US2551285A - Support for heating appliances or other working tools - Google Patents

Description

May 1, 1951 T- PETERSEN 2,551,285

' SUPPORT FOR HEATING APPLIANCES OR OTHER WORKING TOOLS Filed July 2, 1949 v5 Sheets-Sheet l THE ODORE PETERSEN Maw A TTORIVEY T. PETERSEN May 1, 1951 SUPPORT FOR HEATING APPLIANCES OR OTHER WORKING TOOLS Filed July 2, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. THEODORE PE TERSEN BY M-fM A T TORNEY y 1951 T. PETERSEN SUPPORT FOR HEATING APPLXANCES OR OTHER WORKING TOOLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 2, 1949 mm to on WM 3 INVENTOR. THEODORE PETERSEN BY M 5W4 A TTORNEV Patented May 1, 1 951 OFFICE.

SUPPORT FOR HEATING APPLIANCES OR OTHER WORKING TOOLS Theodore Petersen, South Orange, N. J.

Application July 2, 1949, Serial No. 102,917

6 Claims.

The invention relates to a holder or support for a working tool or appliance, which is adapted for attachment to a work table, bench or the like, and particularly to such a holder of the folding type.

It is specifically applicable to, although not limited to, a holder for attachment to an ironing table, to support an electric fiatiron during intervals in which the latter is supplied with electric current so as to be in the heated condition preparatory to use but is not actually in use for the desired ironing purpose, in order to effectively increase the working space on the table during such intervals while preventing scorching of the cloth or other table covering and fires which might occur if the fiatiron in the heated condition is left standing on the table proper for too long a time, this holder being adapted to be folded back out of the way against the table when the latter is not in use.

Objects of the invention are to improve such a holder from the standpoint of simplicity in construction; ruggedness combined with light weight and an attractive appearance; efliciency and ease in operation; and low cost of manufacture.

The holder in accordance with one embodiment of the invention comprises a basket-like metal rack or container of special construction for supporting the electric fiatiron or other heating appliance during periods of non-use for the ironing or other heating purpose. This rack is attached to the underside of the ironing board of the table at one end thereof by means of a mechanical linkage having a plurality of pivotal points, at least one of which is fixed and another substantially free with respect to the ironing board; for example, a pair of double-articulated hinges, these hinges being operable to swing the basket or rack to an optimum working position in which it extends outwardly from the end of the board, and, alternatively to an idle or .rest position in which it is folded back on top of the board. The hinges for this purpose include inherent motion limiting means adapted for holding the basket or rack in its working position when it is swung in one direction, frictional retaining means for providing the necessary brake on their motion, and a lost-motion component to enable the required range of angular motion to be obtained.

A feature of the invention is the use for the base of the basket or r-ack supporting the electric fiatiron, of a plurality of spaced, flat metal bars disposed so that in the working position of the 2 holder they slope gradually away from the upper surface of the ironing board and provide means for enabling the fiatiron to be slid from the ironing surface of the board to the rack, and from the rack back to the ironing surface of the board, without the necessity of lifting the fiatiron, thereby lessening fatigue to the user in the ironin operation. 7

Another feature is an auxiliary pad of sounddeadening and heat-insulating material adapted for ready attachment to the metal basket or rack of the holder of the invention to suppress operation noises and prevent injury to the working surfaces of the fiatiron and basket during operation; and adapted for ready detachment therefrom when the conditions of use of the equipment does not require it. I

Another feature is the provision in the construction of the rack at little additional cost of a simple guide for the electric current supply cord attached to the fiatiron during operation of the latter for its ironing purpose and the process of sliding the fiatiron back and forth between the ironing surface and the rack, in order to prevent fouling of the cord, undue bending wear thereon, and possible injury to the associated electric plugs caused by these operations.

