US2734294A

US2734294A - brace

Info

Publication number: US2734294A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1956-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 1973-02-14

Description

Feb. 14, 1956 c. A. BRACE 2,734,294

' AUTOMATIC IRON REST Filed May 21, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. George/1.511206 ATTORNEY.

Feb. 14, 1956 G. A. BRACE 2,734,294

AUTOMATIC IRON REST Filed May 21, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Georye/l B race BY I ATTORNEY.

United States Patent AUTOMATIC IRON REST George A. Brace, Highland Park, Ill., assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Olno, a corporation of Ohio Application May 21, 1952, Serial No. 289,157

8 Claims. (Cl. 38-79) This invention relates to electrically heated fiat irons and more particularly to a simple arrangement for supporting the iron with the sole plate free of the supporting surface upon which the iron rests.

Specifically, according to the present invention, aretractable supporting leg is provided which may be automatically moved to its extended or supporting position at the will of the operator by a simple movement of the iron as it is tilted toward its supported position.

According to the present invention the iron is tilted to one side or the other of its longitudinal axis to release a supporting leg which then pivots by gravity to its iro supporting position.

According to one modification preferred by many right handed users, the iron is inclined to the right as it is being tilted rearwardly. This preliminary movement to the right releases the supporting leg which quickly pivots to its extended iron supporting position.

In a second modification, the iron may be tilted to either side to release the supporting leg.

The iron is provided with a wide-based fixed support formed by an extension projecting rearwardly of the sole plate proper and a pivoting support located in a slot near the toe of iron. The pivoting support is movable between a retracted non-supporting position and an extended position in which it cooperates with the fixed support to support the iron in an inclined rest position with the sole plate free of the ironing surface. I

A gravity actuated latch is provided for normally holding the supporting leg in its retracted position, and this latch functions to release the leg merely by inclining the iron sidewise through a small angle when the operator wishes to support the iron while arranging the material being ironed, or the like.

Accordingly, it is'an object of the invention to provide a sad iron with a simple normally retracted rest which is readily and automatically extendable to an iron supporting position merely by a sidewise tilting of the iron through a predetermined angle.

Another object is the provision of an iron rest having a gravity actuated supporting strut which is released by a gravity actuated control latch movable in a plane traversing the plane of operation of the supporting strut.

Yet another object is the provision of a gravity controlled release device for an extendable iron rest which automatically locks the rest in its retracted position whenever the iron is moved forwardly from its inclined supported position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side plan view of the iron of the present invention partly in section showing one modification;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1 showing the iron tilted to the side to release the rest member proper;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified form of the invention;

Figure 4 is a detailed view of the latch of the modification of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 shows the iron of the present invention as it appears supported in its inclined rest position with the sole plate out of contact with the ironing surface. 7

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 represents the sole plate of the iron of this invention which may be of any suitable construction. The sole plate 10 is heated by an electric heater 11 which may be of the sheathed rod type as shown.

A cover shell 12 and handle 13 are secured to the sole plate It) in any suitable manner known to the art. The temperature of the sole plate 10 is controlled by a thermostatic switch not shown but of any conventional design, the temperature setting of which may be adjusted by a control dial 14. The cover shell 12 is extended rearwardly of the sole plate 10 and is provided with a widebased fixed support 15 having its rear corner spaced somewhat above the surface of the sole plate, as indicated in the drawings.

The sole plate 10 is provided with an elongated opening 16 positioned forwardly of the irons center of gravity and equidistantly between the legs of the U-shaped heating element 11. The supporting leg or strut 17 is pivotally supported in opening 16 by means of a pivot pin 18 staked or otherwise retained in journal notches formed in the sole plate to either side of the forward end of the strut. It will therefore be apparent that the strut will pivot downwardly out of opening 16 as soon as the toe of the iron is lifted from the ironing surface.

Strut 17 is normally held in its retracted position slightly above the surface of the sole plate as illustrated in Figure 1 by a gravity actuated control latch 20 freely pivotable on a pin 21 journaled in a seat 22 formed within a downwardly struck portion of cover shell 12. A cammed protuberance 23 projects rearwardly from the face of latch 29 and forms a latching abutment which overlies an extension 27 on the upper forward end of strut 17 to lock the latter in retracted position normally.

The protuberance 23 is of triangular formation and has sloping side walls or

cam surfaces

24 and 25 of the shape indicated for a purpose which will presently appear. The sides of the lower end 26 of protuberance 23 are sloped upwardly, as shown in Figure 2, to form cams which permit latch 20 to swing back into locking engagement with extension 27 as strut 17 returns to its retracted position. When latch 20 is in its normal vertical position, it will be observed that the upper end of guide surface 24 is positioned to one side of extension 27 on the strut. In consequence, during the retraction of the strut, this surface is contacted by the end of extension 27 so that latch 20 is pivoted to one side until the strut is in its retracted position. Thereafter, cam 26 contacts the top of extension 27 and pivots the strut upwardly to a position slightly above the surface of the sole plate as the gravity actuated latch 20 swings back to its normal position locking the strut retracted.

