US3430370A - Steam ironing board - Google Patents

Description

March 4, 1969 D. H. ToPml-FE STEAM IRONING BOARD Sheet Filed Oct. 2, 1964 R. m w w.

4W A fr0 @M9/5' March 4, 1969 D. H. roPLlFFE STEAM IRONINGBOARD Filed oct. 2, 1964 Sheet March 4, 1969 D. H. ToPLlFFE STEAM IRONING BoARD Filed Oct. 2, 1964 lNvENToR. DOH/5 70m/FFE United States Patent O 3,430,370 STEAM IRONING BOARD Doris H. Toplite, 1710 Brookside Terrace, Tacoma, Wash. 98465 Filed Oct. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 401,134 U.S. Cl. 38-104 Int. Cl. D06f 81/08 This invention concerns a domestic clothes-pressing board primarily intended to be built into a cabinet in a home, and stored therein when not in use. When it is to be used, it is swung outside its cabinet, and steam is discharged within the hollow board and expelled through its forarninous cover, and through a garment spread over the same, whereby to press the garment with a pressing instrument (hereinafter referred to as an iron) which need not be, but may be, heated. There is built-in provision for forcible expulsion of steam from the board, and for eduction and condensation of steam, and drainage of water of condensation, at shutdown. Adjustment of the board in certain respects-in height, for instance, or in angular position about an upright axis-to accommodate users who may have varying physical characteristics or preferences, is provided for.

Such a board must incorporate a steam generator, or boiler, with means to heat the water and to dispose of condensed steam, and also means to maintain the water within the boiler automatically at an optimum level. Such supply and drainage means should be arranged for operation regardless of the angular position of the board. It should incorporate means to clear or exhaust steam, when required, from within the interior parts of the board. The discharge of steam into the board and through the garments is best controlled by a foot pedal, whereby the hands are left free to adjust the garments. The provision of a board having the above and other advantages, yet permanently installed, although swingable from and into its cabinet, is the primary object of this invention.

It is another object to provide such a board that is adjustable in height, to suit diiferent individual requirements, notwithstanding its angular adjustability.

Also, it is an object to provide a board of this character that is compact, and suiciently inexpensive that it can be economically installed in most homes.

With these and other objects in mind, as will appear hereinafter, the present invention comprises the novel combinations, and the novel individual parts and subcombinations, as shown in a preferred form in the accompanying drawings, and as will be described in this specication, and which will be defined in the claims.

FIGURE l is a top plan view, partly broken away, showing the board outswung from its cabinet, and 11nfolded, in position for use.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, partly in longitudinal section, of the board in its position of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the boiler and of associated parts within the board.

FIGURE 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating details of the water level maintenance means for the boiler.

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view of means that control the discharge of air, either as a vehicle for steam discharge from the boiler and manifold to the interior of the board, or to educt steam to drain from the interior of the board.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the education means for steam from the interior of the board.

FIGURE 7 is a typical cross-sectional view through the board shown as taken, at the line 7 7 of FIGURE 2.

The board is shown as swingable from and back into a storage cabinet, although of course it may be installed in the open. The cabinet, indicated generally by the numeral Claims f. ICC

9, includes a top or counter 91 which serves as a convenient support for ironed or unironed garments (meaning by the latter term any fabric pieces that require pressing). The front of the cabinet, at 92, is open, though normally a door (not shown) will close it when the board is stored within. A false floor 93 raised above the true oor F supports the board. Water is supplied by a pipe 94, past a cutot valve 95, within the cabinet 9, this supply being delivered to the board by means of flexible conduit 96. Drainage is carried away by the upright drain pipe 97.

The main support for the board is the standpipe 2 (which may be formed of two telescoping parts), arranged coaxially of and rotatable about the drain pipe 97, and draining into the latter. This standpipe 2 is supported at its lower end by a turntable 20, rotatable with respect to its support 20a upon the false oor 93, and the upper end of the standpipe is rotatably held in a guide sleeve 21 secured beneath the top 91. The means for adjusting the working height of the board will be described later.

