WO2002031255A1

WO2002031255A1 - Ironing system causing vibrations on the ironing board

Info

Publication number: WO2002031255A1
Application number: PCT/IT2001/000508
Authority: WO
Inventors: Manuela Bettella
Original assignee: Pem International S.R.L.
Priority date: 2000-10-10
Filing date: 2001-10-03
Publication date: 2002-04-18
Also published as: ITPD20000235A0; EP1325186A1; IT1315747B1; AU2001295897A1; ITPD20000235A1

Abstract

This invention consists of an ironing system comprising an ironing board that receives a series of vibrations. Said vibrations, which have the same effect as the movements of the iron on the cloth, produce heat and thus cause the elimination of the electric resistance, facilitating the ironing work and saving time. The vibrations on the ironing board may be produced by means of different methods, in particular by electromechanical or electromagnetic systems, and their number and intensity is regulated according to the type of cloth to be ironed.

Description

"IRONING SYSTEM CAUSING VIBRATIONS ON THE IRONING BOARD"

Description Technical Field

The present invention relates to the technical sector of the accessories for the household and for the industry, aiming at the ironing of clothes, sheets and other personal garments or domestic accessories. In particular, it concerns the technical sector relative to the production of ironing boards, either simple domestic ironing tables, however handmade, or greater boards mainly used in industry. Background Art

Experts in this field know ironing boards of different kind. Normally they consist of a board covered with soft material over which the ironing is placed. The evolution of the technique has involved the improvement of said ironing boards too. In particular, there exists "vacuum" ironing boards over which the cloth to be ironed is placed and, in its turn, is sucked by the same board and pressed over it, so that the cloth is spread and the ironing is easier. People normally know heated ironing boards that facilitate the ironing of clothes thanks to the heat produced on them both from up and down.

Even if said known systems facilitate the ironing work, yet they are not able to reduce the operator's effort and above all they involve a considerable waste of energy. The present invention improves the ironing systems commonly known, e.g. the ordinary ironing table, even in its different solutions and intricacies, the pants-ironing, the roller- ironing, or whatever else. Until now, nothing new in the ironing system has been created in the market, apart from the known steam resistance heating system.

The present invention aims at solving the above-mentioned and other drawbacks, supplying an ironing system that permits to facilitate the ironing work, making it simple, pleasant and improving its final result. Disclosure of invention

The present invention consists of an ironing system based on the feature that it causes a series of vibrations on the ironing board, over which the ironing is placed. The vibrations produced on the ironing board have the same effect as the movements of the iron on the cloth and their number represent the number of times the iron would have physically moved onto the cloth to be ironed in an extremely short time. In addition, the vibrations produced make the ironing means smoothly slide onto the cloth in such a way that ironing becomes a pleasure.

Reduced to its essential structure and with reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, an ironing system according to the invention comprises an ironing board that receives the vibrations produced by a suitable generator, so that by placing the iron or similar over the cloth spread on the board, said cloth is perfectly and easily ironed, since the vibrations produce the same effect as the movements of the iron over the same cloth.

Conveniently, said vibrations may be produced by mechanical, electromechanical, electronic and/or pneumatic systems.

Conveniently, the energy can be supplied by means of electric current, rechargeable or not rechargeable batteries, or alternative energy supplies. Conveniently, the number and intensity of vibrations can be regulated manually or by means of a set program.

Conveniently, the program of vibrations is chosen according to the type of cloth and to the quality of ironing. Conveniently, since the vibrations create a friction on the cloth and therefore heat, they cause the elimination of the current electric resistance commonly used for heating in the ironing field.

Conveniently, the ironing board can consist of one or more vibrating elements with coordinated or independent function. Conveniently, with reference to Fig. 2, the ironing board comprises a vibration generator (D) , which sets in motion a mechanism (E) that, in its turn, polarizes alternatively the two ends inside which a metallic plate runs, led by linear alternative motion, which causes the vibration of the ironing board. Conveniently, said board guarantees the highest working security both for the user and for the operator, since the electromechanical component is held in an isolated protective case (F) .

