WO2020202235A1

WO2020202235A1 - Ironing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2020202235A1
Application number: PCT/IT2020/050085
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simone BALDISSIN; Muharem KATANIC
Original assignee: De' Longhi Appliances S.R.L. Con Unico Socio
Priority date: 2019-04-05
Filing date: 2020-04-03
Publication date: 2020-10-08
Also published as: IT201900005246A1; EP3947805A1; CN113924393A

Abstract

Ironing apparatus (10) comprising an iron (11) provided with a steam assembly, configured to deliver steam following the activation of at least one steam delivery switch (19), and corresponding method to regulate the delivery of steam. The iron (11) comprises a base body (15), or base, in contact during use with the garment to be ironed, and an upper body (14) which comprises at least a grip of the iron (11), whereby the upper body (14) and the base body (15) are attached to each other in a mobile manner by connection means (24), wherein said steam delivery switch (19) can be selectively activated by the movement of the upper body (14) with respect to the base body (15).

Description

IRONING APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described here concern an ironing apparatus comprising an iron, provided with a steam assembly which can be activated by a switch for driving the delivery of steam, and the corresponding method to regulate the delivery of steam.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ironing apparatuses are known that comprise an iron provided with a steam assembly, suitable to generate and deliver steam.

“Hot” ironing apparatuses are known, in which the steam assembly can be pressurized, and comprise a boiler for generating steam.

“Cold”, or instant generation, ironing apparatuses are also known, in which the steam assembly comprises a heating plate defining a vaporization chamber, a tank of water at room temperature and an electric pump, which can be selectively activated by means of a command member. In these apparatuses, the steam is generated instantly by the contact between the water and the heating plate.

It is also known that, during ironing operations, in order to obtain an effective removal of the creases, it is necessary to alternate, in a user controlled manner, steam delivery and drying operations of the garment to be ironed.

For this purpose, in some known ironing apparatuses, the delivery, and possibly also the generation of steam, take place by means of manual activation of the command member, usually configured as a button or trigger located on the upper part of the iron, in cooperation or association with the grip.

One disadvantage of these known ironing apparatuses is that the activation of the command member requires a manual operation which may require interrupting the movement of the iron during use, and in any case may interfere with it.

Another disadvantage is that an inexperienced user could drive the steam at the wrong moment, for example with the iron not moving in situations where the delivery is not necessary.

A similar problem is represented by the dosage of the quantity of steam that is delivered and by the delivery time, which an inexperienced user could underestimate or overestimate.

Ironing devices are also known which provide movement sensors, such as gyroscopes or accelerometers, which allow to detect the movement of the iron and which drive the delivery of the steam every time the iron is moved.

However, in these cases it may be problematic to control the alternation of delivery and drying operations, for example excessively wetting the garment to be ironed and slowing down its drying excessively.

Furthermore, in these apparatuses it could be problematic to deliver the steam when the iron is stationary on the garment to be ironed, an operation which can prove necessary in case of creases which are particularly difficult to remove.

Furthermore, in these known apparatuses it is possible that the delivery of the steam occurs even when the movement of the iron is performed for operations that do not concern ironing, for example simple operations to move the iron, or even when the iron is not in contact with the garment to be ironed.

Another disadvantage is that in these known solutions the drive of the delivery of the steam can occur with a delay with respect to the start of the movement of the iron, based on the construction characteristics and the reactivity of the movement sensors.

DE 20 2013 101 922 describes an iron, in itself conventional, in which the selective delivery of steam is commanded by means of a button positioned on a front part of the grip of the iron. The button is associated with a microswitch that commands the delivery, or the stop of the delivery, based on the pressure exerted by the user on the button. In particular, a pressure exerted on the button determines a movement of an actuator from a position in which it does not act on the microswitch, to a thrust position in which it acts on the microswitch to determine the delivery of the steam. DE’922 also describes the presence of a second and a third actuator, which can be driven by means of pressures exerted by the user on suitable and different areas of the button, for example to allow use by both right-handed and left-handed users indifferently.