These and other objects and features of the invention are fully explained in the following description thereof to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 respectively show a side elevation and a top plan view of one embodiment of the folding holder of the invention applied to an'ironing board;

Fig. 3 shows an end elevation view of the folding holder of the invention taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2, partly in section to show structural details;

Fig. 4 shows a side view of a portion of one of the hinges used in the folding holder of the invention, partly in section to indicate more clearly other details of construction;

Figs. 5 and 6 show different views of one type of friction washer which may be used in each of the hinges of the folding holder of the invention, to illustrate its construction; and,

Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of a fragment of the detachable heat-insulating and sound-deadening pad of the invention, illustrating one type of construction which may be used.

The holder or support in accordance with one practical embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 3, drawn to a scale of inch equals 1 inch, as applied to an ironing board I having a cloth or other covering Ia, shown in fragmentary form, of an ironing table. This holder includes a metal basket or rack 2 of special construction and a pair of ofiset, double-articulated hinges 3 and 4 connecting the basket to the bottom of the board at one end thereof. The hinges 3 and 4 are adapted for operation in unison to swing the basket to an optimum position, to be defined later, with respect to the horizontal ironing surface of the board, for supporting an electric flatiron between intermittent ironing oper-. ations, so as to leave the entire working surface of the board free for other purposes during these intervals, such as the brushing or folding of the textile materials being ironed; and alternatively to swing the basket to a rest position in which it is folded back against the top of the board.

The basket 2 includes a frame portion of substantially rectangular shape. This frame por tion includes a cold rolled steel strip of elon gated, rectangular cross-section /2" x %3") and suitable length bent at two points around a radius perpendicular to the longest transverse dimension /2) so as to provide an intermediate straight portion forming one long side 5 and two straight end portions of equal length at right angles thereto forming the two parallel short sides 6 and I of the frame, the two bends being suitably rounded to improve the appearance of the basket and to obviate undesirable sharp edges. The other long side 8 of the frame, parallel to the long side 5', comprises a cold rolled steel rod of "circular cross-section diameter) extending between and affixed at its ends to the two short sides 6 and I of the frame at corresponding 'points near their free ends. Silver brazing is preferably used for joining the rods to the frame in order to provide strong, clean joints.

Three cold rolled steel bars 9, I and II of the same elongated, rectangular cross-section X 1A3) as the steel strip forming three sides of the frame are used for the base of the basket. They extend in parallel with each other between the round rod forming the long side "8 and the portion of the steel strip forming the other long side or the frame, at respectively equally spaced points between the two short sides 6 and I thereof. Each of the three cross-bars 9, I0 and II has a corresponding bend in it such that the longer portion of the barslopes downwardly gradually; for example, at an angle of approximately 12 degrees, as shown, away from the round rod 8, land the remaining short portion with the holder in its working position rises approximately vertically from the bend to the lower edge (having the transverse dimension) of the fiat steel strip portion forming the longside 5 of the frame. The cross-bars 9, I0 and II are joined securely at their ends to the long sides 5 and 8 of the frame, preferably by silver brazing. The upper surfaces of the inclined portions of the three cross-bars provide supporting surfaces for the electric flatiron, indicated in'Figs. l and'2 by the dot-dash phantom outline I2, and enable it to be slid, without lifting, from the horizontal surface of the ironing board I into the basket 2 during intervals between ironing operations and back onto the working surface of the ironing board when the ironing is to be continued. The vertically rising portions of the cross-bars 9, I0 and I I cooperate with the portion of steel strip forming the long side '5 and the portions of "steel strip forming the short sides 5 and l of the frame to prevent the flatiron from falling out of the basliet 2.

small enclosed opening between the frame and rod. This opening may be used as a guide for the cord, indicated by the phantom outline I4 in Fig. 1, supplying electric current from a power outlet to the fiatiron I2, during the intervals in which the latter is moved back and forth on the working surface of the board I for its ironing purpose and during the intermediate intervals in which it is shifted back and forth between the working surface of the board and the basket 2. The rod I3 may be attached at its ends to the frame by silver brazing. As indicated in Fig. 2, the rod I3 may be bent at an intermediate point to provide a more suitable shape for the guide opening in order to prevent binding of the cord in triangular corners.

