US3185278A - Electric iron with timer and ironing board and cabinet therefor - Google Patents

Description

M 25,1965 L. E. MILLER ETALI 3,185,278

ELECTRIC mou WITH TIMER AND 1110mm BOARD AND CABINET THEREFOR Filed Dec. 51, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l nvwszvrons EXUE 0E0 MINER ATTORNEY ZAWRENE E MILLER HHHH H HHHHHI INHHHHHHHHHHHHHIHH P P PH II lllllllllllllllllll lib llllllllllllll 1 3 I I -I-it:51----:---l:{--.:-: L w a z a w a 2 May 1965 y L. E. MILLER ETAL ELECTRIC IRON WITH TIMER AND IRONING BOARD AND CABINET THEREFOR Filed Dec. 31, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTORS lAWRE/Vfff M/[lflq y [XZIE DfO MILLER A TTORNEY May 25, 1965 MlLLER ETAL 7 3,185,278

ELECTRIC IRON WITH TIMER AND IRONING BOARD AND CABINET THEREFOR Filed Dec. 51, 1962 I r 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ZAWPENIE MILLER av E! (If EEO MILM'R Z 1 ATTORNEY United States Patent 1 O 3,l.85,278 ELECTRKC IRQN WITH TIMER AND KRQNENG iiit'iARD AND CAiiitQE i Til'clERlEl QR Lawrence E. Miilcr, Muskogee, Mich, and Excie Dec Milier, Peoria, iii, assignors to Clarence it. Miller, Peoria, Iii. Continuation of application filer. No. '767,ii4 2, (Pet. 13, 1958. This application Dec. 31, W62, Scr. No. 25%,4-57 6 Claims. (Cl. l94--l) This application is a continuation of our application Serial No. 767,042, filed October 13, i958, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an electric iron with timer and ironing board and cabinet therefor, the timer in the case of an installation in a motelor hotel requiring the insertion or" .a coin to release a catch for the cabinet door and allow setting the timer, but the timer in other installations being set into operation by merely turning a knob to allow current to flow to the iron only a predetermined length of time, more or less as a safety feature. p In the coin-operated unit, after a coin is inserted in the timer, the manually rotatable knob is free to be turned to set the timer for a given period of operation, say thirty minutes. Then a door release button can be pressed to close a circuitthrough a solenoid which releases a catch, allowing the door of the cabinet to swing open under pressure of a spring-pressed plunger bearing against the inner side of the door, this spring-pressed plunger being part of a single-pole single-throw switch, which in the open position of the door is closed, keeping a circuit through the electric iron and also a red warning light visible at the front of the cabinet, so that the operator is always aware when the current is flowing through the iron and proper precautions should be taken accordingly. If the iron is put away and the ironing board folded and the door of the cabinet closed before the time for which the timer is set has elapsed, the safety switch is automatically opened and current to the iron and warning light is shut off, as a safety measure. The spring-pressed plunger resists closing of thedoor as a further safety measure, and, of course, the catch operated by the solenoid will not permit locking the door in closed position until the period for which the timer is set-has elapsed, thereby greatly reducing any fire hazard. 1

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which PK}. 1 is a front view of the cabinet of our invention shown closed, exposing only the timer, door release button and bulb for the warning light;

FIG. 2 is a similar View with the door opened as a result of depress-ion of the door relcasebutton after a coin has been deposited in the timer and its knob has been turned to set it; v

FIG. 3 is a cross-section on the line .i-S of FIG. 1 indicating in dot and dashlines the ironing'board and cabinet door in rnoved positions;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 44 of FIG. 3, showing the cabinet door swung open and the ironing board swung down for use; i

FIG. 5 is a perspective viewo'f PEG. 4, and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are wiring diagrams for the coin-operated and free metered units, respectively.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referringto the drawings, the reference numeral 3 designates a cabinet which is preferably, though not neces- "ice board, which is cut away, as indicated at 16 in FIGS. 2, 4 I

and 5, to provide adequate clearance for the inwardly projecting portion 17 of the timer 1%, is arranged to engage under a stop provided on the back wall 20 of the cabinet to support the ironing board in its extended horizontal operative position indicated in clot and dash A certain amount of support is also prolines in FIG. 3. vidcd for the ironing board in the horizontal position by the upper ends of the fixed side portions 21 or" the lower front wall of the cabinet, between which the middle panel 22 carrying the timer 1% is hinged on a horizontal axis, as indicated at 23 in FIG. 3, to swing downwardly to an open horizontal position for the removal of coins from the coin box 1"". The coins are inserted through a slot 24 in the iront of the timer adjacent the knob 25 that the ooerator turns after depositing a coin to set the timer. Lock Z5 locks the panel 22 to one of the side panels 21, and the proprietor of the motel or other establishment, where a number of these ironer'units are installed, has

the key to open this lock and also open a door on the coin box 17', and it is manifest that one cannot gain access to the coin box 17 well enough through the small semicircular opening it: in the inner end portion of the ironing board 12 to enable a thief to break into the box to steal the money, and yet the timer 18 with its slot 24 is fully exposed to the View ot a prospective patron, so that there will be no problem for an uninitiated person to insert a coin when the ironing facilities available race to be used. The same general arrangement can be used in a free meter unit the diagram for which appears in FIG. 7, except that in such a unit the timer 1% will not, of course, require the insertion of a coin to free thek-nob 25' for turning but the knob can be set for any desired number of minutes up to say thirty minutes of operation, as indicated by the dial 2? in "FIG. 7.