There is therefore the need to perfect an ironing apparatus that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide an ironing apparatus in which the user can deliver the steam without it interfering with the normal ironing operations, but rather in which the delivery of the steam occurs in a manner that is coherent with these operations and in particular with the movement of the iron.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an ironing apparatus which allows greater ergonomics during use in the ironing operations.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an ironing apparatus in which it is possible to deliver controlled quantities of steam when actually necessary.

In particular, it is a purpose of the present invention to provide an ironing apparatus which not only delivers the steam automatically with the movement of the iron, but which also allows a control of the alternation between the delivery and drying operations of the garment to be ironed, preventing excessive wetting of the garment to be ironed or excessively slowing down its drying.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an ironing apparatus which allows both to deliver the steam automatically with the movement of the iron, and also to deliver the steam when the iron is not moving.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an ironing apparatus which prevents delivering steam in operations that do not concern ironing, for example simple operations to move the iron, or when the iron is not in contact with the garment to be ironed.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an ironing apparatus which is simple to use even for less experienced users.

Another purpose of the present invention is, more generally, to provide an ironing apparatus which allows to simplify the ironing operations and to rationalize the delivery of steam and make it more efficient.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance some embodiments, the ironing apparatus of the present invention comprises an iron, provided with a steam assembly configured to deliver steam following the activation of at least one steam delivery switch.

The iron comprises, conventionally, a base body, or base, in contact during use with the garment to be ironed, and an upper body which comprises at least the grip of the iron.

According to the present invention, the upper body and the base body are mobile with respect to each other and are attached to each other in a mobile manner by connection means; the steam delivery switch can be selectively activated by the movement of the upper body with respect to the base body.

In some embodiments, the switch, and therefore the delivery of the steam, can be selectively activated by the reciprocal movement imparted by an external pressure by a user on the upper body.

The external pressure can be exerted by the user in the normal ironing movement, therefore when moving the upper body with respect to the base body, and thus activating the selective delivery of the steam.

Advantageously, this solution allows the user to deliver steam to facilitate the ironing of the textile garment, moving the iron forward in the direction of the normal ironing movement, and to dry the textile garment, without delivering steam, by moving the iron backward. This solution therefore makes it possible even for an inexperienced user to easily control the alternation of steam delivery and drying operations substantially automatically, preventing excessive wetting of the garment to be ironed and also allowing an effective drying thereof.

Correlating the activation of the delivery of the steam with the natural movement of the iron allows to overcome the disadvantage of the known ironing apparatuses in which the activation of the command member has to be performed manually, interfering with the movement of the iron during use.

Advantageously, this characteristic allows to obtain greater ergonomics during use in ironing operations, since it is not necessary to manually operate possible manual control members present in the iron.

This solution also allows to overcome the disadvantage of the state of the art whereby an inexperienced user could drive the delivery of the steam at the wrong moment, possibly during ironing operations in which it is not necessary to supply steam. This solution also allows to obtain an ironing apparatus in which it is possible to deliver controlled quantities of steam when actually necessary, which is simple to use even for less experienced users, allowing to simplify the ironing operations.

This solution also allows to deliver steam even when the iron is stationary on the garment to be ironed, an operation which can prove necessary in case of creases that are particularly difficult to remove, simply by applying a pressure on the upper body.

This solution also prevents driving the delivery of the steam in operations that do not concern ironing, for example simple operations to move the iron, or when the iron is not in contact with the garment to be ironed.