Each of the hinges 3 and 4 includes an individual small br'a'cket I5 and I5, respectively, in the form of a T, which may be made from a single piece of I6 gauge thickness) mild steel plate of suitable length and width, by bending the centrally located portion sharply downward so as to form a loop and compressing the sides of the loop together to form the stem I6 of the T at right angles to the two collinear flange portions H forming the cross-bar of the T. Two or more holes are provided in the flange portions H for screws to attach the two brackets I5 and I5 to the bottom of the ironing board I at spaced points separated by a distance determined by the Width of the end of the average ironing board. The brackets I5 and I5 are respectively spaced inwardly from the sides of the ironing board by the same distance and inwardly from the end of the ironing board by the same distance.

Each hinge 3 and 4 also includes a metal mem-- ber I8 comprising a channel section having two parallel, longitudinally extending flanges I9 and 20 connected by a web 2|, bent in the form of a V with the open side of the channel on the inside, the two straight arms 22 and 23 of the V-shaped member being preferably disposed, as shown, so as to provide an angle of approximately 50 degrees between them, and the bottom of the V being suitably rounded, as shown, to avoid a sharp edge. Each hinge member I8 may be formed integrally from a single piece of I6 gauge mild steel plate of suitable dimensions by means of a number of bending operations using a special commercial bending machine. The width of the opening between the parallel flange portions I9 and 20 of the channel section of each hinge member I8 is selected to accommodate the width of the stem I6 of each bracket I5 and i5 and the width 'of the steel strip forming the short sides of the basket frame, to be pivotly mounted therein when thehinge is assembled in the manner to be described later.

Motion limiting 'mean's inherent in each of the hinges 3 and '4 is provided by suitable shaping of the upper end of the arm 22 of the V-shap'ed member I8 of each hinge 3 and 4, extending beyond the pivoting point, and the provision of a lug 24 the upper surface of which forms a shoulder at a suitable location on the outside of the other arm 23 of that member. As shown the's'ide view of the h'in'ge member I8 in Fig 4, in which the upper portion of one flange portion I8 of arm 231s shown broken away, the lug -24 may be made integral with the member I8'by the provision of vertical cuts in the top of the .arm' 23 such as to allow the top portion of the web 2| to be folded back to form a loop the vupper surface of which provides the desired in these members and in a friction washer 25.

Similarly, the free end of the steel strip forming the other short side I of the basket frame, proj ecting beyond the point of connection of the other end of the round rod 8 thereto is pivotaily mounted between the flanges I9 and 23 at the top of the arm 23 of member I8 of hinge 4 by means of a second tubular rivet 2'! extending through corresponding holes in these members and in a second friction washer 28. The stem I6 of the T-shaped bracket I5 is pivotaliy mounted between the parallel flanges I9 and 23 at the top of arm 22 of member I8 of hinge 3 by means of a third tubular rivet 29 extending through corresponding holes in these members and in a third friction washer 30. Similarly, the stem I6 of the T-shaped bracket I5 is pivotally mounted between the parallel flanges I9 and 23 at the top of arm 22 of member I8 of hinge 4 by means of a fourth tubular rivet 3| extending through corresponding holes in these members and in a fourth friction washer 32.

Each friction washer 26, 28, 30 and 32 may be of the known commercial type illustrated in the two views of Figs. 5 and 6. This type of friction washer, which is made from spring steel, is of saucer shape when uncompressed and has a number of radial slots in it forming outwardly extending resilient tabs or cusps which, when compressed by a tubular rivet or other securing means, collectively furnish a component of friction. The friction components provided by the friction washers in hinges 3 and 4 are utilized to slow-up the motion of the folding holder when the latter is operated to the working or to the rest position so as to prevent injury to any of its parts and undesired crashes when the hasket 2 hits the board I or the motion limiting shoulder provided by the lug 24 on the member I8 of each hinge 3 and 4. These friction components also serve to maintain the basket 2 in its rest position folded back against the top of board I when the ironing table is folded up and stored away at the end of a period of use. In that case, the rounded V-shaped members I8 in hinges 3 and 4 may serve as feet to support the table on end thereby protecting the board I and its covering from dust and dirt. 7

