditions to assure proper operation of both parallel paths of the circuit. Obviously, when the heating element circuit is made active, this activity will also extend to the lamp, thus illuminating lens 34-providing visible indications of the activity of the heating element circuit.

As is apparent from the above description of the sadiron, it is equipped with the element structures capable of providing a controlled heating of the iron, but it lacks a current supply for activating the heating element. It presents a pair of exposed contacts by which current connections could render the heating element active with the contacts carried by heel parts insulated from each other and into both of which the heating element extends. And if the heating element is activated to the desired extent, the iron becomes heated and contains a heated body-the copper plate-which will serve to retain the iron heated for a considerable period. But, as thus far described, the iron is totally free of electrical connections or a supply of electricity for activating the heating elements. In other words, the iron, when heated, has the freedom of action possessed by irons heated by an external source, although the iron contains the elements required to give it the advantageous heating conditions presented by electric heating; the iron, in service, has these elements totally inactive, and incapable of being made active during service, thus eliminating any liability of danger from electric current during such service.

Activity of the heating element can be had only by positioning the iron in definite position on a rest or support which will now be described.

The base of the rest or support is, structurally, arranged in two general zones (Fig. one of these (zone A) being for the positioning of the sadiron for its heating activities, the other (zone B) providing a support for the structures designed to controllably supply the current for such heating activities, the zone B being indicated as in rear of zone A. Since the invention contemplates completion or the circuit to the heating element only when the sadiron is in a predetermined position on the rest, and also contemplates that the rest should also be protected as far as conveniently possible against undesired accidental completion 'of the circuit as well as the possibility of short-circuiting conditions, the two zones have more or less special characteristics. The rest is not completely fool-proof, but the arrangements are such that departure from the normal regimen of operation must be by deliberate action and therefore intentional.

Zone A is preferably formed in two parts 36 and 31, these being arranged side by side and spaced by insulating element 38 along the longitudinal axis of the zone; each part forms approximately one-half of the support for the sadiron, and the two parts are secured together to complete such support. The side peripheries of the two parts thus combinedly present the general contour of the similar peripheral zones of the sadiron, but preferably of increased dimensions, thus permitting the presence of an upstanding insulated formation 39 designed to partially overlie one of the heel portions of the iron and aid in retaining heat in the iron; the formation 39 may be omitted if desired, but its use is preferred since it aids in a more rapid heating of the iron by tending to reduce heat dissipation, and to conserve the iron heat when the iron is simply resting on the support. As with the sadiron construction heretofore set forth, the two-part base of the zone tends to prevent short circuiting of the circuit in the base.

Secured to the upper surface of each part 36 and 31, and preferably insulated from the part, is a strip contact which extends longitudinally of the part-contact 40 for part 36, and contact 4| for part 31. Contacts 40 and 4| are individual to the part by which they are carried and are each of suitable length. For instance, contact 40 is designed to co-operate with contact 22, while contact 4| co-operates with contact 26; hence, the length of the contacts 4|] and 4| will depend somewhat on the positions of contacts 22 and 26 when the iron is in position for heating element activitythe length may, and preferably does exceed that needed to ensure conta'ct relationship in such definite position, since it is desirable to meet the possibility of different locations of contacts 2-2 and 26 in different irons.

Contacts 40 and 4| may be secured in position in any desired mannei -as by embedding or being above the top plane of the composite base-but it is preferred that each contact be insulated from the part by which it is supported, it being understood, of course, that it is so positioned that when the sadiron is properly seated on the rest, the contact 22 will have definite contact relationship with contact 40, while contact 26 will have a similar relationship with contact 4|. While contacts 40 and 4| are shown as having this portion as of strip form, it is apparent that this may be varied; for instance, the zone A construction may be designed to have the sadiron rest upon an insulating surface such as a mica-sheet; in such case, the contact strips would underlie the sheet and be formed with upwardly-extending projections extending through openings of the sheet, thus tending to set up the conditions of spot contacting; this particular structure is indicated in Figure 4, in which the mica sheet is indicated at 42 and the projections at 43.

Contacts 46 and 4| each also include a vertically extending leg-40a and Ma, respectivelythese being of a suitable height, and each being equipped with a contact-point 44-which may be platinum-facing away from the positioned iron. The vertical legs are positioned in rear of the heel of the positioned iron, thus actually reaching into zone B of the rest; they are also spaced apart sufliciently to permit magnetic member 33 to move to operative position between their locations in positioning the iron.

