WO1998018993A1

WO1998018993A1 - Device to facilitate the folding of cloth, sheets and similar

Info

Publication number: WO1998018993A1
Application number: PCT/IT1997/000257
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gian Luigi Matteucci; Daniele Canova
Original assignee: Gian Luigi Matteucci; Daniele Canova
Priority date: 1996-10-25
Filing date: 1997-10-20
Publication date: 1998-05-07
Also published as: IT1289300B1; AU4882997A; ITPI960049A1

Abstract

Folding device for sheets and cloth in general, designed especially for household use, and which consists of a system whereby two movable elements (12, 13) slide on two parallel guides (2, 3) and, together with a fixed element (11), form the supports for the width of cloth and fold it thanks to particular movements. This device has the advantage of being very simple, easy to use and efficient, as a width of cloth can be folded with two operations and without the assistance of another person.

Description

DESCRIPTION

"DEVICE TO FACILITATE THE FOLDING OF CLOTH, SHEETS AND SIMILAR" Technical Field

Th s invention regards a device especially for household use, which facilitates folding cloth, sheets and similar.

It falls within the technical field of the manufacture of household appliances, especially mechanical types of devices suited to facilitate several tasks included in the household routine, in this particular case folding cloth. Background Art

The experts in this field know devices for folding sheets at an industrial level, whereas for households there are known devices capable of holding one side of the sheet to be folded with supports, while the entire operation has to be performed manually by the user (see Belgian Patent no. 903189, Swiss Patent no. 597069). The particular mechanical structure of these devices limits, however, their use as the user does not get any actual assistance m folding. Other devices are known, which allow folding widths of cloth by passing them several times around a stiff support (see PCT/FR80/00175 and U.S. Patent no. 3,961,782). But even these known devices have the drawback of being complicated and oblige the user to perform numerous folding operations which are time- consuming. Disclosure of Invention This invention principally aims at eliminating the above- mentioned drawbacks and supplying a device which allows the folding of sheets easily by performing a few and simple operations . This target has been reached with the invention realising the idea of a device with the characteristics described in the separate claims, whereas other characteristics are the object of dependent claims. The advantages resulting from this invention essentially consist of the possibility to fold sheets without the assistance of a second person; of the fact that the folding procedure is simple and the operation only takes a few minutes; that the device can be mounted on any type of vertical or horizontal support, but is preferably integrated in an ironing board to facilitate ironing; that it is light and small; that it can be operated mechanically or electronically, but in any case, its use requires little effort.

A device for folding cloth, sheets and similar according to this invention, reduced to its essential structure, comprises: - means to support and fold the sheet with movable elements (12, 13) sliding along parallel guides (2, 3), each equipped with a means (11, 11A, 11B) for blocking the sheet or similar; - means allowing the movable elements to move, with a special operating system connected with them; - means to connect the movable elements with the operating system, with special means to transmit (4, 5) movement directly or indirectly (22, 20) from the operating system to the elements;

- means to attach the device to a vertical or horizontal support; Expediently, there are three supports holding and folding the width of cloth or similar, one of which is fixed and two are movable, although different solutions are possible using a higher or lower number of elements. Another advantage is that the means to block the sheet at the elements of support and movement consist of pliers (11, 11A, 11B) or another system suitable for tightly blocking the width of cloth to be folded.

The above-mentioned movable elements (12, 13) suitably consist of a cylindrical body (18) connected with another cylinder of a smaller diameter (19) so that it can slide in the guides (2, 3) , and have a projecting element (26) passing through the said cylinders (18, 19) and integrated in the gripper (31, 11A, 11B) so that, by lifting the latter, the said projecting element (26) is also lifted. The above-mentioned movable elements (12, 13) can therefore stop at any suitable point where special holes are cut (17, 17A, 27, 28) in which the projecting element (26) can engage. To move one or both movable elements, it is sufficient to lift the gripper (11A, 11B) slightly, making the projecting element (26) rise from its position so that the element can move. The operating system for moving the device is expediently mechanical and consists of a spring (8) with a recess (9), in which wire 20 slides and connects to a roller (22) which, in turn, is connected with the movable elements (12, 13) ; when wire 20 is tended (by positioning the movable elements in their seats 17 and 17A respectively) , the spring is loaded; when it is released (by lifting element 13 and subsequently element 12) , the spring is released, moving element 13 and then element 12 back to their initial positions (after dragging them to positions 27 and 28), thus folding the sheet in two successive stages .

