Textiles: ironing or smoothing – Smoothing implements – Flatirons
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-01
2001-05-08
Izaguire, Ismael (Department: 3765)
Textiles: ironing or smoothing
Smoothing implements
Flatirons
C038S095000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226904
ABSTRACT:
BURN GUARD FOR ELECTRIC IRON SOLEPLATE
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electric irons, and more particularly to guards for electric iron soleplates.
2. Background of the Invention
Iron guards are commonly used for covering hot iron soleplates during cooling to promote safe handling and storage. Iron guards not only protect other objects from damage caused by the cooling soleplate, they also protect the soleplate from damage caused by other objects, such as scratching, chipping, or denting. Iron guards also protect users or others from coming into contact with the cooling soleplate.
Typically, iron guards are wall mounted or horizontally oriented members which receive an iron having a hot soleplate. Many of these iron guards can withstand such high temperatures and promote cooling of the soleplate by using ribs or buttons to support the soleplate above the iron guard surface thereby creating an air insulating barrier between the cooling soleplate and the iron guard. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,529,132 issued to Burnish, III and U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,945 issued to Freeman et al. However, these ribs or buttons directly contact the bottom surface of the soleplate during storage, insertion, and removal of the iron from the iron guard. This type of abrasive contact, especially when the soleplate is hot, can easily scratch or damage the surface of the soleplate.
Recently, heat resistant plastics have been used to make iron guards. Heat resistant plastics have the benefit of being easy to use, inexpensive to manufacture, and are less likely to damage the soleplate. Plastics are also insulators and do not transfer heat as easily as other materials. But even with the use of heat resistant plastics, most contemporary iron guards are still capable of scratching or damaging the soleplate due to direct contact between the iron guard and the soleplate. Also, many soleplates in use today now include a TEFLON coating on the soleplate to protect clothes from scorching and to protect the soleplate from dirt and damage. The TEFLON coating can be easily scratched or worn by repeated direct contact between the soleplate and the iron guard.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a storage base or guard for an iron that can store the iron after use in such a position that the surface of the soleplate does not rest on any portion of the iron guard thereby preventing a possible hazardous condition or possible damage to the soleplate or iron guard.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an iron guard that promotes quick and efficient cooling of the iron soleplate during storage.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a durable iron guard which can be easily and cost effectively manufactured.
Yet another object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of overall contact between the surface of the soleplate and the iron guard to reduce the risk of scratching or damaging the soleplate.
Yet another object of this invention is to prevent the scratching and wearing of the soleplate and its TEFLON coated surface by minimizing the contact between soleplate and the iron guard during insertion and removal.
In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention comprises an iron guard made from heat resistant plastic. The iron guard includes a base member and upwardly extending side members. A plurality of flanges extend inwardly from the side members and are capable of slidable engagement with the electric iron. Upwardly sloping ramp members on the iron guard guide the iron into a position in which the flanges enter the groove formed between the bottom surface of the base cover and the top surface of the soleplate. When the iron is supported by the iron guard, the flanges of the iron guard engage the bottom surface of the base cover to support the iron. As a result of supporting the iron, the soleplate is supported in spaced relation to the base member, thereby defining a gap between the soleplate and the base member, to minimize heat transfer from the soleplate to the iron guard.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
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U. S. Patent Des. 421,325 issued Feb. 29, 2000.
Brady Martin
Rodriquez Ramon R.
Dybvig Roger S.
Hamilton Beach, Proctor-Silex, Inc.
Izaguire Ismael
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