WO2006057026A1

WO2006057026A1 - Ironing board and steam supply device

Info

Publication number: WO2006057026A1
Application number: PCT/IT2005/000690
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leonardantonio Franchini
Original assignee: Eko S.P.A.
Priority date: 2004-11-25
Filing date: 2005-11-24
Publication date: 2006-06-01
Also published as: ITVR20050063A1

Abstract

An ironing board and supply device each comprise a supporting structure (2), as well as suction means (4) and condensing means (5) connected to the suction means (4) for condensing the moisture contained in the air sucked in to obtain water. They also comprise a tank (36) for collecting the water obtained by the condensing means (5) and feed means (39) connected to the tank (36) for feeding, with the water it contains, a boiler (40) for producing new steam. A user device (41) such as an iron (46) is connected downstream of the boiler (40). The condensing means (5) comprise a refrigerating circuit (24) at least partly mounted on the supporting structure (2), and in turn comprising at least an evaporator exchanger (25), for condensing the moisture, a compressor (26) and a condenser exchanger (27).

Description

Ironing board and steam supply device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to both an ironing board and a steam supply device.

In general, the present invention may be used in all of those devices which are normally used with steam present.

Hereinafter, the term steam supply device refers to all of those devices which supply steam during their use, such as ironing systems and steam cleaners.

In particular, the present invention may be implemented either as an ironing system comprising an iron, in particular of the type with an automatic refill boiler, or as any other type of user device (such as a steam cleaner) .

Background Art As regards ironing boards, at present many types are known in which the ironing boards are equipped with suction means designed to remove the damp air that forms during ironing.

Examples of ironing boards of this type are described in patents GB 2 397 072, US 2002/095827, EP 493 765, JP 2000000400, EP 1319743, US 4536978, US 2004064980, EP 713938, JP 2003210900, EP 1234909, JP 7020200U, JP 6007700U, JP 4010899U, JP 2002292200, JP 9085000, JP 1889257, JP 4176500, US 2495468, EP 712 955, FR 2598303, EP 976864, GB 2226830, JP 56040200, JP 6079499U, JP 56045495U, JP 7213800, JP 60086300U, JP 59117498U and JP 59145400U.

Patent JP 1029299 also describes an ironing board in which the air sucked in is passed in contact with a large surface made of a heat-absorbent material, so as to condense the moisture contained in it, moisture which can be discharged through a special draining pipe.

As is known, more simple ironing boards without suction means are also widespread.

There are also many types of ironing systems and other types of user devices which generate and supply steam.

Ironing systems in particular can be grouped together in two large families: those with a boiler inside the iron and those with an external boiler. The latter, in turn, may be divided on the basis of the boiler refilling mode, which may be manual or automatic.

However, at present neither ironing systems nor other steam user devices are known which deal with the problem of the moisture created in the environment during their use.

Disclosure of the Invention

In this situation the technical need which forms the basis of the present invention is to provide an ironing board and a steam supply device which each guarantee the elimination of the moisture from the air in the environment where they are used and which are an improved alternative to those currently known.

In particular, the technical need of the present invention is to provide both ironing boards and ironing systems which are able to eliminate the moisture from the air in the environment both during ironing and in the condition in which they are not used.

Another technical need of the present invention is to provide other steam supply devices which are able to eliminate the moisture from the air in the environment both during their use and in the condition in which they are not used.

The technical need specified and the aims indicated are substantially achieved by an ironing device as described in the claims herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further features and the advantages of the present invention are more clearly illustrated in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several preferred embodiments of an ironing board and a steam supply device, without limiting the scope of the inventive concept, in which:

Figure 1 is a partially transparent schematic side view of an ironing board made according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with an ironing surface in the home position; Figure 2 is a view of the ironing board illustrated in Figure 1 with the ironing surface in an operating condition;

Figure 3 is a partially transparent schematic side view of an ironing board made according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in a first operating configuration, with the ironing surface in the home position;

Figure 4 is a view of the ironing board illustrated in Figure 3 with the ironing surface in an operating condition;

Figure 5 is a schematic side view of the ironing board illustrated in Figure 3 in a second operating configuration; Figure 6 is a view of the ironing board illustrated in Figure 5 with the ironing surface in an operating condition;

Figure 7 is a partially transparent schematic side view of an ironing board made according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in a first operating configuration, with the ironing surface in the home condition;