Operation of Figures 1 and 2 Strut 17 is normally held in its retracted position of Figure 1 by the engagement of extension 27 with the lower end of protuberance 23. In this position, the iron may be freely moved in any direction or lifted from the ironing surface without releasing the strut provided the iron is not tilted sidewise beyond the critical angle required to release the strut. When it is desired to support the iron with the sole plate free of the supporting surface the iron is tilted sidewise to the right as the toe is elevated rearwardly about the heel. This sidewise tilting will cause latch20 and integral protuberance 23 to pivot on 3 pin 21 to a position to one side of extension 27 thereby releasing strut 17 for downward gravity movement to its extended position. The operator may then relax her grasp of the handle leaving the iron supported in the position shown in Figure 5.

When it is desired to return the iron to its ironing position, the operator grasps the handle and pushes the iron forwardly causing strut 17 to pivot rearwardly back into opening 17. As this occurs, the end of extension 27 contacts cammed surface 24 causing latch to pivot sidewise until arm 27 rides off onto cam 25. The weight of latch 20 together with cam 26 then pivots strut 17 upwardly to a position slightly above the surface of the sole plate and then locks the strut in this fully retracted position.

The second embodiment The modification of Figures 3 and 4 is substantially the same as that of Figures 1 and 2 except that the supporting leg may be released by the tilting of the iron to either the right or the left. Where the parts are the same, the same reference numerals have been applied. Gravity latch has a protuberance 31 projecting rearwardly therefrom which is symmetrically arranged relative to the center line of the latch and is provided with the

inclined camming surfaces

32 and 33 to either side of this center line, as clearly shown in Figure 4. The forward end and sides of arm 27' on strut 17 are similarly shaped and, in consequence, cooperate with

cams

32 and 33 to push latch 30 to one side during the retraction of the strut, as will be readily apparent.

Operation of second embodiment The operation of the modification of Figures 3 and 4 is substantially the same as that of the modification of Figures 1 and 2 except that the iron may be tilted sidewise in either direction to release the strut for movement to the rest position shown in Figure 5 thereby making the iron equally convenient for use by either right or left hand operators. As in the first embodiment, when the iron is tilted rearwardly and either to the right or left latch 30 pivots out of latching position permitting strut 17 to move by gravity to its supporting position shown in Figure 5.

When the iron is moved forwardly, arm 27 will engage either

cam face

32 or 33 to move latch 30 out of the way. As the sole plate 10 approaches the supporting surface, either

cam edge

34 or 35 of latch 30 will act on arm 27 so as to lift and then lock the strut in its fully retracted position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of two illustrative embodiments that the principles of the invention may be practiced by various other constructions. For example, the gravity controlled latch may be pivotally supported by the sole plate rather than the cover shell if the maintenance of proper manufacturing tolerances proves troublesome with the presently described arrangements. Moreover, the control latch need not be of the pivoted type but may include in lieu thereof a ball or the like operating in a raceway inclined upwardly to one side of the supporting strut and functioning to release the strut when the iron is tilted sidewise beyond a predetermined angle. Various other arrangements will also suggest themselves to the designer as coming within the inventive concept.

While I have shown but two modifications of my invention, it is to be understood that these modifications are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wish to be limited to the particular structure shown and described but to include all equivalent variations thereof except as limited by the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a fiat iron, a sole plate having a heel and a toe, an elongated support, pivot means for attaching said support to said soleplate forwardly of the center of gravity 4 of the iron and adjacent one end of said support for movement of said support in a plane normal to said soleplate, latching means engageable with said support for normally holding the latter retracted to a position above the lower surface of said soleplate, and means for mounting said latching means for lateral gravity movement across the top of said soleplate transversely of the center line joining said heel and toe so as to move out of engagement with said support when the iron is tilted to one side, said pivot means being attached to said support in such a manner that the latter will move by gravity to an extended position below said soleplate for supporting the same in an inclined rest position upon the release of said support by said latching means.

2. In a flat iron according to claim 1 in which said latching means includes means engageable by said support during the movement of the latter to its retracted position and operable thereby to shift said latching means to one side of the path of movement of said support, said latching means then being movable by gravity to engage said support and hold it in a retracted position above the surface of said sole plate.

