Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with pressure application means
Patent
1991-03-06
1994-03-01
Bartis, Anthony
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with pressure application means
38 71, 38104, 38107, 38135, 38142, 219251, 219259, H05B 102, D06F 7129, D06F 7902, D06F 8108
Patent
active
052909980
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to pressing apparatus including irons of the type for pressing or smoothing clothes, sheets or other articles made from fabric material, such pressing irons and their use being hereinafter referred to as "irons" and "ironing", and also to ironing boards.
It is conventional ironing practice, particularly in the domestic situation, to employ an unheated padded ironing surface, commonly referred to as an ironing board or ironing table, on which the article to be pressed is placed, in combination with a heated hand-held iron The iron is generally self-heated by means of an internal electric heater element controlled to a predeterminable temperature by means of a thermostat and connected to a power socket by means of a flexible cable and plug.
EP-A 0126530 discloses domestic laundry equipment in which an ironing board is heatable by means of an electrical heater element mounted in the board and controlled by a control circuit also mounted in the board, the control circuit including means for electrically connecting thereto an electrically-heated flat iron, whereby temperature control of the flat iron can be effected from the control circuit on the board It is a stated preference that the iron has an electrical resistance heating element supplied from the same power supply as the electrical resistance element of the ironing board, so that control of both the iron and the board can be effected from the same circuit to maintain the required temperatures, preferably different temperatures, by a setting relating to the board temperature.
It is also known to provide a so-called "cordless" iron, in which the cable to the iron is dispensed with and the iron includes electrical contacts by means of which the heating element is energised when the iron is placed on a support which includes pins connected to a power source, whereby the pins are in electrical connection with the contacts and the iron is thereby heated to its operating temperature when correctly positioned on the support. The advantage of this arrangement to the user is that the cable connection is attached only to the support, thereby affording optimum freedom of movement to the user of the iron, unencumbered by the cable However, cordless irons of the above type have attendant disadvantages, in that they need to be replaced frequently on the support for re-energisation of the heating elements. Since each re-energising period is required to be of short duration, typically while a pressed article is removed from the ironing board and replaced by an unpressed article, the rather slow and crude control exercised by a traditional thermostat militates against effective maintenance of the required operating temperature.
This problem can in part be overcome by raising the power rating of the iron, thereby improving the rate of temperature increase. However, this does not cure the fundamental problem of slow response and .hysteresis associated with the thermostat control and in any event a greater risk of contact arcing and consequent erosion is presented, due to the higher currents used, unless a microswitch or other power isolation device is included in the circuitry.
Yet a further disadvantage of existing cordless irons is that they are not sufficiently stable, when in position on the support, to withstand accidental knocks or sudden movement of the support without becoming dislodged. They are therefore potentially dangerous, particularly when the support is placed in use on a traditional ironing board which may itself be somewhat unstable, particularly to lateral forces.
It is an object of the present invention to provide pressing apparatus, preferably involving a cordless iron, which overcomes the problems referred to above It is a further object to provide an improved arrangement of folding legs for ironing boards.
According to the present invention, we provide pressing apparatus comprising a cordless iron having an electrically-energised heater element, the iron being in combination with a control module for electrical connection of th
REFERENCES:
patent: 2339495 (1944-01-01), McMann
patent: 3745676 (1973-07-01), Dikoff
Couch Kenneth J.
Thompson David K.
Bartis Anthony
Gemini Clothescare Limited of the Rookery
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