Figure 8 is a view of the ironing board illustrated in Figure 7 with the ironing surface in an operating condition;

Figure 9 is a schematic side view of the ironing board illustrated in Figure 7 in a second operating configuration; Figure 10 is a view of the ironing board illustrated in Figure 9 with the ironing surface in an operating condition;

Figure 11 is a partially transparent schematic side view of an ironing board made according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, with the ironing surface in an operating condition;

Figure 12 is a partially transparent schematic side view of an ironing system made according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 13 is a partially transparent schematic side view of an ironing system made according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in a first operating configuration;

Figure 14 is a schematic side view of the ironing system illustrated in Figure 13 in a second operating configuration;

Figure 15 is a partially transparent schematic side view of an ironing system made according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, in a first operating configuration; Figure 16 is a schematic side view of the ironing system illustrated in Figure 15 in a second operating configuration; and

Figure 17 is a partially transparent schematic side view of an ironing system made according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention The various features in each of the embodiments illustrated may be combined in the most suitable fashion each time.

Figures 12 to 17 refer to the case of a steam supply device consisting, as indicated, of an ironing system (the term ironing system in general refers to either an iron with an internal boiler or an iron with a separate boiler as in the case illustrated in

Figures 12 to 16) . However, similar considerations also apply relative to any type of steam supply device, for example a steam cleaner.

It should also be noticed that the embodiments illustrated in Figures 12 to 17, correspond, as regards the characteristics of the present invention, to the embodiments illustrated respectively in Figures 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11, which instead refer to the ironing board.

The description below relates firstly to implementation of the present invention in an ironing board (Figures 1 to 11) . That is followed by an analysis of implementation of the present invention in the steam supply device consisting of an ironing system.

With reference to Figures 1 to 11, the numeral 1 denotes as a whole an ironing board according to the present invention. The ironing board 1 comprises a supporting structure 2 on which an ironing surface 3 is mounted, and equipped with suction means 4 and condensing means 5 connected to the suction means 4 to condense the moisture contained in the air sucked in, to obtain water. As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the ironing surface 3 is preferably mobile between an operating position in which it is substantially horizontal, and a home position in which it is folded, and in particular, in the embodiments illustrated, it is pointing downwards.

The suction means 4 generally comprise at least a first extractor 6 mounted in a first pipe 7 which has at least one suction inlet 8, through which the air enters the first pipe 7, and at least one delivery outlet 9 through which the air is discharged into the surrounding environment. Moreover, in the embodiments illustrated, the ironing surface 3 itself constitutes at least one suction inlet 8 of the suction means 4. For this purpose the ironing surface 3 has a plurality of passages 10 for the air to be sucked in, distributed on its upper face 11 (not visible in the accompanying drawings) and/or along its outer edge 12. However, the passages 10 are preferably made both on the upper face 11 and along the outer edge 12 so that the air sucked in through the upper face 11, which is particularly moist, and the drier air sucked in through the side holes is mixed. This mixing lowers the overall level of moisture, preventing the formation of condensation inside the ironing surface 3. The latter consists of a frame 13 forming an inner cavity 14 which is part of the first pipe 7, and which, depending on the embodiments, may be delimited at its base (when the ironing surface 3 is in the operating position) either by a piece of material or by a rigid guard (not visible in the accompanying drawings) . There may also be a piece of material over the upper part of the ironing surface 3.

Advantageously, in the embodiment illustrated, the ironing surface 3 has a first lower opening 15 which, when the ironing surface is in the operating position, couples with a second opening 16 made in the supporting structure 2 to form the first suction pipe 7 (Figure 2) . In contrast, when the ironing surface 3 is in the home position, the ironing surface 3 leaves the second opening 16 free and this opening forms the suction inlet 8 of the suction means 4. Therefore, in this operating condition, the suction inlet 8 sucks air directly from the surrounding environment, whilst the air flow does not pass through the ironing surface 3. There may also be other alternative embodiments of these aspects.

The suction means 4 may also comprise means 18 for filtering and/or purifying the air sucked in, for example, mechanical filters, mesh filters, electrostatic filters, activated charcoal filters (to combat odours), ultraviolet ray filters (to remove bacteria from the air flow), etc., combined in the most suitable way for the requirements. In the embodiments illustrated, the filtering and/or purifying means 18 are located at the second opening 16, and therefore in the part upstream of the first pipe 7.