For accurately positioning the iron on the rest and ensuring proper contact conditions, the parts 36 and 31 have their rear zones each provided with an upstanding formation into which :parts of the rear zone of the iron may pas's and be guided into position, thus tending to serve as a keeper structure. For instance, a rear zone of the side periphery of a part may have a vertically extending portion 45 of suitable depth and having its top formed with an inwardly extending flange 450.. Similarly, the rear periphery carries a vertically-extending portion-which may be inclined-46. When the iron is placed in position on the rest, the rear of the heel will contact portion 46 with the flange 45a. overlying cover 30; if desired, the flange may be shaped to force the iron into close contact with the rest, but, generally, the weight of the iron is sufficient to assure proper contact. As will be understood, portion 46 is provided with a suitable opening for the free passage of contact 40 or 4| without liability of flow of current between the contact and portion 46, the portion 46 being divided, as shown, to accord with the division between parts 36 and 31.

The zone B is located in rear of zone A and serves as a support for certain circuit make and break structures presently described, the support being in the form of a base 41 the side contours of which may form a general continuation of the peripheral sides of parts 36 and 31, the fore and aft dimension being sufficient to properly receive and position the elements carried thereby. Since base 41 is continuous from side to side, it preferably has an insulated status relative to parts 36., 31, as by the use of an insulating material in its manufacture, or an actual insulating member interposed between it and such parts 36 and 31, or is spaced from the latter, thus retaining the divided characteristic of parts 36 and 31.

The base 41 is positioned by a member 48 within which the sides and rear of the base are mounted in secured relation to the member, the latter having forwardly-projecting extensions 48a.

which overlie the rear zone of the peripheral side of the parts 36 and 31, being secured to and insulated from such parts, as by screws or bolts 49, thus anchoring the base relative to zone A. Member 48 preferably is of a height to extend materially above the top plane of the base, and may include a suitable cover formation to overlie the operating mechanisms carried by the base. If used, such formation may be of different types, such as by wings extending inward from the sides or by a hood-like structure, or by other forms, which are more or less obvious, the purpose being mainly for protection of the user against accidental contact with the electrical mechanisms mounted on the base or accidentally providing closure of circuits which are normally open. Since an element of such mechanisms is a manually-operated switch, the formation, especially if of hood form, is provided with an opening sufficient to permit ready manipulation of the switch through the opening.

Mounted to oscillate above base 41 and supported by member 48, as by a shaft 53, is a contactcarrier the shaft extending lengthwise 0f the carrier and in the upper edge zone of the latter, the carrier practically depending from the shaft. The carrier is of less length than the length of the shaft 53 but greater than that of the spacing distance of contacts 43 and 4|, the shaft preferably carrying light springs 52 intermediate the carrier ends and the sides of member 43 with the mounting arranged to swing the carrier-depending portion rearwardly about the shaft axis through a limited range of movement, suitable means bein provided for limiting the range of movement un- .der spring action.

The end zones of the carrier are each provided with a contact formation 53 positioned to partake of the oscillating movements of the carrier, these contacts being positioned opposite the platinum contacts 44 so that when the carrier is swung forwardly in opposition to the spring action, contacts 53 will be moved into contact engagement with contacts 43 and 4| through contacts 44. Intermediate contacts 53 the carrier is provided with a suitable formation designed to co-act with member 33 along the lines of a magnetic relay. The formation may be in the form of one or more soft metal plates 54 (Fig. 6) mounted on the carrier, thus forming a body capable of being influenced by a magnetic body in such manner as to swing the carrier on its axis forwardly from its normal rearward position, and thus bring contacts 53 into engagement with contacts 44.

Ihe magnetic body for providing this swing of the carrier is the member 33 which has characteristics of a permanent magnet of sufiicient power to influence the pseudo armature formed by the plate formation 54, when the member 33 is brought to the vicinity of such plate formation. Since member 33 is carried by the sacliron handle in position such that when the iron is placed on the rest and moved rearwardl into engagement with portions 45, member 33 will then be in such vicinity of the armature (Fig. 8) the armature does not reach actual engagement with member 33, contacts 53 engaging contacts 44 prior to actual engagement of the armature with the magnet and thus limiting the forward swing of the carrier and providing a sustaining magnetic field for maintaining the carrier in the forwardly-swung position. The length of the carrier and the positions of contacts 43 and, 4| are so arranged that a permanent magnet of proper dimensions positioned symmetrical to the longi- 8 tudinal axis of the iron will freely enter into the zone intermediate the contacts 43 and 4|. The magnet 33 is fashioned to avoid collecting of materials on its surface.

The base 41 also carries a supporting member in rear of and spaced from the carrier, member 55 carrying a suitable manually-operated switch 56 together with a pair of insulated posts 51 and 53 arranged for securing current connections, these posts respectively having a flexible connection leading individually to the respective contacts 53, the flexibility of the connections permitting the free swing of the carrier; post 51 also has a lead connection with switch 56, the opposite terminal of the switch leading from the source of current supply represented by plug 59; the post 58 is connected directly to such source. The cord connections between the plug and the switch and post 58 are of the usual type, passing through a fixture carried by member 48.