The board itself is hollow, comprising a metal frame 10 perforated or open at its top end covered with a fabric or otherwise pervious cover 11, laminated to a perforated panel 11a, upon which cover the garments are spread. Adjacent its inner end, nearer the standpipe 2, it is preferble to enclose the boiler 3, fan 4, and various controls, valves, conduits, etc., within a closed chamber 12. A perforated manifold 31 extends from the boiler 3 to the opposite end of the board, for discharge of steam, under control of the operator into its hollow interior, at intervals in the length of the board, and so through the cover 11, 11a and a garment resting thereon. Means, to be described later, force the steam through the cover and garment.

In order to shorten the board for storage, its outer end 1a may be hinged at 1c to its inner end 1b, so that end 1a may be folded onto end 1b, as is shown in dash lines in FIGURE 2. Locking bolts 13 hold end 1a in its eX- tended position. The manifold 31 is broken into two interengageable parts at the hinge. This construction would be unnecessary if the cabinet 9 were long enough to re- -ceive the full length of the board, or if the board were installed without any cabinet, but in most installations the hinged construction will be found desirable.

The boiler 3 is divided horizontally by a perforated partition 30 into a water chamber 36 and a steam chamber 32. Water is supplied as needed to maintain the water chamber 36 filled to a predetermined level, by way of the exible water supply line 96, past valve 96a that is constantly open except during shut-down of the boiler, to a water level control valve 33. The valve 33 is opened and closed by a diaphragm 33a that is subject to variation in pressures at its opposite faces. The right face is exposed to inowing water pressure, that tlows by way of pipe 33b into the water chamber 36, and its left face is exposed to the hydrostatic head of water in the water chamber 36 by way of pipe 33C. When the hydrostatic head in 33C is sufficiently high the diaphragm closes valve 33 against entry of more water, until such time as the water level drops again, and the supply pressure in line 96 reopens the valve 33. A boiler drain line 36u past normally closed valve 36b can drain the boiler to the drain 97 whenever valve 36b is opened, shutoff valves 96a or 95 in the water supply line being then closed. The connection of pipe 33C to the bottom of the boiler by way of drain pipe 36a, ahead of valve 36b, insures that the left face of diaphragm 33a is at all times exposed to the hydrostatic head within the boiler, `and not to steam pressure within the boiler.

Discharge of steam from the boiler 3 to the manifold 31 is controlled by solenoid valve 5, when the same is energized by pressure upon pedal 50 or other equivalent control. The manifold 3.1 also receives air from a fan 4 within the chamber 12 when solenoid valve 44 is in one position, and steam within the manifold is thus forced into the space within the hollow board reliance for discharge of steam being placed on the fans discharge, rather than upon any steam pressure. This steam vapor can be cleared from that space when the valve 44 is in its position other than that shown in FIGURE 5, control for valve 44 being by means of the pedal 40. In this other position the fans discharge, instead of entering the manifold 31, is directed into pipe 41, and past educators 42 (see FIGURE 6), through which steam vapor, through holes 43, is drawn into pipe 41 by an ejector action created by air ow. There it condenses, and is delivered to the drain 97 by way of conduits 46 and 47. A blowotf or pressure relief valve, as is normally required with a steam boiler, is provided .at any convenient point, as at 45. Support of drain line .47 is provided by elbow titting 45a which is secured to the boiler 3 at the side of steam chamber 32 by a fastener 45h.

The boiler water is heated, preferably, by an electric heating element 39 within the water chamber 31. It may have normal thermostatic controls, and various safety devices may be provided, but these are conventional, and are not shown.