As illustrated in Figures 7 to 10, the suction means 4 may have a plurality of delivery outlets 9 so that the air sucked in can be discharged in various directions. In this case, there may also be at least one diverter part 19 for dividing the air flow generated by the suction means 4 between the various delivery outlets 9. In the accompanying drawings, the ironing board 1 has two different delivery outlets 9, a first delivery outlet 20 towards the zone in which the user works, and a second delivery outlet 21 towards the back of the supporting structure 2. In this case, the diverter part 19 consists of a first panel 22, mobile between a first position in which it frees the first delivery outlet 20 and blocks the second (Figures 9 and 10) and a second position in which it frees the second delivery outlet 21 and blocks the first (Figures 7 and 8) (the first panel 22 may also stop in an intermediate position) .

In some embodiments the ironing board 1 may also be equipped with means 23 for heating the air, located on at least one delivery pipe for the air sucked in, for example electric heating elements (Figures 2 - 10) .

Further features of the suction means 4 are also apparent in the description which follows relative to the condensing means 5.

Advantageously, the condensing means 5 comprise a refrigerating circuit 24 at least partly mounted on the supporting structure 2, in turn comprising at least a cold evaporator exchanger 25, designed to condense the moisture, a compressor 26 and a hot condenser exchanger 27 (the terms condenser and evaporator refer to the refrigerant flowing in the circuit) . As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 where the refrigerating circuit 24 is shown in full (in the other drawings some parts are omitted for the sake of simplicity) , the circuit is completed by a pressure reducer 28 (such as a capillary device) placed between the condenser outfeed and the evaporator infeed.

To guarantee the condensation of the moisture contained in the air sucked in, the evaporator exchanger 25 is mounted along the path followed by the air sucked in (in the accompanying drawings all of the paths followed by the air are indicated by a dashed curved arrow) .

However, there are other solutions for the condenser exchanger 27.

Figure 1 illustrates the most simple embodiment of an ironing board 1 only able to dehumidify the air treated. In this case, the condenser exchanger 27 is mounted in series with the evaporator exchanger 25 along the path followed by the air sucked in. In this way, the air treated which is released into the environment has been subjected to double thermal treatment, first cooling and then heating, so that, at the outlet its temperature is only slightly higher (due to the work of the compressor 26) than it was when the air was sucked in.

In contrast, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the suction means 4 comprise a first suction pipe 7, in which the evaporator exchanger 25 is fitted, and which extends from the second opening 16 to a first delivery outlet 20 (in this case towards the zone at the front of the ironing board 1) through the first extractor 6, and a second suction pipe 17 in which the condenser exchanger 27 is fitted, and which extends between a third opening 29 (in the case in question made at the back of the supporting structure 2) and a second delivery outlet 21 (also made at the back of the supporting structure 2) through a second extractor 30. In this way, the air exiting the first delivery outlet 20, as well as being dehumidified is also refrigerated; therefore the condensing means 5 also act as an air conditioner (at least locally) .

For the conditioning effect to be felt not just close to the first delivery outlet 20, the second delivery outlet 21 may also be fitted with an exhaust pipe to carry the air heated by the condenser exchanger 27 out of the environment in which the ironing board 1 is located (solution not illustrated) . As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, in a more complete embodiment the ironing board 1 may also comprise means 31 for changing the configuration of the suction means 4, so that a single ironing board 1 can function both as indicated with reference to Figures 1 and 2 and as indicated with reference to Figures 5 and 6. For this purpose, the means 31 for changing the configuration of the suction means 4 are able to change the structure of the suction means 4 at least between a first operating condition in which the first and the second pipes 7, 17 are separate from one another and a second operating condition in which the first and the second pipes 7, 17 are at least partly connected in series, in such a way that the evaporator exchanger 25 and the condenser exchanger 27 are arranged one after the other along the same path followed by the air sucked in. In the second operating condition the first extractor 6 may also be switched off (as in the embodiment illustrated) .

As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, in the embodiment illustrated the means 31 for changing the configuration comprise a second and a third panel 47, 48 mobile between a position in which they keep the first pipe 7 separate from the second pipe 17, and a position in which they carry the air exiting the evaporator exchanger 25 towards the condenser exchanger 27 (therefore allowing communication between the first and the second pipes 7, 17 and blocking the first pipe 7 in the first extractor 6 zone) . However, in other embodiments the means 31 for changing the configuration may simply connect the two pipes 7, 17 in series.