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, an auxiliary pad 33 made from heat-insulating and sound-deadening material may be applied as a cushion between the basket 2 and the electric flatiron I2 if it is desired to prevent injury to the finish of the supporting metal surfaces of the basket due to the application of heat thereto from the heated flatiron for a considerable time; to prevent scratching of the bottom surface of the flatiron by the metal surfaces of the basket when the flatiron is being shifted back and forth between the ironin surface of the board and the basket 2 between intermittent ironing operations; or to prevent annoying noises dueto the fiatiron hit-- ting the metal parts of the basket during such the remaining portion of the pad is bent so as to conform with the inside of the basket 2 and to lie flat over the upper surfaces of the crossbars 9, I0 and II forming the base of the basket. Therefore, this pad may be easily attached to the basket 2, and easily detached therefrom by the user of the equipment when the condition of use of the latter are such as not to require the pad. In one form of construction illustrated in Fig. 7, the pad may comprise an envelope 34 made from a thin sheet of Duralumin closed by the lap joint 35 and containing a filling 36 of asbestos fibre or other suitable material to provide the desired heat-insulating and sound-deadening properties to the combination, as well as the required stiffness.

In the operation of the holder of the invention, the hinges 3 and 4 allow the basket to be swung to the right by the user of the equipment to the working position shown by solid lines in Fig. 1 in which the basket extends outwardly from the end of the board I with the upper edges of the steel strip forming the short sides 6 and I of the basket frame substantially in the same plane as the working surface of the board I and with no part of the basket or hinge structure in a position higher than the top of the board I. The basket 2 will be held in that working position because further movement of the members I8 of the hinges 3 and 4 is prevented by the shaped upper surfaces of the arms 22 of these members being brought into abutment with the lower surfaces of the flange portions I! of the brackets I5 and I5, respectively, and further downward movement of basket 2 is prevented by the lower edges of the short sides 6 and I of the basket frame being brought into engagement with the shoulders formed by the properly located upper surfaces of the lugs 24 on the arms 23 of the members I8 of the two hinges 3 and 4, which lugs are held stationary due to the stopping of further movement of these hinge members.

When the ironing table is not in use, the hinges 3 and 4 allow the basket 2 to be swung by the user upwardly from the working position over an angle greater than degrees until it is brought to rest folded .back on top of the board I, as indicated in Fig. l by the dot-dash phantom outline 31 showing the exact position of the basket and the hinges for that condition of adsmaller angle because of insufiicient clearance.

The use of single pivot hinges, making the angular movement less than 180 degrees between the working and rest positions of the basket,

would require that this pivotal point be located higher than the horizontal surface of the board .I in order to provide the desired clearances. This following pertinent. dimensions.

would: be.- undesirable; because:- of. the; danger of the flatiron striking parts of the basket or hinges which would be. located' above the. working surface of" theboard I in. the Working: position of the: holder, in the process of shifting the. flatiron back and forth between that surface and. the

basket.

The. entire basket 2 is, preferably, cadmium plated and the. hinges 3 and 4 are, preferably, sprayed with colored. enamel and oven-baked, so that. the entire holder has an attractive appearance.

The particular embodiment of the holder of the invention illustrated and described has. the The distance between the center lines of the brackets I5 and I5 when attached to an ironing board is approximately inches, so that the. holder will be applicable to ironing boards having widths at their wider ends of. as. low as 12 inches. The Width, of the rectangular frame of. the basket 2 between the short sides 6 and 1. thereof isv approximately 10 inches, and the length. between the long sides 5 and 8 of the frame is approximately 5 inches. The depth of the basket.- (inside dimension) at its deepest point is approximately 1.25 inches. The spacing between. the near; end of the board I and the round rod forming the long side 8 of the basket frame is approximately 1.5 inches.