The standpipe 2 constitutes the primary support for the board 1. The boards inner end is fixed to the standpipe and as the latter rotates about its upright axis, defined by the turntable 20 and guide 21, the board swings into or out of the opening 92 in the cabinet. A catch 29 carried by the turntable engages or disengages angularly spaced apertures 29a in the turntables support 20a, under control of release lever 29b, attached to a lever on top of board when pushed down simultaneously releases spring catches, top and bottom, to permit return to cabinet, only lower mechanism 29a and 29b being shown. The height of the board can be adjusted suitably, as |by means of a jack screw 6 threaded within nut 60 held in the upper end of tube 61, and rotable by crank 62. The jack screw and tube extend between the turntable 20 and the level of the board itself, and are operable to raise the upper end portion of standpipe 2 relative to its lower end 2a, within guide 21, against spring 21a, or to lower the upper end portion of the standpipe which supports the board. The sleeve 2a constituting the lower portion of the standpipe, and already referred to, permits the upper end of standpipe 2 to move vertically relative to its lower end 2a.

The boiler 3 may be kept filled with -water when shutdown, or if this might induce rusting or corrosion it can be drained by way of drain 36a and valve 36b after each use, and refilled when needed, by way of pipe 94, valve 95, and exible conduit 96 past now-open valve 33. When the heating element 39 has caused the water to boil, steam rises into the steam chamber 32 under slight pressure, and upon opening solenoid valve it discharges into the manifold 31 and thence into the hollow interior of the board, assisted by air discharge from fan 4. It issues through perforations in the frame 10 and through the foraminous board 11a and cover 11, and penetrates a garment upon the board, which can be pressed with any suitable iron or presser.

If the boiler water becomes depleted, valve 33 opens automatically, until the supply is replenished. During ironing the fan 4 is normally energized. Solenoid valve 44 can be actuated to clear steam from within the manifold 31, usually when shutdown is imminent, as has already been explained. The boiler may be drained of water by way of drain line 36a past now-open valve 36b. Now the outer end 1a of the board can be folded back onto the inner end 1b, and the entire board can be swung back into the cabinet, until it is again needed. The controls 50 and 40, which are connected only by wires (not shown) to their respective solenoid valves, can be lifted back into the cabinet.

If required or desired, brace means may be provided between the turntable 20 and any convenient outer p0rtion of the board, but this is optional, and has not been shown.

I claim as my invention:

1. A steam ironing board comprising a hollow frame having a pervious pressing surface, a boiler, means connecting the boiler and hollow -frame including a steam valve openable at will to -discharge steam from the boiler into the interior of said frame, a support for said board, boiler and steam valve mounted for rotation about an upright axis, a fixed water supply source and a xed drainage pipe, conduit means leading from said supply source to the boiler, and conduit means for leading water of condensation from the interior of the hollow frame to said drainage pipe, in all rotated positions of the board, in each instance.

2. A steam ironing board as in claim 1, wherein the support is hollow, and is formed of a lower part connected to the drainage pipe, and of a cooperating upper part arranged to drain into the lower part, and axially adjustable relative to the latter, the board being mounted upon the upper part, the drain for water of condensation leading into the hollow support and so to drain, and means to adjust the upper part of said support vertically relative to its lower part.

3. A steam ironing board comprising a hollow frame having a previous pressing surface, a boiler, a perforated manifold leading from the boiler and extending practically the entire length of the hollow frame for discharge of steam into said hollow frame, a steam valve controllable at will to discharge steam into the manifold, a fan continuously operable and connected to discharge air into said manifold so that the overall boiler steam supply system may be of a smaller more eicient size, a pipe secured to the end of the hollow frame and having holes and associated eductors in communication with the interior of the hollow frame and having connections to receive air discharged from the fan, and valve means to establish communication between the fan and the manifold, at one valve setting, and between the fan and the said pipe that has the eductors, at the other alternative valve setting, whereby a ow of air by the eductors, through an ejector action, withdraws steam and moisture from the hollow frame of the ironing board at the conclusion of an ironing operation.

4. A steam ironing board comprising a hollow frame having a pervious pressing surface, an upright standpipe supporting one end of said frame, and arranged for connection to a drain, means supporting said standpipe for rotation about its axis, whereby the board may be swung to various angular positions, a boiler supported by and arranged for discharge of steam within said hollow frame, means including a steam valve to control such discharge, means to withdraw and condense steam from the interior of the frame, and a drainage connection arranged to receive the condensed steam and leading to the standpipe.