In addition, providing a mechanical command for the automatic delivery of the steam allows to obtain a greater reactivity of the command and therefore a substantially immediate activation or deactivation of the steam.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a schematic lateral view of an ironing apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

- fig. 2 is a schematic lateral view of a portion of an ironing apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

- fig. 3 schematically shows a portion of an ironing apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

- fig. 4 schematically shows a portion of an ironing apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

- fig. 5 schematically shows a portion of an ironing apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

- fig. 6 schematically shows a portion of an ironing apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

- fig. 7 is a schematic view of an ironing apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; - fig. 8 is a schematic view of an ironing apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

- fig. 9 is a schematic view of an ironing apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

- fig. 10 is a schematic view of an ironing apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

We will now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

Before describing these embodiments, we must also clarify that the present description is not limited in its application to details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the following description using the attached drawings. The present description can provide other embodiments and can be obtained or executed in various other ways. We must also clarify that the phraseology and terminology used here is for the purposes of description only, and cannot be considered as limitative.

The present invention concerns an ironing apparatus 10 which comprises an iron 1 1, for example described by means of fig. 1, suitable to iron a garment to be ironed, such as for example a textile garment, possibly an item of clothing.

For simplicity, in the following we will refer to a textile garment, although this terminology should not be considered as limiting with respect to the applicability of the ironing apparatus 10 of the present invention.

For the purposes of the present description, the iron 11 comprises a front end 12 and a rear end 13. Typically, the front end 12 has a narrower profile than the rear end 13, in order to allow, during the ironing step, access to less accessible portions of the textile garment, for example shirt sleeves or portions of the textile garment comprised between buttons.

The iron 11, during the ironing step, can therefore be moved forward, when it moves in the direction of the front end 12, that is, in the normal direction of ironing, or backward, when it moves in the direction of the rear end 13.

The iron 11 comprises an upper gripping body, or upper body 14, configured to allow the iron 11 to be gripped, preferably but not necessarily with one hand.

In some embodiments, the upper body 14 can comprise gripping means, for example handles, grips, protrusions, apertures, convexities, concavities, recesses or other.

In some embodiments, the upper body 14 can also comprise an upper shell 16, configured as a rigid structure with load-bearing functions and for containing the pieces or mechanisms designed for the functioning of the ironing apparatus 10.

In some embodiments, the gripping means can be made as separate pieces, for example mounted on the upper shell 16, or they can be made directly in a single piece with the upper shell 16.

For example, in embodiments described by means of fig. 1, the upper body 14 has an upper shell 16 provided with an aperture, which defines a handle, which allows to grip the iron 1 1.

The iron 11 further comprises a base ironing body, or base body 15, which comprises at least one heating plate 18, suitable to work in contact with the textile garment.

In some embodiments, the heating plate 18 is made of a material suitable to promote the passage of heat toward the textile garment, for example a metallic material.

In some embodiments, the base body 15 can also comprise a lower shell 17, configured as a rigid structure with load-bearing functions and for containing the pieces or mechanisms designed for the functioning of the ironing apparatus 10.

In some embodiments, the heating plate 18 is mounted on the base of the lower shell 17, so as to form a base for the iron 11.

In some embodiments, the upper shell 16 and the lower shell 17 can define a body for containing the iron 11.

In some embodiments, for example described by means of figs. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, the upper body 14 and the base body 15 can be made as independent pieces, attached to each other in a mobile manner by means of connection means 24, elastic 24a and/or non-elastic 24b, which allow a reciprocal movement thereof.

In some embodiments, the elastic connection means 24a are configured so that, in the absence of an external pressure, the upper body 14 is maintained in a predetermined position with respect to the base body 15, for example raised.

When an external pressure is applied, the elastic connection means 24a compress or stretch or flex, depending on how they are configured, allowing the upper body 14, or a portion thereof, to approach the base body 15, or a portion thereof.

When the pressure ceases, the elastic connection means 24a, by stretching or compressing or flexing, can make the upper body 14 return to the predetermined position with respect to the base body 15.

The non-elastic connection means 24b can comprise for example pivots (fig. 1), pistons (fig. 4), sliding means, guides, pins (figs. 3, 5).

The elastic connection means 24a can comprise for example springs (figs. 1, 2, 3, 4), elastic pistons, elastic tabs (fig. 5), leaf elements, suspensions, or other. For example, in embodiments described by means of fig. 1, the connection means 24 are configured to allow reciprocal rotary movement between the upper body 14 and the base body 15.