T he transverse cleat i9 forming the stop for abutment by the inner end of the ironing board 12 in its horizontal position forms a support also for the broad rear end of the electric iron 23 and the lower end of an asbestos pad 29 against which the sole plate of the iron 23 is held engaged when the side portions of the iron are slipped between the laterally spaced vertical metallic holsters 3i) that are secured to the back wall 26 of the cabinet with the pad 2.9. The ifiifiblfi extension cord 31 for the electric iron 2%, when the iron is not in use can, if desired, be wound around cleats 32 provided on the back wall 20 of the cabinet alongside .the holsters 3d. The inner end portion of the cord 31 extends from there, "as shown at 33 in PEG. 5, into the vertical housing 34 that extends the full length of the cabinet 8 and contains and conceals all of oneness u but arranged to be pulled upwardly by the armature ele ment as of an electrical solenoid 4-1 to released position when the solenoid is energized. Thus, the cabinet when closed is automatically locked until energization of the solenoid El, and that requires the insertion of the appropriate coin in slot 24 in timer l3, rotation of the knob 25 to set the timer into operation, and finally the depression of a door release button 42 provided on the left hand lower front panel 21 on the cabinet. The instant the latch 37 is released, the door Jill is pushed open by means of a spring-pressed plunger 43 that forms a part of a single-pole single-throw switch 44-, which, so long as the door It) remains closed, is in open circuit position. The opening of the door i therefore completes the circuit through the electric iron 28. A red warning light which is turned on as soon as the timer 18 is set into operation and remains on so long as it continues to run, is vis ible from in front of the cabinet and serves to warn the user so long as the timer 13 has not run its normal period of time, so that he or she can take the proper precautions in the use of the electric iron so as not to ruin clothing or allow a youngster to get burned or create a fire hazard with the iron. A separate switch 46 is also usually provided on the iron 28 forming a part of the heat adjustment normally provided on irons so that the user can shut oi? the iron when it is no longer needed, thereby further re ducing the fire hazard.

In operation, assuming the unit is coin-operated, the user must deposit a coin, say a quarter, in slot 24 for say thirty minutes use of the ironing facilities and must turn the knob 25 to set the timer. Movement of the pointer end 47 of the knob relative to suitably marked graduations 48 on the face of the timer 18 will serve to indicate the time left at any point in the use of the iron, so that the user can check from time to time while using the iron and endeavor to finish whatever work requires ironing before the timer turns oil the current. When the button 42 is depressed, after the knob 25 has been set, the door 10 swings open under action of the spring-pressed plunger 43, following the automatic release of the latch 37 by energization of the solenoid a l. The switch 44-, with which the spring-pressed plunger 43 is associated, when closed, maintains the electric circuit through the iron and red Warning light The latter stays on as long as the timer 18 runs, regardless of the open or closed circuit position of switch 46 on iron 23, so that the user is always warned to observe the proper precautions in the use of the iron and is also notified when this light goes out that if any further use of the iron is necessary, it will necessitate the depositing of another coin in slot 24;.

Where this ironing unit is not coin-operated, as in the circuit shown in FIG. 7, the same electrical equipment may be used as for the coin-operated units of FIG. 6 except that the timer 18 can be set by hand by turning the knob 25 to any desired position with respect to the dial 27 for as many minutes of use of the iron as may be desired. In such a unit, however, the solenoid 41 and latch 37 operated thereby may be dispensed with, in which case the push-button 42 would also be dispensed with and likewise the spring-pressed plunger and switch 44, as indicated by the dotted line connection in the circuit, although it is conceivable that the elements 43 and 54 might still be provided as shown in full lines in the circuit, even though the button and solenoid 41 with latch 37 are omitted.

It is believed the foreging description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of our invention. The appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

We claim:

1. In an electric ironing unit, the combination with an electric iron for ironing clothes having a manually operable heat control switch on it which also has an off position enabling manually turning the electric iron off independently of the rest of the combination, of a cabinet adapted to house an ironing board and housing said electric iron and having a door the opening of which affords access to the electric iron and ironing board, said cabinet including a fire resistant support therein for the electric iron, spring-pressed means urging the door to open position, a keeper on the door, a catch mounted in the cabi- .et arranged normally to engage said keeper, a solenoid housed in said cabinet and connected with said catch to release it when the solenoid is energized, coin controlled circuit closing means closing circuits through said electric iron solenoid timer means automatically set into operation for a predetermined time upon the depositing of a coin for automatically opening said circuit closing means, and a switch controlling the circuit for said elec tric iron operable by said spring-pressed means, said witch being closed when the spring-pressed means holds the door open and being opened when the door is closed, whereby to break the circuit through the electric iron when the door is closed to avoid danger of the electric iron causing a fire.