In contrast, Figures 7 to 10 illustrate a third embodiment in which the ironing board 1 also comprises at least a secondary unit 32 fitted with the condenser exchanger 27. The secondary unit

32 is detached from the supporting structure 2 and is connected to the remaining condensing means 5 by a flexible connecting sheath

33 housing the pipes for the refrigerant and the necessary electrical connections. The secondary unit 32 also has an extractor 34 (or a fan) for creating an air flow in contact with the condenser exchanger 27. The secondary unit 32 may therefore be positioned outside the environment in which the ironing board is located, so that the condensing means 5 again have an air conditioning (cooling) effect in said environment.

In some embodiments the secondary unit 32 may also be removably connected to the supporting structure 2.

According to the present invention, the water condensed on the evaporator exchanger 25 is collected and transferred (by a special first tube 35) to a collection tank 36. Advantageously, the tank 36 also comprises means for filling up with/discharging water (not visible in the accompanying drawings) designed, on one hand, to allow the tank 36 to be filled up at the first start up or whenever necessary, and on the other hand, to allow the tank 36 to be emptied during the steps of transporting the ironing board

1.

In the preferred embodiment, the ironing board 1 also comprises a removable canister 37 and an overflow device 38 connected to the tank 36 to drain the excess water from the tank 36 to the canister 37. In the accompanying drawings the overflow device 38 is a second tube which draws from the tank 36 at its maximum acceptable level and which drains into the removable canister 37 below.

The canister 37 is also connected to a safety system (not illustrated but for example consisting of a float connected to a microswitch) which stops operation of the condensing means 5 when the canister 37 is full.

Again in accordance with the present invention, the ironing board 1 also comprises feed means 39 connected to the tank 36 which feed, with the water contained in it, a boiler 40 for the production of new steam which can then be supplied to a user device 41.

In the embodiment illustrated the feed means 39 comprise a pump 42 with a suction pipe 43 which draws water from the tank 36, and a delivery pipe 44 which can be connected to the boiler 40. Along the suction pipe 43 there may also be a water filter 45.

Depending on the embodiments, the boiler 40 may either be an integral part of the ironing board 1, or it may be outside it.

Moreover, the boiler 40 may also be inserted directly in a user device 41 which, in turn, may or may not be an integral part of the ironing board 1. In the accompanying drawings the user device 41 is an iron

46, but in other embodiments it may take different forms, such as that of a steam cleaner. In Figure 11, the boiler 40 is inserted in the iron 46.

In the accompanying drawings, both the boiler 40 and the iron 46 are an integral part of the ironing board 1.

In contrast, when the boiler 40 is not an integral part of the ironing board, the latter has an outlet for the water which can be connected to the boiler 40 (solution not illustrated) . In the same way, when only the user device 41 is not an integral part of the ironing board 1, the latter has an outlet for the steam which can be connected to the device 41 (solution not illustrated) .

As regards the methods for feeding the water from the tank

36 to the boiler 40 (and therefore the methods for activating the pump 42), this may be done either using manual controls or automatically similarly to known ironing systems equipped with a separate tank 36.

Operation of the ironing board 1 is directly derived from what is described above from a structural viewpoint. As regards operation of the ironing board during ironing, the suction means 4 suck in the moist air through the ironing surface 3 and filter and/or purify it using the filtering and/or purifying means 18.

The air then strikes the evaporator exchanger 25, cooling so that the moisture contained in it condenses and is collected in the tank 36. The air continues along its path towards the outside, either passing or not passing in contact with the condenser exchanger 27, depending on the embodiments and the operating conditions. Therefore, the water gradually fills the tank 36 and, when it is full, overflows into the canister 37 below. When the canister 37 is also full, the safety system is activated, stopping at least the condensing means 5. If this occurs, the canister 37 can be simply removed, emptied, then returned to its seat.

In the meantime, every time water must be supplied to the boiler 40, the pump 42 is activated and transfers the water from the tank 36 to the boiler 40.

However, the ironing board 1 may also be used with the board in the home position as a dehumidifier and/or air conditioner.

In particular, the ironing board 1 may be used to dry the washing. This function is optimised by combining the dehumidification with heating of the air delivered.

What was indicated above, relative to the ironing board, also applies with the appropriate modifications when the device according to the present invention consists of a device able to supply steam, a device which, in the accompanying drawings, consists of an ironing system labelled 50 as a whole. The same reference numbers are used for the structural parts present in both the ironing board and the ironing system.