The weight of. the entire holder including the metal basket and hinge structures illustrated and described is less than one pound, and may be specified for the several parts of the holder of the invention are given byway of example only,

and that other suitable materials and dimensions may be used. Various other modifications of the .holder or support illustratedand described which are within. the spirit and scope of the invention will occur to persons skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1.. Incombination with a work table. having a horizontal top working'surface, a working tool holder, a multi-articulated hinge structure connecting said holder to the bottom of said table nearone end thereof, said hinge structurehaving at least one pivot point fixed with respect to saidtable and at least one other pivot point substantially free with respect thereto and-.being adapted to swing said holder in one direction to an optimum working position extending out.- wardly from said one end of saidtablefor trans.-

ferring a. working tool between said horizontal working surface of said table and said holder, and; alternatively to swing said holder in the opposite: direction to another position, over 180 degrees from said working position in which; it rests on topofsaid table, this range of angular motion ofsaid holder being obtainable because of the lost motion component inherent in said multi-articulatedhinge structure, the portions; of

said hinge structure extending between the; fixed andfree pivot points; thereof being shaped sov as to provide the required clearance: to. prevent interference between. said table. and said" hinge structure when said holder is swung between said working position and said other position and motion limiting means inherent. in said hinge structure cooperating with said table and said holder to maintain the. latter in said' working position when it is: swung thereto insaid one direction.

2. In combination with anironing board having an upper working surface and an electric flatiron for use thereon adapted for connection bya current supply cord to an electric power source, a basket-like holder for supporting said flatiron off said board between intermittent ironing operations on said working surface, hinging means connecting said holder to the bottom of said board near one end thereof and adapted to swing said holder alternatively to an optimum working position extending outwardly from said one end of said board for easily transferring said flatiron between said board working surfaceand said holder, said holder including a metal frame of substantially rectangular shape having three sides formed by fi'at metal strip disposed so that its long transverse dimensions are vertical when said holderis in said optimum working position, and a fourth side formed bya straight metal rod of circular cross-section extending between and affixed at its ends to the metal strip portions forming two parallel sides of said frame, and another base portion comprising a plurality of parallel flat metal strips extending between and aflixed to opposite sides of said frame at spaced points between the other two opposite. sides thereof and a secondmetal rod extending across one corner of said frame. portion between and affixed at its ends to the metal members forming the adjacent sides of said frame portion at said one corner-thereof, to form a small enclosed space between said second metal rod and said frame: portion, which. may bev usedv as. a. guide for said: current supply cord when said cord. is connected therethrough and through the interstices in the base portion. of said holder between said power source-and said flatiron: during the periods in; which the: latter is. in use for ironing operations; on. said. working surface of said board and during: intermediate periods inwhiclr it is bein shifted back and forth between said working surface of' said board. and said holder.

3. In combination with an' ironing table including an ironing board having a horizontal. top working surface, and an electric. flatiron, a basket-like holder for supporting said electric flatiron. between intermittent ironing operations on. said. board, a pair of identical double-pivot, ofiset. hinges. connecting said holder to the bot.- tom; ofsaidboard near one end thereof,,one pivot point. of each of said hinges being fixed with respect to said board and the other. pivot point being substantially free with respect thereto, said pair; of hinges being adapted for operation in unison to; swing. said holder to an optimum position extending outwardly from said one end of said board for the shifting of said electric flatironz between said. working surface of saidboard andsaid. holder and such that no part ofsaid holder or said hinges are located higher than said working surface of said board, and alternatively; to swing said holder over an angle greater than degrees from said working position to another position in which. it is folded back on top. ofsaid. board, the portion of each hinge located between the two' pivot points; thereof 7 being bent longitudinally awayfrom said. board to provide sufficient clearance space to prevent interference between said hinge portion and the end of said board when said holder is swung between said working and said other position and motion limiting means inherent in said hinges cooperating with said board and said holder to maintain said holder in said workin position when it is swung thereto from said other position.