The operating system can also be driven by a small electric or electronic motor which is activated by slightly pulling elements 13 and 12; when these are slightly rised (or triggered by another signal or pulse), the motor moves the first (13) and then the second element (12), folding the sheet or similar. Another advantage lies in the fact that the transmission of movement from the operating system to the movable elements can be obtained with various methods according to the operating system used (electric, electronic, mechanical, manual, etc.). The operating system proposed as an example uses a transmission of movement through the elements (12, 13) connected with wires, cables or similar (4, 5) respectively and, by means of two sliding rollers (7, 6) , with another roller or similar (22) which, through another wire, cable or similar (20) , is connected with the operating system (8). The two guides which slide the elements can have various configurations, provided that they allow safe sliding of the wire or similar (4, 5) which connects to the movable elements

(12, 13). The wire (4, 5, 20) can be replaced by another means of transmission and connection suitable for transmitting the movement .

The expedient system to attach the device to a horizontal or vertical support consists of clamps (14, 15) with a special protection for the wire (23, 24), but other systems could also be used.

In particular, the device can be attached to or integrated in an ironing board to facilitate both folding and ironing of widths of cloth, sheets or similar.

According to the example proposed, the device's overall dimensions are approximately 80 x 10 x 4 cm; during operation, element 12 is placed at about 66 cm from the end bearing rollers 6 and 7, and during operation element 13 is placed at about 74 cm from the same end.

The device in question s suitably made of metal, plastic, alloy or other adequate material. It can be manufactured boxed or equipped with special protections and covers on the movable technical parts .

The device described works as follows:

The movable elements (12, 13) are placed at those points fit for the device's operation. To make it run, element 13 (Figure 5) is lifted and pulled toward position 17A so that the projecting element (26) enters the hole (17A) once the position is reached and the gripper (11B) is released, thus guaranteeing stable positioning; subsequently, element 12 is also moved to position 17 (Figure 6) following the same procedure.

These movements are instrumental when electric or electronic operating systems are used as well as for mechanical operating systems . In the latter case, the movement of element 13 pulls w re 4 and roller 22 which, in turn, pulls spring 8, thus extending wire 20 and loading the spring. When element 12 is moved, wire section 5 and roller 22 undergo further tension, while the roller pulls wire 20 again, increasing load to spring 8. The width of cloth or sheet (in this case already folded once along its length; see Figure 6) is now blocked in the three grippers (11, 11A, 11B) , so that the first portion of the width of cloth is tended, whereas the second portion is rather slack and can now be folded. While the sheet is blocked at one side on the device, the operator holds the other side with both hands, slightly pulling the flap of the sheet connected with element 13 toward him, so that gripper 11B and consequently projection 26 are slightly lifted; as a result, element 13 is released and, thanks to the partial load of spring 8, is shifted to its initial position (28). This first movement causes the sheet to be folded the first time.

By slightly pulling the flap of the sheet connected with element 12, this element s also moved to its initial position (27) by the same mechanism described above, and the sheet is folded once again.

For devices w th electric or electronic operating mechanism, the elements can also be moved as a consequence of the lifting of elements 12 and 13, but alternative triggering signals or pulses are possible.

One single folding may be sufficient for widths of cloth with small dimensions, whereas longer devices may be required for larger sheets. The device described as an example, with the dimensions as given, refers to a device with optimal dimensions for folding single or double sheets.

As only one embodiment of the invention in question has been described and given as an example to show its essential features but is not limited to it, it is understood that it may undergo numerous variations according to industrial and commercial requirements, and may use other systems and means still remaining within its range.

It is therefore understood that the application for a patent right includes every equivalent application of these ideas and every equivalent product manufactured and/or using one or more of any characteristics listed in the following claims. Brief description of drawings

- Table 1/3, Figure 1 is a schematic drawing giving a front view of the device according to the invention. There is the body (1) of the device, the two parallel guides (2, 3) with two wires (4, 5) sliding in them and passing through rollers (6, 7) connected with the movable elements (13, 12) respectively which, together with the fixed element (10), form the three gripping points of the sheet to be folded by means of special pliers (11, 11A, 11B) or similar. Figure 1 also shows the support (16) of the spring (8) with a recess (9) in which the wire slides and connects to element 22 (not shown) . Positions 14 and 15 indicate schematically two possible couplings of the device to a plane. Numbers (27) and (28) show the positions of the movable elements when the device is in the deadlock state; numbers (17) and (17A) indicate the positions of the elements when the device is charged and ready for use.

- Table 1/3, Figure 2 shows the details of elements 12 and 13 schematically, which consist of an element (31) integrated in the gripping element (11A, 11B) and of a cylindrical body (18) connected with another cylinder (19) with a smaller diameter so that it can slide in the guide's groove, and continues with a plane surface (25) to which the sliding wire is connected. A support (26) projects from the base of the element and is integrated in element 31 and, through the latter, with the gripper (11A, 11B) which passes through the cylinder (19) and the cylindrical body (18) so that support 26 rises when element 31 is lifted.