2. An electric ironing unit as set forth in claim 1, including a manually operable switch accessible outside said cabinet and which when closed completes the circuit through the solenoid.

3. In an electric ironing unit, the combination with an electric iron for ironing clothes having a manually operable heat control switch on it which also has an off position enabling manually turning the electric iron oil independently of the rest of the combination, of a cabinet adapted to house an ironing board and housing said electric iron and having a door the opening of which affords access to the electric iron and ironing board, said cabinet including a dire-resistant support therein for the electric iron, a siring-pressed plunger urging the door to open position, means for releasably securing the door in closed position, a warning light connected in circuit with said electric iron so as to be turned on whenever the iron is turned on, said warning light being visible on the outside of said cabinet, circuit closing means closing circuits through said electric iron and warning light, timer means for automatically opening said circuit closing means, and a door-operated switch for automatically breaking the circuit through the electric iron and warning light in the closed position or" the door independently of said timer means, whereby to avoid danger of the electric iron causing a fire.

4-. in an electric ironing unit, the combination with an electric iron for ironing clothes having a manually operable heat control switch on it which also has an off position enabling manually turning the electric iron off independently of the rest of the combination, of a cabinet adapted to house an ironing board and housing said electric iron and having a door the opening of which affords access to the electric iron and ironing board, said cabinet including a fire-resistant support therein for the electri iron, an electrical warning signal connected in circuit with said electric iron so as to be turned on whenever the iron is turned on, circuit closing means closing a circuit through said electric iron and warning signal, timer means for automatically opening said circuit closing means, and a switch for automatically breaking the circuit through the electric iron and warnin signal independently of said timer means when the electric iron and ironing board are put away inside said housing behind said door, whereby to avoid danger of the electric iron causing a fire.

5. In an electric ironing unit, the combination with an electric iron for ironing clothes having a manually operable heat control switch on it which also has an oflf position enabling manually turning the electric iron off independently of the rest of the combination, of a cabinet adapted to house an ironing board and housing said electric iron and having a door the opening of which atfords access to the electric iron and ironing board, said cabinet including a fire-resistant support therein for the electric iron, at spring-pressed plunger urging the door to open position, means for releasably securing the door in closed position, circuit closing means closing a circuit through said electric iron, timer means for automatically opening said circuit closing means, and a door-operated switch for automatically breaking the circuit through the electric iron in the closed position of the door independently of said timer means, whereby to avoid danger of the electric iron causing a fire.

6. An electric ironing unit as set forth in claim 1 including a warning light connected in circuit with said electric iron so as to be turned on whenever the iron is turned on, said warning light being visible on the outside of the cabinet.

6 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,558,409 10/ 25 Stienecker 38--104 1,734,740 11/29 Morin.

2,568,211 9/51 Woelke 38-107 2,572,350 10/51 Kaufman.

2,591,288 4/52 Pitchford. 2,800,988 7/57 Timrns 194-9 ROBERT B. REEVES, Acting Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, ERNEST A. FALLER, JR., Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. IN AN ELECTRIC IRONING UNIT, THE COMBINATION WITH AN ELECTRIC IRON FOR IRONING CLOTHES HAVING A MANUALLY OPERABLE HEAT CONTROL SWITCH ON IT WHICH ALSO HAS AN OFF POSITION ENABLING MANUALLY TURNING THE ELECTRIC IRON OF INDEPENDENTLY OF THE REST OF THE COMBINATION, OF A CABINET ADAPTED TO HOUSE AN IRONING BOARD AND HOUSING SAID ELETRIC IRON AND HAVING A DOOR THE OPENING OF WHICH AFFORDS ACCESS TO THE ELECTRIC IRON AND IRONING BOARD, SAID CABINET INCLUDING A FIRE RESISTANT SUPPORT THEREIN FOR THE ELECTRIC IRON, SPRING-PRESSED MEANS URGING THE DOOR TO OPEN POSITION, A KEEPER ON THE DOOR, A CATCH MOUNTED IN THE CABINET ARRANGED NORMALLY TO ENGAGE SAID KEEPER, A SOLENOID HOUSED IN SAID CABINET AND CONNECTED WITH SAID CATCH TO RELEASE IT WHEN THE SOLENOID IS ENERGIZED, COIN CONTROLLED CIRCUIT CLOSING MEANS, CLOSING CIRCUITS THROUGH SAID ELECTRIC IRON AND SOLENOID TIMER MEANS AUTOMATICALLY SET INTO OPERATION FOR A PREDETERMINED TIME UPON THE DEPOSITING OF A COIN FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING SAID CIRCUIT CLOSING MEANS, AND A SWITCH CONTROLLING THE CIRCUIT FOR SAID ELECTRIC IRON OPERABLE BY SAID SPRING-PRESSED MEANS HOLDS SWITCH BEIND CLOSED WHEN THE SPRING-PRESSED MEANS HOLDS THE DOOR OPEN AN BEARING OPENED WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, WHEREBY TO BREAK THE CIRCUIT THROUGH THE ELECTRIC IRON WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED TO AVOID DANGER OF THE ELECTRIC IRON CAUSING A FIRE.

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