The supply device comprises, firstly, a tank 36 for holding the water needed for ironing and feed means 39 connected to the tank 36 which feed, with the water contained in it, a boiler 40 for the production of steam. The steam can then be supplied to a user device 41 which, in the embodiments illustrated in which the supply device is an ironing system 50, consists of an iron.

Moreover, depending on the embodiments, the boiler 40 may be outside the user device 41 (Figures 12 to 16) or inserted in it

(Figures 17 in which the boiler 40 is inserted in the iron 46) .

In the embodiments illustrated the feed means 39 comprise a pump 42 with a suction pipe 43 which draws water from the tank 36, and a delivery pipe 44 which can be connected to the boiler 40. Along the suction pipe 43 there may also be a water filter 45.

As regards the methods for feeding the water from the tank 36 to the boiler 40 (and therefore the methods of activating the pump 42), this may be done either using manual controls or in automatic mode, similarly to the known ironing systems equipped with a separate tank 36. However, in particular, the present invention is particularly advantageous in the case of systems with automatic water refilling in the boiler. Like the ironing board 1 described above, in accordance with the present invention the ironing system 50 also comprises a supporting structure 2, and is equipped with suction means 4 and condensing means 5 connected to the suction means 4 to condense the moisture contained in the air sucked in, to obtain water.

The suction means 4 generally comprise at least a first extractor 6 mounted in a first pipe 7 which has at least one suction inlet 8, through which the air enters the first pipe 7, and at least one delivery outlet 9 through which the air is discharged into the surrounding environment.

The suction means 4 may also comprise means 18 for filtering and/or purifying the air sucked in, for example, mechanical filters, mesh filters, electrostatic filters, activated charcoal filters (to combat odours), ultraviolet ray filters (to remove bacteria from the air flow), etc., combined in the most suitable way for the requirements. In the embodiments illustrated, the filtering and/or purifying means 18 are located at the suction inlet 8, and therefore in the part upstream of the first pipe 7.

As illustrated in Figures 15 and 16, the suction means 4 may have a plurality of delivery outlets 9 so that the air sucked in can be discharged in various directions. In this case, there may also be at least one diverter part 19 for dividing the air flow generated by the suction means 4 between the various delivery outlets 9. In Figures 15 and 16, the ironing system 50 has two different delivery outlets 9, a first delivery outlet 20 towards a front side of the supporting structure 2, and a second delivery outlet 21 towards the back of the supporting structure 2. In this case, the diverter part 19 consists of a first panel 22, mobile between a first position in which it frees the first delivery outlet 20 and blocks the second (Figure 16) and a second position in which it frees the second delivery outlet 21 and blocks the first (Figure 15) (as indicated relative to the ironing board, the first panel 22 may also stop at an intermediate position to divide the air flow between the two delivery outlets 20, 21) . In some embodiments the supply device may also be equipped with means 23 for heating the air, located on at least one delivery pipe for the air sucked in, for example electric heating elements (Figures 13 - 16) .

Advantageously, the condensing means 5 in turn comprise a refrigerating circuit 24 at least partly mounted on the supporting structure 2, in turn comprising at least a cold evaporator exchanger 25, designed to condense the moisture, a compressor 26 and a hot condenser exchanger 27 (the terms condenser and evaporator refer to the refrigerant flowing in the circuit) . As illustrated in Figures 12 and 17 where the refrigerating circuit 24 is shown in full (in the other Figures from 13 to 16 some parts are omitted for the sake of simplicity) , the circuit is completed by a pressure reducer 28 (such as a capillary device) placed between the condenser 27 outfeed and the evaporator 25 infeed.

However, there are other solutions for the condenser exchanger 27. Figure 12 illustrates the most simple embodiment of an ironing system 50 only able to dehumidify the air treated. In this case, the condenser exchanger 27 is mounted in series with the evaporator exchanger 25 along the path followed by the air sucked in. In this way, the air treated which is released into the environment has been subjected to double thermal treatment, first cooling and then heating, so that, at the outlet its temperature is only slightly higher (due to the work of the compressor 26) than it was when the air was sucked in.