In these embodiments, the connection means 24 can comprise a pivot in the rear part of the iron 11 between the upper body 14 and the base body 15, which can be obtained, by way of example, by means of non-elastic connection means 24b, for example a screw, inserted in seatings made on supports, attached on the upper 14 and base 15 bodies.

In these embodiments, the elastic connection means 24a in the front part of the iron 11, in the absence of the external pressure, keep the upper body 14 raised with respect to the base body 15, forming an aperture 25 along the contact profile between the two bodies 14, 15.

Fig. 2 shows an iron 11 in which an external pressure is applied directed forward or downward, which compresses the elastic connection means 24a, bringing the upper body 14 closer to the base body 15 and closing the aperture 25.

In embodiments schematically described by means of fig. 10, the upper body 14 and the base body 15 can be made in a single piece and the connection means 24 can in this case be configured as an elastic connection portion, which allows the reciprocal movement between the two bodies 14, 15.

In embodiments schematically described by means of fig. 7, the connection means 24 comprise non-elastic connection means 24b, for example a pivot, in the middle part of the iron 11, and elastic connection means 24a in the front and/or rear part of the iron 11 which, in the absence of the external pressure, keep the upper body 14 raised with respect to the base body 15.

In these embodiments, an external pressure on the upper body 14 directed forward or backward can, respectively, bring the front or rear portion of the upper body 14 closer to the base body 15, closing the aperture 25 in correspondence with the front or rear portion of the iron 11.

In alternative embodiments, for example described by means of figs. 3, 4 and 5, the connection means 24 can be configured to allow a reciprocal sliding between the upper body 14 and the base body 15.

The reciprocal sliding can be in the vertical direction, as shown schematically in fig. 8, or in a horizontal direction, as shown schematically in fig. 9.

In these cases, for example, connection means 24 can be provided such as sliding elements, pins, pistons, guides, or suchlike.

In embodiments schematically described by means of fig. 8, the connection means 24 are configured as elastic connection means 24a in the front and rear of the iron 11 , which, in the absence of the external pressure, keep the upper body 14 raised with respect to the base body 15.

In embodiments schematically described by means of fig. 9, the connection means 24 are configured as elastic connection means 24a in the front and/or rear part of the iron 11, which, in the absence of the external pressure, keep the upper body 14 displaced forward or backward with respect to the base body 15.

The iron 11 of the present invention also comprises a system for generating and delivering steam, or steam assembly, in itself known and not explicitly shown in the drawings. For the purposes of the present description, it is sufficient to note that the steam assembly is configured so as to deliver the steam, for example through holes made in the heating plate 18, following the activation of at least one steam delivery switch 19 provided in the iron 11.

For example, in embodiments in which the steam assembly is configured to operate a“hot” ironing, the switch 19 can drive the delivery of the steam generated in a continuous manner in a pressurized boiler.

In alternative embodiments, in which the steam assembly is configured to operate a“cold” ironing, the switch 19 can drive an electric pump that activates the discharge of water, contained in a tank, into a vaporization chamber, possibly located in direct contact with the heating plate 18, so that steam is instantly generated and delivered.

In some embodiments, pieces, mechanisms, components, and gears of the steam assembly, such as those mentioned, can be comprised, all or in part, in the upper body 14 and/or in the base body 15 of the iron 11, or also in other portions of the ironing apparatus 10, based on the convenience dictated, for example, by space optimization requirements. This disposition can be variable and does not affect the functioning of the ironing apparatus 10 of the present invention.

Furthermore, embodiments are possible, described by way of example by means of figs. 1 and 2, in which the iron 11 also provides a manual command member 23, such as for example a button, a trigger, or a lever, or similar or comparable members, accessible in order to be operated manually by a user to manually activate the delivery of the steam.

In some embodiments, the switch 19 can be a microswitch.

In some embodiments, the switch 19 can be configured as a limit switch 19.