5. A steam ironing board as in claim 4, including means to maintain the boiler filled with water to a substantially constant level.

6. A steam ironing board comprising a hollow frame having a pervious pressing surface, a boiler, means connecting the hollow frame and boiler and controllable to discharge steam from the boiler to the interior of the frame, said frame including at least an inner and an outer section hingedly connected for folding and unfolding, and means supporting its inner section for rotation about a generally upright axis.

7. A steam ironing board as in claim 6, including a perforate manifold within and extending lengthwise of the board, connected for discharge thereinto of steam from the boiler, said manifold being formed of sections which are end-aligned at the hinge lines of the boards sections when the latter are unfolded.

8. A steam ironing board comprising a hollow frame having a pervious pressing surface, a boiler connected to said hollow frame for discharge of steam within said hollow frame, a valve connected at one side of its seat to a water supply source, and at the other side of its seat to the water space within the boiler, a diaphragm operatively connected to said valve, the connection between said other side of thte valves seat being located between said diaphragm and said seat, the opposite side of the diaphragm being arranged to be subjected to the hydrostatic head within the boiler, whereby the water within the boiler is maintained at a substantially constant level by a predetermined balance between hydrostatic and water source pressures within the boiler.

9. A steam ironing board comprising an upright standpipe means supporting said standpipe for rotation about its axis, a drainage connection leading from the lower end of said standpipe, a hollow frame having a pervious pressing surface, one end whereof is supported by and swingable with rotation of said standpipe, a boiler also supported from said standpipe, means to supply water to said boiler, means to discharge steam at will from said boiler into the interior of the hollow frame, means to withdraw and condense steam from such interior, and means to discharge condensed steam, in any rotated position of said frame, into said standpipe and so to the drainage connection.

10. A steam ironing board as in claim 9, wherein the steam discharge means includes a fan arranged to discharge air continuously into the interior of said frame, as a vehicle for discharged steam.

11. A steam ironing board as in claim 10 wherein tthe fan is arranged to discharge air alternatively into the steam-withdrawing means, and means to direct the air discharge either to the frames interior, or to the steamwithdravnng means.

l2. A steam ironing board comprising a hollow enclosure formed with a pervious pressing surface, a boiler and a perforated manifold connected to the boiler, both located within said enclosure, a valve controlling discharge of steam from the boiler to the manifold and so to the interior of said enclosure, a fan also located withinsaid enclosure and connected for discharge into said manifold, a pipe also arranged to receive discharge from said fan, and formed with eductor means for withdrawing gases from the interior of the enclosure, and a. second valve arranged to control alternatively discharge of air from the fan by way of the manifold or by way of said pipe and its eductor means.

13. A steam ironing board as in claim 12, including a drain pipe leading from the eductor means for disposition of withdrawn and condensed steam.

14. A steam ironing board comprising a hollow frame ha-ving a pervious pressing surface, a hollow upright support for said board mounted for rotation about its upright axis, a boiler carried by said support, a xed water supply source and a exible connection thence to the boiler, a drain connection leading from said hollow support, a drain pipe leading from the boiler to the hollow support, and means operable to control discharge of steam from the boiler to the interior of the frame, hence through its pervious surface.

15. A steam ironing board, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pervious pressing surface of the hollow frame is composed of a foraminons cover and pad.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,562,246 11/1925 Nelson 38-15 2,427,829 9/1947 Amato 38-104 2,495,468 1/1950 Mueller 38-104 2,521,512 9/1950 Gayring 38-15 2,527,363 10/1950 Jacowitz 38-104 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A STEAM IRONING BOARD COMPRISING A HOLLOW FRAME HAVING A PREVIOUS PRESSING SURFACE, A BOILER, MEANS CONNECTING THE BOILER AND HOLLOW FRAME INCLUDING A STEAM VALVE OPENABLE AT WILL TO DISCHARGE STEAM FROM THE BOILER INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID FRAME, A SUPPORT FOR SAID BOARD, BOILER AND STEAM VALVE MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN UPRIGHT AXIS, A FIXED WATER SUPPLY SOURCE AND A FIXED

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