As will be understood, the arrangement of the rest is such as to be substantially free from accldental circuit activation. To secure the latter, switch 56 must be closed, carrier 5| must be moved to complete engagement of contacts 53 and 44, and a metallic member permitted to bridge the contact strips 43 and 4| if there is a break at either of these points the circuit cannot be established. While it might be possible to drop a metallic connection across contacts 40 and 4|, springs 52 will hold the carrier in rear position excepting under intentional advance, and even if switch 55 were inadvertently left closed, breaking of the circuit at contacts 53 and 44 would prevent circuit activation excepting it to be intentional.

When the sadiron is placed on the rest in position for heating, the magnet 33 will be in position to influence the carrier and draw the latter forward to close contacts 53 and 44. If the switch 55 is open at this time, the heating circuit is not established, so that, aside from the need for properly positioning the iron on the rest, the user has the additional safety factor of the manual control of the switch; with the iron properly positioned, and switch 53 closed, a controlled circuit will be established through the heating element and temperature control via contacts 22 and 23 with contacts 43 and 4|. The desired temperature of the iron is secured by manipulation of the temperature control, preferably prior to closing switch '56, so that through manipulation of the latter the user has complete manual control over the heating activity. As a result, the iron can be positioned on the rest when not in use, and even though carrier 5| may thereby be moved into contact position by such positioning, the circuit remains inactive until switch 56 is manipulated to closed position. Obviously, if the iron is not properly positioned on the rest, and should have its heel bridging contacts 43 and 4|, no circuit activation will be present since magnet 33 is not in position to move the carrier 56 to contact making position.

And, as is apparent, the fact that in positioning the iron on the restwith magnet 33 at the rear-the contacts 22 and 26 may be in contact engagement with contacts 40 and 4| prior to the iron reaching its rest position, does not present any material dangerous condition should switch 56 be closed at the time. This is due to the fact that while the power of magnet 33 is capable of reaching through space, the value of that power decreases as the distance between it and the armature increases, and since the carrier movement is opposedby the. tension of springs, 52, it. is obvious that. until the power value on the armature. by the approaching magnetv reaches a value sufficient to overcome this spring tension, there will be no movement of the carrier, and therefore no closing of the. circuit; this value is reached as the iron closely approaches its. rear position, and hence. the succeeding small travel of the iron will cause the. carrier advancing movement to be rapidly completed; with switch 56 open, the circuit will obviously be broken at the switch, and while the magnet would attract the carrier, as pointed out, during such iron positioning, the circuit remains broken until the switch is closed.

If desired, a resistor, not shown, may be inter- I posed in the line leading, to post 58 to take care of any conditions of overload, this being a wellknown expedient.

The rest is preferably provided with feet 61;, which may be of fibre construction.

As will be understood from the above detailed disclosure, the assemblage of sadiron and its rest when assembled for heating the iron, is completely under the control of the operator who retains switch 56 open until heating of the element 20. is to actually begin; hence, the rest can form a support for the iron when the latter is not in use. When the iron has been heated and removed from its rest it is free from all electrical connections and is thus usable similarly to irons heated from an external source, with complete freedom of action, but having the advantages provided by its ability to be controllably heated from an electrical source. All of the elements for producing the latter action are present in either the iron or the rest, but these are made active only when the iron has been properly seated on the rest, such seatingand the manipulation of the switch 56completing the needed circuits, so that the operation is entirely within the control of the operator.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of assemblage, it is apparent that changes or modifications therein may be found essential or desirable in meeting the various exigencies of use or the individual desires of a user, and I hereby reserve the right to make any and all such changes or modifications as may be found desirable or essential to these ends, insofar as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims, when broadly construed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In sadiron assemblies, wherein the sadiron is heated by the activity of an electric heating element, and wherein the sadiron is free from cord connections when in ironing service, and in combination, a sadiron of such type, and a rest or support therefor; said rest including a pair of permanently-spaced contacts positioned to underlie the sadiron when the latter is supported on the rest, a swingable carrier mounted on the rest in rear of the position of the sadiron when the latter is operatively located on the rest, said carrier having a pair of contacts adapted to cooperate with such spaced contacts, said carrier being normally in position to retain said cooperating contacts out of engagement and with such engagement provided by swinging of the carrier from such normal position, and means for operatively connecting the carrier contacts with a source of current supply; said sadiron including a pair of contacts insulated from and exposed on the bottom of the heel of the iron and operatively connected with such heating element to 1.0 activate thela-tter upon completion of, the circuit, said latter contacts being adapted to co operate respectively with, the nonrmovable pair of contacts of the rest or support when the iron is properly seated on the rest, said sadiron also carrying an, element co-operative with the carrier to swing the latter from its normal position when the sadiron is in. substantially predetermined position on the rest and to thereby provide and maintain engagement of, the carrier contacts with the nonnnovable pair of contacts of the rest.

2. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the connecting means includes a manuallyoperative. switch to thereby permit positioning and removal of the sadiron relative to its predetermined position on the rest under conditions of an incomplete circuit and to place the timelength of circuit activity on the heating element within the control of the user.

3., An. assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the heel zone of the sadiron is divided longitudinally into two parts and secured together to present an insulated relationship between the parts, with the heating element extending into both parts and with the pair of bottom-exposed contacts carried respectively by different parts.

4. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the heel zone of the sadiron is dividedlongitudinally into two parts and secured together to present an insulated relationship between the parts, with the heating element extending into both parts and with the pair of bottom-exposed contacts,- carried respectively by different parts, said sadiron having a solid metallic plate overlying and insulated from the heel zone to form a heat storage element for the iron.

5. An. assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the heel zone of the sadiron is divided longitudinally into two parts. and secured together to present an insulated relationship between the parts, with the heating element extending into both. parts and with the pair of bottom-exposed contacts carried respectively by different parts, said sadiron having a solid metallic plate overlying and insulated from the heel zone to form a heat storage element for the iron, said plate being formed of copper and overlying both of such heel parts.

6. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the sadiron includes permanently-positioned indicating means operatively connected with the heating element circuit to present visual indication of the activity of such circuit.

'7. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the heating element circuit within the sadiron includes a manually-operative temperaturecontrol instrumentality active within such circuit for regulating the ironing temperature of the sadiron.

8. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the rest or support is formed with a front and a rear zone, and with the front zone providing the support for the sadiron during heating of the latter, said front zone being divided longitudinally to form a pair of parts secured together in insulated relationship, the pair of contacts thereof being individual to and carried by such parts.

9. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the rest or support is formed with a front and a rear zone, and with the front zone providing the support for the sadiron during heating of the latter, said front zone being divided longitudinally to form a pair of parts secured together in insulated relationship, the pair of contacts 11 thereof being individual to and carried by such parts, the rear zone being supported b such front zone and forming the support for the swinging carrier.

10. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in.

that the rest or support is formed with a front and a rear zone, and with the front zone providing the support for the sadiron during heating of the latter, said front zone being divided longitudinally to form a pair of parts secured together in insulated relationship, the pair of contacts thereof being individual to and carried by such parts, the rear zone being insulated from and supported by the front zone and forming a support for the swinging carrier. 11. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the rest or support includes a rear zone having a base, a bracket supported thereon and carrying a manually-operative switch and a pair of posts with the switch operatively conneeted with the source of current supply and to one of said posts, the other post being operatively connected with the source of current supply, and individual flexible connections between said posts and the respective contacts of the swinging carrier to permit carrier swinging movements to make and break circuit connections with the permanentlyspaced contacts of the rest or support.

12. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the rest or support includes a rear zone having a base and an upstanding marginal ele ment, with the element carrying the swinging carrier and the base carrying circuit connections leading from the source of current supply to the carrier contacts.

13. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the rest or support includes a rear zone having a base and an upstanding marginal element, with the element carrying the swinging carrier and the base carrying circuit connections leading from the source of current supply to the carrier contacts, said connections including a flexible zone to permit swinging of the carrier.

14. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the carrier-swinging element comprises a member of permanent-magnet type, the carrier having a zone co-operative with the member.

15. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the carrier-swinging element comprises a member having permanent-magnet characteristics, the carrier having a zone co-operative with the member, said member being carried by a rear zone of the handle of the sadiron.

16. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the carrier-swinging element carried by the sadiron and the swinging carrier are complementally formed structurally to produce a magnetic field condition therebetween free from direct physical contact between element and. carrier when the sadiron is substantially positioned for completion of the heating element circuit to thereby provide the carrier swinging movement to make and maintain the circuit.

17. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the carrier-swinging element carried by the sadiron and the swinging carrier have compleniental structural characteristics to produce a magnetic field condition therebetween when the sadiron is substantially positioned for completion of the heating element circuit to thereby provide the carrier swinging movement to make and maintain the circuit, the swinging carrier being spring-held to normally retain the carrier in circuit-breaking position.

DONALD D. HARDING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,217,000 Iserson Feb. 20, 1917 1,664,758 Reynolds Apr. 3, 1928 1,681,132 Reynolds Aug. 14, 1928 2,147,085 Brannon Feb. 14, 1939 2,224, 98 Shearer Dec. 10, 1940

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