In some embodiments, the steam delivery switch 19 can be selectively activated by the reciprocal movement of the upper body 14 with respect to the base body 15, in order to drive the delivery of steam of the steam assembly.

In some embodiments, the reciprocal movement can be imparted by the external pressure actuated by an operator on the upper body 14 during the movement of the iron 11.

In the ironing apparatus 10 of the present invention, therefore, at least one mode to activate the delivery is provided, which does not provide the direct and manual movement of manual command members 23 possibly present.

Advantageously, this activation mode, unlike other known modes, for example based on the manual activation of the manual command member 23, allows to provide an ironing apparatus 10 in which the activation of the delivery of steam does not interfere with normal ironing operations, instead it occurs in a manner that is consistent with them, improving the ergonomics of use thereof.

By way of example, the switch 19 can comprise a first portion 20, which can have circuits, or mechanisms, connected with the steam assembly, and a second portion 21, configured to selectively close the circuits or drive the mechanisms.

For example, the second portion 21 can comprise a button, as schematically shown in figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, or a lever, as schematically shown in fig. 6.

In embodiments described by means of figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 there can also be a contrast element 22, possibly a contrast pin, suitable to move the second portion 21 of the switch 19.

In some embodiments, for example described by means of fig. 1, the first 20 and the second 21 portion of the switch 19 are mounted on the base body 15 and the contrast element 22 on the upper body 14, so that the movement of the upper body 14 toward the base body 15 can move the second portion 21, closing the circuits, or driving the mechanisms, and activating the switch 19.

It is obvious that many variants and equivalent embodiments of the switch 19 are possible, which allow to activate the delivery of the steam with the movement of the upper body 14 with respect to the base body 15.

For example, it is possible that the first 20 and the second portion 21 of the switch are both mounted on the upper body 14 and that the contrast element 22 is mounted on the base body 15, as shown by way of example in figs. 3, 4, 5.

In some embodiments, for example described by means of figs. 1, 2, 4, the switch 19 can be made as a separate assembly with respect to the connection means 24.

Embodiments are also possible in which the switch 19 and the connection means 24 form a single assembly, as in the case described by means of figs. 3 and 5.

In embodiments described by means of fig. 3, the switch 19 can be mounted in a seating made in the upper body 14, in which the contrast element 22 can slide. In these embodiments, the contrast element 22 can be a portion of a connection mean 24, for example a piston.

In these embodiments, the upper body 14 can be kept raised with respect to the base body 15 by an elastic connection mean 24a, for example a spring, which winds along the longitudinal development of the piston.

In embodiments described by means of fig. 5, the switch 19 is attached in the upper body 14, and a non-elastic connection mean 24b, for example a pin, is attached on the base body 15. Between the second portion 21 of the switch 19 and the non-elastic connection mean 24a there is inserted an elastic connection mean 24a, for example a tab made of an elastic material, for example plastic or metallic material, which keeps the upper body 14 raised with respect to the base body 15.

In the presence of a pressure on the upper body 14, the switch 19 can be activated by the elastic connection mean 24a, while when this pressure ceases, the elastic connection mean 24a, by pressing against the non-elastic connection mean 24b, can make the upper body 14 return into a raised position with respect to the base body 15.

Advantageously, in the embodiments described so far, unlike other known modes, for example based on motion sensors, the switch 19, and therefore the delivery of the steam, is activated instantly with the movement of the iron 11 , preventing possible delays due to the reactivity of the motion sensors.

The functioning of the ironing apparatus 10 of the present invention therefore provides that when the user exerts an external pressure on the upper body 14, the elastic connection means 24a compress, or stretch, or even flex, depending on how they are configured, allowing the activation of the switch 19 to drive the delivery of the steam; when the pressure ceases, the elastic connection means 24a return to the initial position and the switch 19 is deactivated, interrupting the delivery of the steam.

By varying the disposition of the switch 19 and of the connection means 24 it is possible to allow reciprocal movements of different types between the upper body 14 and the base body 15, allowing the user to activate the switch 19 to drive the delivery of the steam with various modes.