In contrast, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 14, the suction means 4 comprise a first suction pipe 7, in which the evaporator exchanger 25 is fitted, and which extends from the suction inlet 8 to a first delivery outlet 20 (in this case towards the zone at the front of the supporting structure 2) through the first extractor 6, and a second suction pipe 17 in which the condenser exchanger 27 is fitted, and which extends between a third opening 29 (in the case in question made at the back of the supporting structure 2) and a second delivery outlet 21 (also made at the back of the supporting structure 2) through a second extractor 30. In this way, the air exiting the first delivery outlet 20, as well as being dehumidified is also refrigerated; therefore the condensing means 5 also act as an air conditioner (at least locally) .

For the conditioning effect to be felt not just close to the first delivery outlet 20, the second delivery outlet 21 may also be fitted with an exhaust pipe to carry the air heated by the condenser exchanger 27 out of the environment in which the ironing system 50 is located (solution not illustrated) .

As illustrated in Figure 13, in a more complete embodiment the ironing system 50 may also comprise means 31 for changing the configuration of the suction means 4, so that a single ironing system 50 can function both as indicated with reference to Figure 12 and as indicated with reference to Figure 14. For this purpose, the means 31 for changing the configuration of the suction means 4 are able to change the structure of the suction means 4 at least between a first operating condition in which the first and the second pipes 7, 17 are separate from one another and a second operating condition in which the first and the second pipes 7, 17 are at least partly connected in series, in such a way that the evaporator exchanger 25 and the condenser exchanger 27 are arranged one after the other along the same path followed by the air sucked in. In the second operating condition the first extractor 6 may also be switched off (as in the embodiment illustrated) .

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 13, the means 31 for changing the configuration comprise a second and a third panel 47, 48 mobile between a position in which they keep the first pipe 7 separate from the second pipe 17, and a position in which they carry the air exiting the evaporator exchanger 25 towards the condenser exchanger 27 (therefore allowing communication between the first and the second pipes 7, 17 and blocking the first pipe 7 in the first extractor 6 zone) . However, in other embodiments the means 31 for changing the configuration may simply connect the two pipes 7, 17 in series.

In contrast, Figures 15 and 16 illustrate a third embodiment in which the ironing system 50 also comprises at least a secondary unit 32 fitted with the condenser exchanger 27. The secondary unit 32 is detached from the supporting structure 2 and is connected to the remaining condensing means 5 by a flexible connecting sheath 33 housing the pipes for the refrigerant and the necessary electrical connections. The secondary unit 32 also has an extractor 34 (or a fan) for creating an air flow in contact with the condenser exchanger 27. The secondary unit 32 may therefore be positioned outside the environment in which the supply device is located, so that the condensing means 5 again have an air conditioning (cooling) effect in said environment.

According to the present invention, the water condensed on the evaporator exchanger 25 is collected and transferred (by a special first tube 35) to a collection tank 36. Advantageously, the tank 36 also comprises means for filling up with/discharging water (not visible in the accompanying drawings) designed, on one hand, to allow the tank 36 to be filled up at the first start up or whenever necessary, and on the other hand, to allow the tank 36 to be emptied during the steps of transporting the ironing board 1.

In the preferred embodiment, the supply device also comprises a removable canister 37 and an overflow device 38 connected to the tank 36 to drain the excess water from the tank 36 to the canister 37. In the accompanying drawings the overflow device 38 is a second tube which draws from the tank 36 at its maximum acceptable level and which drains into the removable canister 37 below. The canister 37 is also connected to a safety system (not illustrated but for example consisting of a float connected to a microswitch) which stops operation of the condensing means 5 when the canister 37 is full.

Operation of the steam supply device made in accordance with the present invention is substantially similar to that described above relative to the ironing board 1. This applies both relative to when the supply device is directly used for its own function, and to when it is used to dehumidify a predetermined environment.

The present invention brings important advantages.

Firstly, both an ironing board and a steam supply device made in accordance with the present invention can regenerate the water needed for ironing (or another purpose) or obtain it from the surrounding environment. Moreover, thanks to the use of condensed water, which contains no salts, no limescale forms in the boiler.

The absorption and condensation of the steam generated during ironing or other operations performed with the supply device also prevent the steam from being dispersed in the environment and damaging structures such as plaster, furniture, etc., and so make the environment in which operations take place more healthy. This effect is accentuated by the fact that both the ironing board and the supply device can be used for this purpose even when they are not used for their primary function.

As already indicated, they can be used, for example, to dry washing in closed environments (in particular, but not exclusively, by combining dehumidification with heating the air) , so that it becomes possible to keep such environments, used for drying the washing, protected from odours, mould and other damaging aspects typical of dampness.