4. The combination of claim 3, in which each of said hinges includes a bracket and a V-shaped member having two straight arms disposed at a given angle with respect to each other, said member being pivotally connected at the free end of one arm to the associated bracket, the V-shaped members of said pair of hinges being respectively pivotally connected at the free ends of their respective other arms to opposite sides of said holder, the two brackets of said hinges being aflixed to the bottom of said board near said one end thereof at respective points spaced from each other and respectively located at the same distance inwardly from opposite sides of said board and at the same distance inwardly from said one end thereof, the said given angle between the two straight arms of the V-shaped member of each hinge being selected to provide the necessary amount of clearance between the hinges and said board when said holder is swung to said working position or to said other position.

5. The combination of claim 3 in which said holder includes a frame of substantially rectangular shape and suitable dimensions, one long side and the two parallel short sides of which comprise straight portions of flat metal strip disposed so that the longest transverse dimensions thereof are vertical when said holder is in said working position, the other long side of said frame comprises a straight metal rod extending between and afiixed at its ends to the metal strip portions forming the short sides of said frame at corresponding points a short distance from the free ends thereof, each of said hinges includes a T shaped bracket having a stem and two collinear flange portions at right angles thereto respectively extending to'opposite sides of the stem, and another hinge member of rounded V-shape including two straight arms disposed with a given interior angle between them, one arm of the V-shaped member of each hinge being pivotly connected at its free end to the stem of the associated bracket and the other arms of said members being respectively pivotly connected to the free ends of the metal strip portions forming the opposite sides of said holder frame, the flange portions of the brackets of the two hinges being affixed to the bottom of said board near said one end thereof at points spaced from each other by a distance determined by the length of the long sides of said frame and symmetrically located with respect to the opposite sides and the end of said board, said motion limiting means inherent in said hinges being provided by proper shaping of the upper surfaces of the free ends of said one arm of the V-shaped members of said hinges and a lug forming a shoulder on the outside of said other arm of the V-shapedmember of each hinge so that when said holder is swung to said working position by said hinge the shaped surface of said one arm of each V-shaped hinge member engages in abutment with the bottoms of the flange portions of the associated bracket and the shoulder 10 formed by the lug on said other arm of each of said V-shaped members engages in abutment with the lower edge of one of the metal strip portions forming the two opposite short sides of said frame.

6. The combination of claim 1, in which said holder includes a substantially rectangular frame the two parallel short sides of which extend in a direction perpendicular to said one end of said table and are formed from flat metal strips disposed with its long transverse dimensions vertical when said holder is in said working position, and said hinge structure comprises a pair of offset, double-articulated hinges each comprising a T-shaped metal bracket having a stem and two collinear flange portions at right angles thereto respectively located on opposite sides of the stem, a hinge member comprising a metal channel section having two longitudinally extending flanges connected by a web, bent into a V-shaped form with the open side of the channel section on the inside to provide two straight channel arms disposed so as to provide a given interior angle between them, two tubular rivets and two friction washers, the stem of the bracket of each said hinge being inserted between the parallel flanges at the free end of one arm of the associated V-shaped member and being pivotally connected thereto by means of one of the two tubular rivets for that hinge extending through corresponding holes in said stem, said flanges and one of the two friction washers for that hinge, the ends of the two metal strip portions forming the opposite short sides of said holder frame being respectively inserted between the parallel flanges at the free end of a different one of the other arms of the V-shaped members of the respective hinges and being pivotally connected thereto by the third and the fourth tubular rivet, respectively, extending through corresponding holes in the connected arm and in the third and the fourth friction washer, respectively, said given interior angle between the two arms of each V-shaped member in said hinges being selected to provide the required clearances between said table and said hinges when the holder is swung by the latter to said working position or to said other rest position, and the friction washers being utilized at the pivoting points of said hinges to provide components of friction therein such as to slow up the motion of said holder sufiiciently to prevent injury to any of the parts of said holder or of said hinges and undesired crashes when said holder comes in contact with said motion limiting means inherent in said hinges or the top of said table.

THEODORE PETERSEN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,528,312 Taylor Mar. 3, 1925 1,657,917 Danielson Jan. 31, 1928 2,193,414 Berkman Mar. 12, 1940 2,472,244 Brady June 7, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 173,384 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1935

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