For example, in embodiments described by means of figs. 1, 2, the connection means 24 are configured to allow a reciprocal rotary movement between the upper body 14 and the base body 15, and the switch 19 can be activated by means of an external pressure forward, backward, or downward of the upper body 14 with respect to the base body 15.

Furthermore, it is possible for the user, during the ironing step, to deactivate the delivery of the steam by interrupting this movement of the iron 11.

Advantageously, this solution allows the user to deliver steam, in order to facilitate the ironing of the textile garment, automatically, by moving the iron 11 forward, and to dry the textile garment by moving the iron 11 backward, all avoiding manually driving possible manual command members 23 present.

This activation mode, unlike other known modes, for example based on motion sensors, allows to prevent driving the delivery of the steam during operations that do not concern ironing, for example simple operations to move the iron 11, or with a lateral movement of the iron 11, or when the iron 1 1 is not in contact with the garment to be ironed.

Alternative embodiments but equivalent to those described by means of fig. 1 can be obtained by providing the pivoting in the front portion of the iron 1 1 , and configuring the switch 19 so as to drive the delivery of the steam when the upper body 14 is raised with respect to the base body 15; the delivery of the steam can therefore be deactivated when the upper body 14 approaches the base body 15. In fact, this configuration also provides the effect of delivering the steam by moving the iron 11 forward.

It is obviously possible to reverse the functioning of switch 19, in order to drive the delivery of the steam when the user moves the iron 11 backwards and to dry the textile garment when the user moves the iron 11 forward.

In embodiments described for example by means of figs. 7, 8, 9, it is also possible to drive the delivery of the steam both when the user moves the iron 11 forward and also when the user moves the iron 11 backward.

In embodiments described by means of fig. 8, the connection means 24 are configured to allow a vertical sliding between the upper body 14 and the base body 15, and the switch 19 can be activated by a forward, backward or downward pressure of the upper body 14 with respect to the base body 15.

In embodiments described by means of figs. 7 and 8, two switches 19 can also be present, positioned in the front portion and in the rear portion of the iron 11.

In some embodiments, the elastic connection means 24a can be configured so as to be compressed, or stretched, or flexed, only with an energetic pressure of the iron 11 forward or backward or downward, thus preventing activating the switches 19 with a normal or not very energetic movement of the iron 11.

Advantageously, this solution allows the user to deliver steam to facilitate the ironing of the textile garment by energetically moving the iron 11 forward and/or backward and/or downward, and to dry the textile garment by moving the iron 11 normally or not very energetically.

In other further embodiments, for example described by means of fig. 9, the connection means 24 can be configured to allow a horizontal sliding between the upper body 14 and the base body 15, and the switch 19 can be activated by means of a forward and/or backward pressure of the upper body 14 with respect to the base body 15.

In these embodiments, the connection means 24, possibly similar to those described by means of figs. 3, 4, 5, can be mounted horizontally, so that, in the absence of the external pressure, they keep the upper body 14 displaced forward and/or backward with respect to the base body 15.

In these embodiments, the switch 19, possibly similar to those described by means of figs. 3, 4, 5 or 6, can also be mounted horizontally, so as to be activated by a backward and/or forward pressure exerted by the user on the upper body 14.

In some embodiments, a commutator 26 can also be present, configured to set the ironing apparatus 10 so that the functioning mechanism of the delivery of the steam is managed by the switch 19 and/or by the manual command member 23, or by both at the same time.

In some embodiments, the commutator 26 can function mechanically, for example comprising a mechanical clamping lever configured to displace the contrast element 22 off-axis with respect to the second portion 21, so that it cannot activate the switch 19.

In other embodiments, the commutator 26 can function electrically or electronically, for example comprising an electronic component, managed by an electronic control unit 27, which disconnects or deactivates the circuits that connect the first portion 20 of the switch 19 to the steam assembly. The present invention also concerns a method to regulate the delivery of steam from an ironing apparatus 10 in accordance with the embodiments described here.