Further advantages arise relative to the embodiments in which the ironing board and the supply device can function as air conditioners (conditioner and dehumidifier) .

The dehumidified and refrigerated air can be introduced directly into the operator working zone, making his/her work more comfortable. According to requirements, this effect may be achieved both by lowering the temperature in the whole environment, or without substantially changing the temperature of the environment (embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 and 14) .

Moreover, the flow of hot air exiting the condenser exchanger may be used (in place of the heating means) to create a jet of hot air that can be directed against the washing to be dried.

It should also be noticed that the present invention is relatively easy to produce and that even the cost linked to implementation of the invention is not very high in relation to the results which can be achieved.

The invention described may be modified and adapted without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

All of the details of the invention may be substituted by other technically equivalent elements and in practice all of the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the various components may be any according to requirements.

Claims

1. An ironing board comprising: a supporting structure (2); an ironing surface (3) mounted on the supporting structure (2); suction means (4); condensing means (5) connected to the suction means (4) for condensing the moisture contained in the air that the suction means suck it, to obtain water; and a tank (36) for collecting the water obtained by the condensing means (5), the ironing board being characterised in that the condensing means (5) comprise a refrigerating circuit (24) at least partly mounted on the supporting structure (2) and in turn comprising at least an evaporator exchanger (25), designed to condense moisture, a compressor (26) and a condenser exchanger (27) .

2. The ironing board according to claim 1, characterised in that it also comprises feed means (39) connected to the tank (36) for feeding, with the water contained in it, a boiler (40) for producing new steam.

3. The ironing board according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the feed means (39) comprise a pump (42) with a suction pipe (43) inserted in the tank (36) and a delivery pipe (44) that can be connected to the boiler (40) .

4. The ironing board according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that it also comprises the boiler (40) for the production of steam connected to the feed means (39) .

5. The ironing board according to claim 4, characterised in that it also comprises a user device (41) fed by the boiler (40) .

6. The ironing board according to claim 5, characterised in that the boiler (40) is inserted in the user device (41) .

7. The ironing board according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the user device (41) is an iron (46) .

8. The ironing board according to claim 3, characterised in that the boiler (40) is outside the ironing board (1) .

9. The ironing board according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the ironing surface (3) is mobile between an operating position in which it is substantially horizontal and a home position in which it is folded.

10. The ironing board according to claim 9, characterised in that at least in the operating position the ironing surface (3) forms at least one suction inlet (8) of the suction means (4) .

11. The ironing board according to claim 10, characterised in that the ironing surface (3) has a plurality of passages (10) for the air to be sucked in, distributed on its upper face (11) and/or along its outer edge (12) .

12. The ironing board according to claim 9, 10 or 11, characterised in that at least in the home position the ironing surface (3) frees at least one suction inlet (8) of the suction means (4) designed to suck in air from the surrounding environment.

13. The ironing board according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the evaporator exchanger (25) is mounted along the path followed by the air sucked in by the suction means (4) .

14. The ironing board according to claim 13, characterised in that the condenser exchanger (27) is mounted in series with the evaporator exchanger (25) along the same path followed by the air sucked in by the suction means (4) .

15. The ironing board according to claim 13, characterised in that the suction means (4) comprise a first suction pipe (7) in which the evaporator exchanger (25) is fitted, and a second suction pipe (17) in which the condenser exchanger (27) is fitted.

16. The ironing board according to claim 15, characterised in that it also comprises means (31) for changing the configuration of the suction means (4) at least between a first operating condition in which the first and second pipes (7), (17) are separate from one another and a second operating condition in which the first and second pipes (7), (17) are at least partly connected in series so that the evaporator exchanger (25) and the condenser exchanger (27) are arranged one after the other along the same path followed by the air sucked in by the suction means (4) .

17. The ironing board according to claim 13, characterised in that it also comprises at least a secondary unit (32) in which the condenser exchanger (27) is fitted.

18. The ironing board according to claim 17, characterised in that the secondary unit (32) is detached from the supporting structure (2) and is connected to the remaining condensing means (5) by a flexible connecting sheath (33) .

19. The ironing board according to claim 18, characterised in that the secondary unit (32) can be removably connected to the supporting structure (2) .

20. The ironing board according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the suction means (4) comprise filtering and/or purifying means (18) for the air sucked in.