3. In a flat iron, a sole plate having a toe and a heel, a supporting strut, first pivot means for attaching said strut to said soleplate near the forward end of the latter and to one side of the center of gravity of said strut so that the latter tends to pivot by gravity from a normal retracted position above the lower surface of said soleplate to an extended iron supporting position therebelow, a latch, second pivot means for attaching said latch to said iron for lateral tilting movement across the top of said soleplate transversely of the center line joining said heel and toe so as to normally hold said supporting strut in said retracted position, said second pivot means being constructed to permit movement of said latch out of locking engagement with said strut by a sideward tilting movement of said iron, whereby said iron is supported with the toe of said soleplate at a higher elevation than the heel end thereof:

4. The combination with a sad iron having a sole plate provided with a U-shaped electric heating element, a cover shell for said plate, a handle overlying said shell, said sole plate being formed with a slot extending vertically therethrough near the forward end thereof at a point spaced equi-distantly between the legs of said U-shaped heating element whereby said slot does not interfere with the flow of heat from said heating element to said sole plate, a strut having one end pivotally supported in one end of said slot, said strut being freely pivotable by gravity from a retracted position above the surface of said sole plate to an extended iron supported position substantially normal to the under side of said plate, and means for normally holding said strut retracted, means for movably mounting said holding means within said iron so as to permit movement of said holding means in a path extending crosswise of said iron and being operable upon the sidewise tilting of said sole plate beyond a predetermined angle to release said strut so that the same is free for gravity movement downwardly through said slot to the extended iron supporting position thereof.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein one edge of said strut abuts an end of said slot when said strut is in its extended position so that said strut is held against return pivotal movement to its retracted position and supports said iron in a stable inclined rest position until said iron is moved longitudinally in a direction to pivot said strut back into its retracted position within said slot.

6. The combination with an electric sad iron having a sole plate, cover shell and handle connected together in superposed relation, of an extendable support means normally concealed within said iron operable when extended below said sole plate to support said iron in an inclined rest position, said support means comprising a pair of gravity actuated members, pivot means for supporting said members within said iron on separate horizontal axes at right angles to one another, one of said members comprising a strut for supporting said iron in an inclined rest position when pivoted to the extended position thereof below said sole plate, and the other of said members forming a holding means operable to engage said strut member and hold the same retracted when said iron is in its normal horizontal position the pivot means for said holding means permitting movement of the latter out of holding engagement with said strut when said iron is tilted crosswise of its longitudinal axis whereby said strut member pivots by gravity to its extended position as said iron is tilted backward about the rear end thereof.

7. In a flat iron, a sole plate having a toe and a heel, a cover shell overlying and secured to said soleplate, an extension at the rear end of said cover shell projecting downwardly toward but spaced slightly above the surface of said soleplate and forming a fixed support for supporting said iron in an inclined rest position, a strut, pivot means for attaching said strut to said soleplate on a horizontal axis extending transversely of said soleplate near the toe end thereof, said strut having a long leg and a relatively short latching arm positioned on opposite sides of said pivot means whereby said strut tends to pivot downwardly below said soleplate by gravity to a position wherein it cooperates with said fixed support to support said soleplate in said inclined rest position, a latch means for movably mounting said latch on said cover shell for lateral movement across the top of said soleplate transversely of the center line joining said heel and toe so as to engage said latching arm to hold said strut normally above the lower face of said soleplate, said mounting means being constructed to permit movement of said latch crosswise of said soleplate in response to the sidewise tilting of said iron so as to become disengaged from said latching arm to permit said strut to pivot downwardly by gravity to its iron supporting position wherein said iron is supported in an inclined position of rest on said strut and on said fixed support with the soleplate free of the supporting surface.

8. In a fiat iron, a soleplate having a heel and a toe, an elongated slot formed in said soleplate and extending therethrough, a strut, pivot means for attaching said strut to said soleplate adjacent the forward end thereof so as to lie normally in a retracted position within said slot, said pivot means being constructed to permit movement of said strut by gravity to a position extending downwardly below said soleplate as said iron is tilted to a rearward position, a latching arm extending forwardly from the pivot point of said strut, latch means, means for movably mounting said latch means on said iron so that said latch means normally lies in a latching position overlying said latching arm, said mounting means being constructed to permit movement of said latch means laterally across the top of said soleplate transversely of the center line joining said heel and toe to a position free of said latching arm in response to a sideward tilting movement of the iron.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,149,251 Campana Mar. 7, 1939 2,332,745 OConnor Oct. 26, 1943 2,461,681 Cragan Feb. 15, 1949 2,470,532 Thomas May 17, 1949 2,501,549 Swenson Mar. 21, 1950 2,582,082 Swenson Jan. 8, 1952 2,668,379 Binggely Feb. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 50,135 Denmark Apr. 15, 1935