Table 2/3, Figure 3 shows the back of the device schematically. There is spring 8 with recess 9 for sliding wire 20 which connects to roller 22 by a special means (21) . Wire (4, 5) slides on the said roller (22) and passes over to the following two rollers (6, 7) which connect to the two elements (13, 12) (not shown) . The body (1) of the device is also shown, as well as the means (15, 16) which connect the same device with a plane surface by means of a special screw or similar (29, 30) and the protecting element for the wire (23, 24).

- Table 3/3, Figure 4 shows a scheme of the device's first operational stage. The body (1) is shown from the top, with the guides (2, 3), the elements (12, 13) in the resting position, the fixed element (10) in its position, both rollers (6, 7) and wires (5, 4) which connect to the sa d elements, roller 22 in a position near spring 8, and the connecting wire (29) slack.

- Table 3/3, Figure 5 shows a scheme of the device's second operational stage. The body (1) s shown from the top, with element 13 loaded and the corresponding wire (4) taut, element 12 at rest and the corresponding wire (5) still placed on the back of the device. The fixed element (10) n its position, the two rollers (6, 7) and roller 22 in a central position, approximately halfway between spring 8 and rollers 6 and 7, and wire 20 taut, connecting it w th spring 8, are also visible. - Table 3/3, Figure 6 shows a scheme of the device's third operation stage. The body (1) is shown from the top, with element 13 loaded and the corresponding wire (4) taut, as well as element 12 loaded and the corresponding wire (5) taut. The fixed element (10) in its position, the two rollers (6, 7) and roller 22 completely shifted toward rollers 6 and 7, and wire 20 perfectly taut, connecting it with spring 8, are also visible. The device is ready for use with this arrangement.

Claims

1) Device for folding widths of cloth, sheets and similar characterised by the fact that it comprises:

- means to support and fold the sheet with movable elements sliding n parallel guides, each equipped with special means for blocking the sheet to be folded;

- means allowing the said movable elements to move, w th a special operating system connected with them;

- means to connect the movable elements with the operating system, with special means to transmit movement directly or indirectly from the operating system to the elements;

- means to attach the device to or integrate it in a vertical or horizontal support;

2) Device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that it comprises two or more parallel guides (2, 3) in which the movable elements (12, 13) slide and which block and fold the sheet or similar;

3) Device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that it comprises a fixed element (10) and two or more movable elements (12, 13), each equipped with special means for blocking the sheet with pliers (11, 11A, 11B) or another equivalent system;

4) Movable elements according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that they consist of a cylindrical body (18) connected with another cylinder (19) of smaller diameter, which slides m the guides (2, 3) and has a projecting element (26) at ts base, passing through the said cylinders (18, 19) and integrated m the gripper (31, 11A, 11B) so that, by lifting the latter, the above-mentioned projecting part (26) is also lifted, whereas keeping it at rest, the said part 26 contacts the guide's groove or engages in one of the holes cut in the guide in the position selected (17, 17A, 27, 28), thus guaranteeing the element's firm positioning;

5) Device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that t is equipped with an operating system which may be of various types (manual, mechanical, electronic, electric) , but especially mechanical, composed of a spring (8) with a recess (9) in which wire 20 is rolled up; when the wire is pulled (as a result of the movable elements' 12 and 13 movement in their seats 17, 17A) the spring is loaded; whereas on releasing it (by lifting element 13 first and then element 12), the spring is released and pulls element 13 and subsequently element 12 into their initial positions (27, 28) , thus folding the sheet in two successive stages;

6) Device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that movement can be transmitted from the operating system to the movable elements in various ways according to the operating system used (electric, electronic, mechanical, manual, etc.), in particular through the movable elements (12, 13) connected with wires, cables or similar (5, 4) respectively and by means of two sliding rollers (7, 6) and one roller or similar (22) connected, n turn, through another wire, cable or similar (20) with the operating system ( 8 ) ;

7) Device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that it comprises a mechanism to attach the same device to a horizontal or vertical support w th clamps (14, 15) covered with a special wire protection (23, 24) or another suitable system, both for movable or fixed clamps.

8) Device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that it is made of metal, plastic, alloy or other suitable materials, with overall dimensions of approximately 80 x 10 x 4 cm, which can be manufactured boxed or equipped with special protections and covers on the movable technical parts according to specific requirements;

9) Ironing board or plane ironing surface in which the device described and claimed above is integrated;

10) Device according to the above claims, presenting all the features claimed as described and illustrated on the tables enclosed.