21. The ironing board according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the suction means (4) have a plurality of delivery outlets (9) for discharging the air sucked in, and also characterised in that it also comprises at least one diverter part (19) for dividing the air flow generated by the suction means (4) between the various delivery outlets (9) .

22. The ironing board according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that it also comprises means (23) for heating the air, located on at least one delivery pipe for the air sucked in.

23. The ironing board according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that it also comprises a removable canister (37) and an overflow device (38) connected to the tank (36) for draining excess water from the tank (36) to the canister (37) .

24. The ironing board according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the tank (36) also comprises means for filling up with/discharging water.

25. A steam supply device comprising: a supporting structure (2); a boiler (40) for producing steam; a steam user device (41); suction means (4); condensing means (5) connected to the suction means (4) for condensing the moisture contained in the air that the suction means suck it, to obtain water; a tank (36) for collecting the water obtained by the condensing means (5) ; and feed means (39) connected to the collection tank (36) for feeding, with the water contained in it, the boiler (40) for producing new steam, the device being characterised in that the condensing means (5) comprise a refrigerating circuit (24) at least partly mounted on the supporting structure (2) and in turn comprising at least an evaporator exchanger (25), designed to condense moisture, a compressor (26) and a condenser exchanger (27) .

26. The supply device according to claim 25, characterised in that the feed means (39) comprise a pump (42) with a suction pipe (43) inserted in the tank (36) and a delivery pipe (44) that can be connected to the boiler (40) .

27. The supply device according to claim 25 or 26, characterised in that suction means (4) have at least one suction inlet (8) designed to suck in air from the surrounding environment.

28. The supply device according to claim 25, 26 or 27, characterised in that the evaporator exchanger (25) is mounted along the path followed by the air sucked in by the suction means (4) .

29. The supply device according to claim 28, characterised in that the condenser exchanger (27) is mounted in series with the evaporator exchanger (25) along the same path followed by the air sucked in by the suction means (4) .

30. The supply device according to claim 29, characterised in that the suction means (4) comprise a first suction pipe (7) in which the evaporator exchanger (25) is fitted, and a second suction pipe (17) in which the condenser exchanger (27) is fitted.

31. The supply device according to claim 30, characterised in that it also comprises means (31) for changing the configuration of the suction means (4) at least between a first operating condition in which the first and second pipes (7), (17) are separate from one another and a second operating condition in which the first and second pipes (7), (17) are at least partly connected in series so that the evaporator exchanger (25) and the condenser exchanger (27) are arranged one after the other along the same path followed by the air sucked in by the suction means (4) .

32. The supply device according to claim 28, characterised in that it also comprises at least a secondary unit (32) in which the condenser exchanger (27) is fitted.

33. The supply device according to claim 32, characterised in that the secondary unit (32) is detached from the supporting structure (2) and is connected to the remaining condensing means (5) by a flexible connecting sheath (33) .

34. The supply device according to claim 33, characterised in that the secondary unit (32) can be removably connected to the supporting structure (2) .

35. The supply device according to any of the claims from 25 to 34, characterised in that the suction means (4) comprise filtering and/or purifying means (18) for the air sucked in.

36. The supply device according to any of the claims from 25 to 35, characterised in that the suction means (4) have a plurality of delivery outlets (9) for discharging the air sucked in, and also characterised in that it also comprises at least one diverter part (19) for dividing the air flow generated by the suction means (4) between the various delivery outlets (9) .

37. The supply device according to any of the claims from 25 to

36, characterised in that it also comprises means (23) for heating the air, located on at least one delivery pipe for the air sucked in.

38. The supply device according to any of the claims from 25 to

37, characterised in that it also comprises a removable canister (37) and an overflow device (38) connected to the tank (36) for draining excess water from the tank (36) to the canister (37) .

39. The supply device according to any of the claims from 25 to

38, characterised in that the tank (36) also comprises means for filling up with/discharging water.

40. The supply device according to any of the claims from 25 to

39, characterised in that it is an ironing system comprising an iron (46) .

41. The supply device according to claim 40, characterised in that the boiler (40) is inserted in the iron (46) .

42. The supply device according to claim 40, characterised in that the boiler (40) is outside the supply device (1) .

43. The supply device according to claim 42, characterised in that it is an automatic refill ironing system.

44. The supply device according to any of the claims from 25 to 39, characterised in that it is a steam cleaner.