Conveniently, besides the ordinary well known ironing table, this system can be also applied to other ironing apparatus such as the iron, the roller or other.

Conveniently, besides its utilization in the household, this system can be also used in the industry sector.

The vibrations of this invention can be regulated at will and according to the type of cloth to be ironed, handling manually the specific switch or, for more sophisticated equipments, selecting the program with a simple gesture following the instructions .

This invention permits greater ironing in shorter time, involving a considerable saving of time, energy supply and effort. In addition, with its vibrations, it causes a friction on the cloth and consequently the development of heat, so entailing also the elimination of the current heating electric resistance that is commonly used, with a considerable energy saving. The present invention also aims at realizing an apparatus extremely easy to be used by the operator, involving also a massaging and relaxing effect on the operator.

Another purpose of the present invention is to realize an apparatus having a flexible structure according to the specific needs. Another important purpose of the present invention is to realize an apparatus having low costs compared with the known apparatus, and that can be manufactured using known plants and equipments. Brief description of drawings

Further advantages , and characteristics of the present invention can be better understood by reading the description and referring to the enclosed drawings of one preferred embodiment of the invention, given as practical example, but not to be considered restrictive.

- Fig. 1 shows an ordinary ironing table.

- Figs. 2 and 3 show respectively the frontal and top view of an ironing table provided with this vibration system, and in particular: ■ the ironing board (A) ;

" the vibrating board where the ironing is done (B) ; ^■ the switchboard (C) with: 1) general switch, 2) variable frequency drive, 3) program selection, 4) iron socket; ■ the vibration generator (D) , and a schematic mechanism (E) that, once set in motion by the generator, polarizes alternatively the two ends inside which a metallic plate runs, led by linear alternative motion, which causes the vibration of the ironing board. It's important to remark that such an apparatus according to the invention, guarantees the highest working security both for the user and for the operator, since the electromechanical component is held in an isolated protective case (F) . The present invention may however provide many different solutions and revisions, but still remaining within the range of the idea proposed as a solution.

In addition, the constructing details may be replaced with other known mechanical elements and ideas that are technically equivalent, as the numerous known systems to get vibrations, like for example the largely used rotation with cam, or other. The intensity and frequency of vibrations, besides the control managed by the variable drive located on the switchboard (C) , may also be increased by the insertion of a further mechanism, as the case under the ironing board is large enough to hold it. Materials and dimensions may vary according to specific needs.

Claims

1. Ironing system characterised in that it comprises an ironing board that receives the vibrations produced by a suitable generator, so that by placing the iron or similar over the cloth spread on the board, said cloth is perfectly and easily ironed, since the vibrations produce the same effect as the movements of the iron over the same cloth.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the vibrations may be produced by mechanical, electromechanical, electronic and/or pneumatic systems.

3. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the number and intensity of vibrations can be regulated manually or by means of a set program.

4. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the vibrations are regulated according to the type of cloth to be ironed, handling manually the specific switch or, for more sophisticated equipments, automatically by means of a specific set program.

5. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the vibrations create a friction on the cloth and therefore heat, causing the elimination of the current electric resistance commonly used for heating in the ironing field.

6. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the ironing board consists of one or more vibrating elements with coordinated or independent function.

7. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the ironing board comprises a vibration generator (D) , which sets in motion a mechanism (E) that, in its turn, polarizes alternatively the two ends inside which a metallic plate runs, led by linear alternative motion, which causes the vibration of the ironing board.

8. System according to claims 1 and 7, characterized in that said board guarantees the highest working security both for the user and for the operator, since the electromechanical component is held in an isolated protective case (F) .

9. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy can be supplied by means of electric current, rechargeable or not rechargeable batteries, or alternative energy supplies .