The method to regulate the delivery of steam comprises the steps of:

- supplying an iron 1 1 provided with an upper body 14 and a base body 15, attached to each other in a mobile manner by connection means 24;

- moving the upper body 14 forward, backward or downward, with respect to the base body 15, thus activating the switch 19 and driving the delivery of the steam.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts or of steps may be made to the ironing apparatus and to the method to deliver steam as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of ironing apparatus and method to deliver steam, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.

Claims

1. Ironing apparatus (10), comprising an iron (11) provided with a steam assembly configured to deliver steam following the activation of at least one steam delivery switch (19), wherein the iron (11) comprises a base body (15), or base, in contact during use with the garment to be ironed, and an upper body (14) which comprises at least a grip of the iron (11), characterized in that said upper body (14) and said base body (15) are attached to each other in a mobile manner by connection means (24), wherein said steam delivery switch (19) can be selectively activated by the movement of the upper body (14) with respect to the base body (15).

2. Ironing apparatus (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that said connection means (24) are configured to allow a reciprocal rotary movement between the upper body (14) and the base body (15), and said switch (19) can be activated by an external pressure, forward or backward or downward, of said upper body (14) with respect to said base body (15).

3. Ironing apparatus (10) as in claim 2, characterized in that said connection means (24) comprise a pivoting in the rear part of the iron (1 1) and elastic connection means (24a) in the front part of the iron (11), which, in the absence of said external pressure, maintain the upper body (14) raised with respect to the base body (15).

4. Ironing apparatus (10) as in claim 2, characterized in that said connection means (24) comprise a pivoting in the median part of the iron (11) and elastic connection means (24a) in the front and/or rear part of the iron (11), which, in the absence of said external pressure, maintain the upper body (14) raised with respect to the base body (15).

5. Ironing apparatus (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that said connection means (24) are configured to allow a vertical sliding between the upper body (14) and the base body (15), and said switch (19) can be activated by a forward, backward, or downward pressure of said upper body (14) with respect to said base body (15).

6. Ironing apparatus (10) as in claim 5, characterized in that said connection means (24) are configured as elastic connection means (24a) in the front and rear part of the iron (11), which, in the absence of said external pressure, maintain the upper body (14) raised with respect to the base body (15).

7. Ironing apparatus (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that said connection means (24) are configured to allow a horizontal sliding between the upper body (14) and the base body (15), and said switch (19) can be activated by a forward or backward pressure of said upper body (14) with respect to said base body (15).

8. Ironing apparatus (10) as in claim 7, characterized in that said connection means (24) are configured as elastic connection means (24a) in the front and/or rear part of the iron (11), which, in the absence of said external pressure, maintain the upper body (14) displaced forward or backward with respect to the base body (15).

9. Ironing apparatus (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said switch (19) comprises a first portion (20) which has circuits connected to said steam assembly, a second portion (21) configured to selectively close said circuits, and a contrast element (22), configured to be moved by said reciprocal movement of the upper body (14) with respect to the base body (15).

10. Ironing apparatus (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said switch (19) and said connection means (24) are made as a single assembly.

11. Ironing apparatus (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, also comprising a manual command member (23), characterized in that a commutator (26) is also provided, configured to set the ironing apparatus (10) so that the delivery of steam is managed by said switch (19) and/or by said manual command member (23) and/or by both at the same time.

12. Ironing apparatus (10) as in claim 11, characterized in that said commutator (26) is managed by an electronic control unit (27).

13. Method to regulate the delivery of steam from an ironing apparatus (10), said ironing apparatus (10) comprising an iron (11) provided with a steam assembly, configured to deliver steam following the activation of at least one steam delivery switch (19), said method comprising the steps of:

- supplying an iron (11) provided with an upper body (14) and a base body (15), attached to each other in a mobile manner by connection means (24),

- moving said upper body (14) forward, backward or downward, with respect to said base body (15), driving the delivery of the steam by activating said switch